Urban Homesteading: Raising Worms
By Mindy McIntosh-Shetter
As an avid gardener, I am always looking for ways to use my abundant supply of organic material.
My compost bins are full and it is against my nature to throw away such wonderful material that could be turned into “Black Gold.”
So this year I decided to do something about it and that was to try my hand at worm farming or vermicomposting.
I did not jump into this with a light heart. I knew that my worms would have to be taken care of just like my rabbit, livestock or any type of pet. So knowing all the facts and responsibilities, I jumped in, hand first into the project.
The first challenge I had was find a container that I already had. I am trying to reduce my consumerism and in doing so wanted to reuse or repurpose something. As I searched my supplies, I discovered that I did not have anything. The ideal container is a tuff, 10-gallon plastic type of container with a tight fitting lid. As I was preparing to go out and get one, I found one discarded by someone’s trash. While it was a little different for worm farming, I felt it would work and if it did not I could always use it for something else.
Once I got my container home, I decided I would go ahead and drill the holes for my little livestock. Worms need oxygen and ¼ inch holes drilled in the top and sides is all that is needed. Some individuals also drill holes in the bottom. I chose not to do this since I would have to put my worm composter on a tray to catch any liquid draining out.
After I drilled several hole in the side, I washed out the container and lid. I placed them in the bright sunlight to dry. One may wonder why I did not drill holes in the lid and the answer is simple. I did not have to. My found container already had holes in the top for aquatic plants. While they were larger than ¼ inch, I knew the next step would take care of the problem.
Once the container and lid had completely dried, the next step was to line the container with window screen or in my case landscape cloth. Some plans even use plastic vents that are covered with window screen to cover the holes but I wanted to create this project with what I had instead of purchasing something else. So I took a scrap piece of landscape cloth and began to cover the holes. I learned through trial and error that it was easier to line the inside of the container with the landscape cloth and secure it with duck tape. The lid required only a small piece that was again taped to the inside.
After the container was finished, it was time to prepare the bedding for my livestock. Worms like a nice nest of damp shredded paper and/or cardboard. Do not use any slick paper and make sure it is shredded. The worms will not only nest in the stuff but they will also consume it.
When creating your bedding material, keep in mind that you will need more than what you think. For a 10-gallon container, you will need three to eight inches of damp material. Once your paper has been shredded, the next step is to soak them in non-chlorated water for 24 hours. To create your own non-chlorated water is simple and only requires one to step out a pitcher of water for 24 hours. The chlorine will evaporate out of the liquid.
Once the bedding has soaked, ring out the bedding and place it in the container. The next step requires a trip to the bait shop. When doing worm farming, one must use red worms (Eisenia foetida) or European night crawlers (Eisenia hortensis). Do not use common garden worms. They tunnel down through the soil, aerating it as they go instead of decomposing it. Red worms, on the other hand, live on the surface of the soil and decompose leaf litter and such.
Once you get your worms, place them in the container with the bedding. When it comes to feeding your worms, keep it simple. Things you would place in the compost can be placed in your worm farm. The trick to this process though is two fold. First, make sure the compost is chopped small or freeze it. Both of these approaches will make it easier for the worms to digest it. Second, bury it and mark the location with a stick. This prevents you from concentrating food in one spot. Also rotate the feeding locations from one end of the container to the other.
In about three to six months, the worm compost will be finished and can be harvested. This type of compost is called worm castings and is used as a fertilizer. This fertilizer is easily harvested by removing the lid and shining a light on one end of the soil surface. The worms will move away from the light, which makes harvesting the castings easier. Once the castings have been removed, replenish the bedding material and repeat the process.
Once you begin this process, you will always be a worm farmer. While this type of farming does not take the commitment that other forms of livestock production does, it still takes work. One pound of red worms only need ½ cup of food or organic material a week, which reduces the commitment but also, brings up a question. What do you do if you are going on a vacation? The answer is the same for any pet or livestock. Find a worm sitter or a fellow worm farmer to take care of them while you are away.
So until we blog again, wiggling creatures all great and small create compost for us all. The most they ask is care and respect so before jumping in consider the test. Do I have time to care for the creatures as I would expect to be and if not maybe worm farming is just not meant to be.
