Archive for the ‘Worm Farming’ Category
Why Worm Farming is Important
The only way to keep up with the latest about Worm Farming is to constantly stay on the lookout for new information. If you read everything you find about Worm Farming, it won’t take long for you to become an influential authority.
It may come as a surprise to some that worm farming is beneficial to our environment. After some research into the topic it may be shocking to learn how important these hidden crawlers really are. There is more to them than just crawling through the garden.
Worms have been around since the beginning. During the age of the dinosaurs, worms ploughed through rotting debris and excrement, composting it into a more usable substance. Millions of years ago they were efficient creatures and today they remain the same.
So why is worm farming so important? There are three common reasons for worm farming both commercially and individually. The first reason is for composting.
Worm farming provides an effective and efficient way for composting food waste and other biodegradable items. On the larger scale, worms are used in place of landfills by commercial companies. The worms compost waste eliminating unnecessary overflows in landfills. Certain landfills also use worms to help compost the waste that has build up over time to try to prevent an overflow.
On a smaller scale, home owners and apartment dwellers are able to run their own personal worm farms. The purpose is to provide a more natural way for composting discarded food products and other items, instead of sending them to the local landfills. Various sizes of personal worm farms are available on the market today. These can typically be used both outdoors and indoors for those with limited space.
Having a personal worm farm means that individuals are able to employ worms to naturally compost items such as fruits, vegetables, breads, cereals, paper products, soaked cardboard, egg shells and hair. What is given in return by the worms is a naturally nutrient rich organic substance that can enrich soil for gardens, crops and house plants.
How can you put a limit on learning more? The next section may contain that one little bit of wisdom that changes everything.
This brings us to the next reason for worm farming. Vermicompost, or worm castings, is the product the worms produce as they compost and digest their provided diet. These castings are as rich in nutrients as the food items provided to them. This substance is so rich in nutrients that it can be used as an effective plant food for a small pot for up to two months. Vermicompost is one of the best fertilizers available.
Chemical fertilizers can be replaced by using natural vermicompost. Chemical fertilizers often produce a fast effect, but when the soil is analyzed, it is found that the nutrients in the soil are being further broken down by the chemicals. This requires that even more fertilizer be used later on to produce the same effect.
Chemical pest removers and poisons have led to the destruction and evacuation of worms in many areas. The worms are either killed by the poison or they leave the area as the soil is no longer healthy enough for them to live in.
Using vermicompost as a natural fertilizer helps eliminate the need for chemicals that destroy the soil and rid the area of these helpful worms. Some worms can be used in garden beds, improving the quality of the soil as they plough through pulling water into the soil and aerating the bed as they go.
Another reason for worm farming is the production of worms to be used as live food and live bait. Many exotic pets, birds and aquarium fish require the addition of live worms to their diets. Offering worms for this reason gives pet owners an opportunity to purchase live food that has not been chemically altered or treated.
Professional fishermen, bait and tackle shops, and the fishing hobbyist are often on the search for good suppliers of various worms that are best suited for live bait in both freshwater and salt water. Worm farms offer these buyers a chance to purchase organically raised worms that will produce the best results when fishing.
As surprising as it may seem, worms are a very important part of our environment. Worm farming is just a way to be able to appreciate their effects on a more personal level. They are hard workers and keeping them happy in a worm farm will help ensure a healthier environment, less overflow of the landfills and a higher level of plant growth.
There’s a lot to understand about Worm Farming. We were able to provide you with some of the facts above, but there is still plenty more to write about in subsequent articles.
About the Author
By Anders Eriksson, feel free to visit his soon to be top ranked Perpetual20 training site: Perpetual 20
Worm Farming Can Be Fun
You may think worms are boring. After all, they just lay there and wiggle. They don’t do any tricks that you can watch. They don’t make cute sounds. But worms are an interesting, beneficial part of our world. They have several uses that make them worthwhile to our existence. You have to look beyond the obvious and appreciate the results sometimes to get the most benefit from an experience. That’s where worm farming comes in.
Have you ever heard of worm grunting? Not many people have, it’s apparently a dying art. It’s a way of harvesting worms that’s still kept alive in Florida. One small town has a yearly worm festival and gets visitors from all over to partake in their fun. Professional worm grunters entertain guests to this event. The worm grunters use a simple method to create the kind of vibrations that bring the worms to the surface of the ground for gathering. You could practice worm grunting on your worm farm for your little visitors’ delight. Many small children get their fun from grossing out adults, so going to a worm farm or festival would be a great adventure trip for them.
If you find yourself confused by what you’ve read to this point, don’t despair. Everything should be crystal clear by the time you finish.
Now before you think, “That’s it. I don’t have to start a worm farm. I’ll just gather my worms from the wild woods or people’s yards!” You must know that when you take a beneficial part of the environment away from other places, it also takes the benefit of what it does for that area of the earth. That’s why re-planting of trees is encouraged, if we take away from the environment we must also return something to the environment or we all eventually suffer the consequences.
Even if you don’t find any fun in worms, you could raise them for the benefits you are able to get from them. Songbirds like grub worms. Grub worms are white with a red head, a C shaped body, and are about as big as the end of a thumb. If you have a grub worm farm, you can encourage song birds to visit your home property for your entertainment and bird-watching pleasure. So, while you may not consider raising the worm farm to be fun, you can still get your pleasure knowing you are getting more feathered visitors! Your bird-watching friends can gather at your house and enjoy the fun with you. They’ll be thankful for your worm farm, too. (Be aware that grub worms do eat plant roots and leave dead, dry patches of grass. So, just encouraging their existence in your yard is not the best idea. You’d want to contain them in their own areas for the safety of your other plants.)
You may get some fun from cooking with worms from your own worm farm; this way you will know no pesticides or diseases have tainted them or their flavor. You could entertain children at the local library by using some recipes specifically including the worms for ingredients. If the local librarians aren’t open to the idea (some people have an irrational fear of worms and some are just plain grossed out about eating them), you could try a demonstration at the nearest zoo. Flour can be made from the worms to use in recipes. Some worms are eaten raw, but most Americans aren’t open to the experience.
About the Author
By Anders Eriksson, feel free to visit his Perpetual20 training site for great bonuses: Perpetual20
Where to Find Worms for Worm Farming
Have you ever wondered what exactly is up with Worm Farming? This informative report can give you an insight into everything you’ve ever wanted to know about Worm Farming.
Setting up a worm farm requires three things. The first is an appropriate bin for containing the worms. The second is plenty of compost materials to keep the worms properly fed. The most important thing needed for a worm farm is, in fact, the worms. Learning where to find worms is the first step.
It is important to note that worms collected from the garden in the wild should not be used in a worm farm. Various types of worms are available on the market specifically for worm farming. These worms are sold for traits that make them more desirable for composting or as live bait.
An established worm farm can require a large number of worms to be efficient enough to compost enough material for a small family. Most small worm farms need to start out with at least 1000 worms.
The first place to find worms for worm farming should be the local bait and tackle stores. These places typically sell a variety of worms that can be used for both composting and live bait. The Red Wiggler is known as being the best worm for composting and can usually be found in establishments such as these.
The Internet provides a mass amount of options for purchasing just about any kind of worm to use in a worm farm. Red Wigglers, Night Crawlers, Florida Wigglers, egg capsules and even exotic breeds of worms can all be found. A simple search on any search engine will produce a number of opportunities and choices.
Once you begin to move beyond basic background information, you begin to realize that there’s more to Worm Farming than you may have first thought.
Purchasing live animals online also means that shipping is something to take into consideration. Care has to be taken when collecting and packaging the specimens. Most worms ship well and with ease but shipping methods should be investigated. Simply ask the supplier what the rate of live arrival is and find out what their shipping methods are.
The local garden centers have proven very helpful as a supply for worms. Typically they sell other supplies for worm farming as well. Depending on the geographical location, most garden centers have a full line of the various types of worms available for purchase. The staff is available to answer questions about worm farming for new beginners. If a specific type of worm is found to be unavailable at a garden center, an order can often be placed for particular varieties.
A very commonly overlooked option for locating worms is other worm farmers. Worm farmers often have a surplus of worms and are more than willing to part with them. Some are willing to offer them up in exchange for taking them off their own hands while others will sell them for a low fee.
Local worm farmers can often be found in the yellow pages under “worm” or “worm farms”. This provides a great source as worm farmers are often more than willing to give tips and hints for a successful farm.
Worm farming can be fun and rewarding. Knowing where to find good quality worms is essential in maintaining a successful farm. Once a worm farm is established, it may one day prove to be yet another outlet for those who are new to the worm farming world.
That’s how things stand right now. Keep in mind that any subject can change over time, so be sure you keep up with the latest news.
About the Author
By Anders Eriksson, feel free to visit his soon to be top ranked Perpetual20 training site: Perpetual 20
Worm Farming with Mealworms
Mealworms are scavengers. It doesn’t necessarily make them a bad worm, but it does help to understand them. If you want to start a mealworm farm, you can find starters in damp, spoiled grain and grain products. Perhaps you have access to a grain bin of some sort, a grain processing plant, or can get infested cereal from a cereal factory.
The dark mealworm is the species found throughout the United States. Anyone who has found them in their flour or corn meal would not consider them friends! But in this instance, you can turn an enemy into a friend and gain a profit from the experience.
The trick to worm farming of any kind is to start small and work your way up. You have to learn your limits and gain experience, find a market for your mealworms, and become educated about your product. But anything worth having is worth working for.
People have been known to use the mealworm as fish bait or food for their birds or reptiles. They’re people food in some places!
Most of this information comes straight from the Worm Farming pros. Careful reading to the end virtually guarantees that you’ll know what they know.
One interesting fact about mealworm farming is that powdery residues can build-up in the containers. This residue, also known as frass, contains mealworm eggs. You can separate this frass with a sifter of some sort once a month, keep it in a separate container, and feed it with raw pieces of potatoes or bran. It takes a month for the eggs to hatch.
Females are capable of producing up to 500 eggs, but the adults only live a short time of 3 months at most. They get their fluids from wet fruits like apples or over-ripe bananas and vegetables such as the potato or carrot. They also lay eggs on these foods. You can keep them alive and dormant at temperatures over 40 degrees. They prefer warm environments of 80 degrees to grow and change. So, don’t plan on them reproducing at the lower temperatures.
Did you know you can eat mealworms raw and live? Ok, it’s not your average meal, but it’s healthy and is encouraged in other countries. If you want the benefits, but can’t stomach the thought, maybe you could try baking them or turning them into flour to use in other recipes. Just spread them on a lightly greased baking sheet and cook for up to 3 hours at 200 degrees. They’re done when brittle. Toss them into a blender or grinder until they resemble wheat germ. If nothing else, you could safely serve them to that irritating cousin just for a laugh. It can be your little secret!
Meal worm farming is one of the cheapest worm farming you can enter. It’s a great way to experiment and can be a safe way to feed your pets something natural and healthy. You could add the worms to your dog or cats diet by using the flour to make your own dog or cat food. Safe, natural, and healthy is the wave of the future.
About the Author
By Anders Eriksson, now offering the host then profit baby plan for only $1 over at Host Then Profit
Worm Farming is Safe, Natural, and Healthy in Many Ways
When you think about Worm Farming, what do you think of first? Which aspects of Worm Farming are important, which are essential, and which ones can you take or leave? You be the judge.
Are you tired of seeing all that trash along the riverbanks and ponds because of the plastic lures the fishermen use? Are you tired of the cost of potting soil, fertilizers, and compost? Are you tired of the expensive pet foods that contain ingredients of uncertainty? Are you tired of not knowing how to help our eco-system, our environment, our future? It doesn’t happen all at once; it takes the efforts of many people doing the right things and making the right lifestyle choices. Then maybe you should give worm farming a try. It’s safe, natural, and healthy in many ways.
Worm farming can be done with earthworms, catalpa worms, meal worms, red worms, or grub worms. You can try having more than one kind, but there are benefits to keeping them in separate containers. One such benefit is being able to track the progress of each type. One benefit is having them separated for the different reasons you would want to use them. One reason for keeping them separated is to make sure you have the correct temperatures and the correct conditions for each type to thrive.
Earthworms, meal worms, and grub worms are edible. Maybe you don’t want to partake of this sort of exotic delicacy yourself. It may just be a little too safe, natural, and healthy for your tastes! But what if you could extend the life of your furry pets by adding the cooked worms to their dry food that you’ve made yourself? Even animals that don’t naturally eat worms can benefit from eating them in another form.
The best time to learn about Worm Farming is before you’re in the thick of things. Wise readers will keep reading to earn some valuable Worm Farming experience while it’s still free.
Worm farming is one of the less dangerous types of farming. You don’t have to have a big farm that takes lots of employees and expensive equipment to have a worm farm. You can have your own little worm farm for your own personal benefits. Encourage your kids to join in and use it in class for show-and-tell time. It’s a way of getting up close and personal with natural science. Little gardeners can enjoy the benefits of this safe farming. And if you are raising the edible worms, you won’t have to worry if your tot does experiment by popping one in his or her mouth!
Although the catalpa worms are not one of the edible worms, they are still safe and natural to use as fish bait. The catalpa trees are well-known along the rivers and swamps of the southern states in the United States. Texas, Louisiana, and Florida residents enjoy the bait from these trees. They can be established outside of their natural habitats with the proper knowledge and conditions. They tolerate heat well, but need well-drained, moist, rich soil to do well. They can grow to 90 feet and can provide shade and other benefits trees add to the natural balance of life.
If you live in east Texas, you are well-acquainted with the pest called the June bug. You may not have known, however, that this pest comes from the grub worm. Not the gardener’s friend, but useful in other ways, this worm is one of the delicacies in other countries. You just have to know your creepy-crawlers so you can help others learn more about what’s safe, natural and healthy: worm farms—-spread the word!
About the Author
By Anders Eriksson, feel free to visit his soon to be top ranked Perpetual20 training site: Perpetual 20
What Do You Know about Worm Farming?
If you have wondered how popular or widespread worm farming is in the United States, or if you have ever thought of starting your own worm farm, you may find the following information interesting.
Worm farms on a large scale exist as follows: Arizona, Connecticut, New York, Oregon, South Carolina, Michigan, Montana, New Mexico-1 each. Florida, Massachusetts, Missouri, and the United Kingdom-2 each. Pennsylvania, Texas-3 each. Canada and Washington-4 each. California-15. Of course, there are many that aren’t listed as major farms. Many people have their own backyard worm farms.
Any business, including worm farming, will take from 3 to 5 years normally to break even after their initial investment and maintenance costs. It’s essential to be careful with your purchases and to do your research before jumping into any business. Careful consideration means a better chance of netting profits sooner.
What do you know about breed stock? You can find good breed stock in a city gardener’s basement supply just as well as you can from any established breeder with the same type of worm. It isn’t unusual for someone to try to sell breed stock at an inflated price in any animal business. The population can take as long as 90 days to double no matter where you buy your breed stock.
How many worms you should start with depends on several things. How much can you afford? How big do you want your worm farm? How much space do you have now? Are you investing as a second income, for a little pocket money, or are you hoping to grow into a big worm farm? Can you shield your worms from temperature changes? Will you be willing and able to ship your worms elsewhere for selling?
So far, we’ve uncovered some interesting facts about Worm Farming. You may decide that the following information is even more interesting.
Some helpful information to know is:
1. Worms are sensitive to pressure changes in weather. Finding them in the lid of your worm bin before it rains is no reason to panic.
2. Ants will be more likely to enter your worm bins if the bedding is dry or highly acidic. Raise the moisture content or keep the legs of your stand in a container of water. You could try applying petroleum jelly around the legs or adding some garden lime near the ant gathering spot.
3. Cover your fresh worm food with the soil in the bed or lay a layer of wet newspaper over it to get rid of vinegar flies. If you feed your worms too much for them to finish each day, it will invite the little flies, too.
4. A smelly worm bin is a sign that you may be feeding your worms too much for them to digest quickly. Stir the waste lightly to allow air flow and space for the worms to travel more easily and feed less. It may take a little experimentation to figure out how much your worms can process efficiently. The amount will change as the worms multiply.
When word gets around about your command of Worm Farming facts, others who need to know about Worm Farming will start to actively seek you out.
About the Author
By Anders Eriksson, feel free to visit his Perpetual20 training site for great bonuses: Perpetual20
The Wonder of Worm Farms
Do you ever feel like you know just enough about Worm Farming to be dangerous? Let’s see if we can fill in some of the gaps with the latest info from Worm Farming experts.
Who would ever think that a bunch of kitchen leftover and garbage could turn out to be something productive and useful- this is where the wonder of worm farms comes in.
Surprisingly, worm farms are a great way of turning leftover kitchen scraps into rich yet affordable and highly-potent organic fertilizer.
This is especially true if you happen to live in a small apartment where you can create your own worm farm right smack in your balcony, porch or small yard, since all that is needed is a cool and well shaded spot.
If you think that making a worm farm is difficult, think again, all you need are your daily kitchen scraps and leftovers and polystyrene boxes, better yet, even used broccoli boxes from vegetable and fruit shops.
Start off by choosing a nice spot for worms to live and make sure that the spot is not too hot nor too cold.
If you happen to use polystyrene boxes, you will need at least two with one needing a lid. If a lid is not available, one can make a simple piece using a breathable yet sturdy box boards or cement-bonded thin plywood-like sheets.
Since these polystyrene boxes do not have holes in them, you will need to make about 20-30 small holes the size of a 50-cent coin in the bottom of one box.
Then place the lid on the box with the holes and place this on top of the one without the holes, since placing one top of the other will maximize limited space.
The bottom box will also catch the liquid or urine produced by the worms, which is called the worm tea and is also a good alternative to liquid fertilizers.
In the box with the holes, place about 2 inches of bedding made from compost, which is a mixture of shredded paper, box cartons and withered leaves.
If you don’t have accurate details regarding Worm Farming, then you might make a bad choice on the subject. Don’t let that happen: keep reading.
The compost bedding should be around 2 to 3 inches deep and you can add in around 1,000-1,200 worms per box.
You can find hundreds of worm growers all over America who cultures and sell worms for farming, you may look them up using the Yellow Pages or searching on the Internet, especially if you hope to find one within your locality or one that is close to where you are.
Worms used for worm farms are ideally called compost worms and are not the same as the the common earthworm that can be found anywhere.
Ideal ones that can be used for worm farms are the red wrigglers and tiger worms.
You may need to cover the bedding with a layer of newspaper, old torn carpets or any material that will keep the worm bedding dark and moist.
Once the worms start burrowing into the bedding, in about two to three days, you can start adding small amounts of kitchen scraps and leftovers like fruit peelings except from acidic fruits like oranges and citruses, vegetables, used tea leaves and ground coffee, but make sure to shred it into small tiny pieces for quick consumption and easy digestion.
Avoid oil-based foods and dairy products, since these are also acidic for worms.
Make it a point not to resume feeding after the previous feeding batch is totally or almost 95% consumed.
Adequate and balanced feeding allow worms to produce manure or a by-product which is a rich, soil-like substance called “castings” or “vermicompost” which is one of the best fertilizers that ensure productive and healthy vegetation.
To harvest castings from the worm farm bed, you can move the castings by gathering them to one side of the tray and add new food to the other side to allow the worms to forage on the new food source, which will allow you to scrape off the castings from the other side.
The liquid that collects at the bottom of the box is worm urine mixed and is also called the ‘worm tea’ and can be used as liquid fertilizer once diluted with water.
Nowadays, it would be best to make the most out of everything, including what could be recycled and redone ? that is the wonder of worm farms.
About the Author
Bob Roberts,ex PE teacher, did not start playing golf until he was well into his 50′s but now plays two to three times a week. He knows the pitfalls a beginner faces and has written two websites targeted mainly at high handicap golfers. For more information about his tips for golf go here===> Start Playing Golf and Tips For Golf
How to Raise Red Worms
Worm farming is gaining popularity. If you want to get into the business, you have to learn how to take care of red worms which happen to be the best producers of fertilizer for the soil.
To do that, you have to build your own worm bin. This consists of several boxes, shredded newspaper, and a strip of insect screen as well as the red worms. You can probably find the first two in your garage, the third from the hardware store and the last in a nursery.
When you have all the materials, put a few holes on the top and bottom of the bin and then throw in the shredded newspaper inside the container to serve as the bedding. You can also potting mix or use both at the same time. Once the red worms are inside, cover the top with a lid because these creatures don?t like sunlight.
Unlike the cat, dog or fish you bought from the pet store, you don?t have to feed red worms right away. You can wait about 3 to 4 days before giving them food and since you don?t know yet how much they can consume, put in a small amount first and then gauge how much more should be added to their diet.
If there are big and small red worms, put some food on the outside edges since the adult red worms prefer to hang out there while the younger ones prefer to get food from the center.
It’s really a good idea to probe a little deeper into the subject of Worm Farming. What you learn may give you the confidence you need to venture into new areas.
The food that is given to red worms is much different that what you will normally find in the pet store. This is because they only eat things that will naturally compost. A few examples of these include coffee grounds, grass clippings, manure, rabbit pellets, vacuum dust and vegetable matter. Never give your red worms dairy products, meats and certain vegetables like onion.
Just like other household pets, red worms also need some water so water them from time to time but make sure that it is not too soggy. Although they like water, too much could drown your little pets.
Red worms are sold by the pound and one pound is about 1,000 red worms. That population will double in 2 to 3 months and while some say that they have a way of regulating their population, it wouldn?t hurt to transfer some to another container.
If there is no space anymore to relocate your red worms, you can try out what other people have done and that is to sell red worms. After all, the waste or vermicast they produce are great for the soil so you can help others save money by trying out this home made fertilizer instead of buying this from the store.
The other option to control the red worm population is to use them as fish bait. Although some people will argue that another variety of worm known as the European Night Crawler is better to catch fish, you will surely be able to catch a few with your homemade variety.
Raising red worms takes a lot of hard work so watch them regularly. Make sure that there is sufficient food available and their bedding is just right because this is the only way to have a successful worm farm.
It never hurts to be well-informed with the latest on Worm Farming. Compare what you’ve learned here to future articles so that you can stay alert to changes in the area of Worm Farming.
About the Author
By Anders Eriksson, now offering the host then profit baby plan for only $1 over at Host Then Profit
How to Keep Your Worm Farm Safe
When you are doing worm farming, it does not mean that you can leave you worms unattended. There are worm predators which can pounce on your worms and eat everything. Why keep your worms for profit if you just let predators take them away.
You have to make sure that you worm farm is safe for your worms. Who are the predators and what should you do?
? Make sure that you worm farm has proper drainage. Make sure that you are not using contaminated water. Also avoid using paper which had contact with pesticides since this is also source of contamination.
? Make sure that your worms are safe from predators like birds, moles, hedgehogs, foxes, toads, snakes, beetles, leeches, slugs, and parasites. All of these feed on worms.
? Even if there are predators in the area which are not interested in eating the worms but are eating the worm?s food. Then you should also be careful. If worms are not fed enough, they try to leave the worm beds.
? If you are feeding birds in your area, then it would be ok. Just make sure to feed them in a different section, you definitely do not want them to eat your profit.
It seems like new information is discovered about something every day. And the topic of Worm Farming is no exception. Keep reading to get more fresh news about Worm Farming.
? If you are living in a populated area, you would have to have a different kind of worm protection. There could be thieves that are looking for free fishing bait. So make sure that your worm farms are duly protected.
To protect your worm farm, you can have shed that can be locked to make sure that unwanted people and presence are kept out. Make sure that the floor is kept clean. If you have concrete flooring, you can hose it down to remove the dirt and leftover scraps. Some worm farm owners have a technique of keeping their farm safe from predators. They would put their worm bin on a stand with legs, then they would put it a container where there is water surrounding it.
Aside from being cautious in providing safety measures in the worm farm?s surroundings, you also need to be cautious of the food you provide to your worms. Some worm farmers aside from giving ready to eat food, also give food treated with chemicals. These medications and chemicals should be handled with care since these substances could be harmful.
Although worms eat meat, or eat anything that is offered to them, it is for the best altogether to remove meat among the things that farmers offer. With meat, there is a higher possibility that pets will be attracted to and eventually will be bad for the worms. Flies and maggots can also be attracted to the worm farm if meat is offered to the worms.
Aside from these foods, we should also avoid offering citrus fruit, onions, and garlic. Its strong smell drives the worm away. Another kind of food that needs to be avoided are dairy products, aside from attracting also predators, they also emit foul odors as they rot.
Taking care of worms are easy job, as long as you take note of what you should and should not do. Worm farming can be both financially profitable and enjoyable. There are even studies saying that worm farming relieves stress. So, happy farming!
About the Author
Bob Roberts,ex PE teacher, did not start playing golf until he was well into his 50′s but now plays two to three times a week. He knows the pitfalls a beginner faces and has written two websites targeted mainly at high handicap golfers. For more information about his tips for golf go here===> Start Playing Golf and Tips For Golf
How to Build Your Own Worm Farm
So you’ve decided to take the plunge and set up your own worm farm. Perhaps you’re looking for a natural way for composting waste, are interested in the nutrient rich fertilizing substance produced by the worms, or are looking to provide a constant supply of live bait or live food for exotic pets. Regardless of the reason, you’re going to need to set up a bin.
Various models are available for purchase at worm farming supply companies and garden centers. These come in different shapes, sizes and colors and each have their own benefits. The frugal approach is to build your own.
The first thing to consider is how big of a container you’re going to need. To figure this out, you’ll need to first measure out approximately how much waste you are going to need to use for feeding. For each pound of waste, you’ll need one square foot of space in your bin. Depth should be at least six to twelve inches.
A plastic tote or container works well as do wooden boxes. Metal containers should not be used as irons and chemicals can leach into the soil, harming the worms. Many worm farmers prefer wooden boxes over plastic as wood is more easily aerated. Plastic can cause more moisture to build up than wood, which can be both good and bad.
Once a container of the appropriate size has been chosen, it’ll need to be prepared. Holes should be drilled or punched through the top of the container to allow for air flow. There are two ways to address the bottom of the container.
See how much you can learn about Worm Farming when you take a little time to read a well-researched article? Don’t miss out on the rest of this great information.
One method is to drill or punch holes into the bottom of the container to allow excess water and other liquids to drain out. Another is to install a spout at the bottom of the container. When liquid begins to fill up in the bottom, the spout is turned on and releases the fluid.
If using a spout, a raised shelf should be added within the container. This shelf should be the same width as the container, but be allowed to sit a few inches above the bottom. This will allow the empty space at the bottom to fill with liquid and prevent it from sitting in the soil and bedding. This raised shelf should be made of slats or have several holes to allow liquids to drain into the bottom of the container.
If a raise shelf is not used, screening should be installed over the holes to allow liquid to run out of the container but prevent worms from squeezing through. Screening should also be attached to the top of the container to prevent escape.
Some thought should be put into what will be used for bedding material. Soaked and shredded newspapers, cardboard and even dampened leaves can be layered in the bin. Regardless of the material used for bedding, a small amount of soil should always be mixed in. If using the raised shelf system, bedding should be layered on top of the shelf.
The container should be put in a location that will ensure optimal conditions. Temperature should remain between 72 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit. The bin should not be placed in an area of the yard that will gain excess rain water, either.
Once the bin has been constructed, bedding has been added and the perfect location has been found, the next step is to add the worms and begin your own worm farm. Worm farming is rewarding whether it is done for a profit or a hobby. Constructing an appropriate home for these guys is your first step towards becoming an authentic worm farmer.
As your knowledge about Worm Farming continues to grow, you will begin to see how Worm Farming fits into the overall scheme of things. Knowing how something relates to the rest of the world is important too.
About the Author
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