How Does a Worm Farmer Spend a Workday?

Job Description

A worm farmer, also known as a worm farm laborer, raises and takes care of several types of worms in order to cultivate soil for raising crops. Worm farming is also useful for composting food scraps as the worms accelerate the process and create rich soil for vegetables and fruits. The compost, also called vermicompost, results in nutrient-rich soil after the breakdown of organic matter caused by the earthworms.

It is the job of the worm farmer to make sure that the worms are placed in the correct habitat under the proper temperature and fed properly. Thus, the worm farmer ensures a good harvest of crops by keeping the soil tilled and fertile.

Typical Workday

A worm farmer begins the typical workday by checking in on the status of the worms early in the morning. He feeds the worms fruit and vegetable scraps, checks the temperature to make sure that it is at a comfortable level and removes any debris that may be littering the soil and obstructing the job of the worms.

A part of the workday is spent creating vermicomposting bins, which are used to farm more worms. The bins are usually made of Styrofoam, wood, plastic or metal. The worm farmer mixes sand, loam and various organic materials for the breeding earthworms to live in; this is called the "bedding." He then fills the bin with scraps of food to feed the growing and breeding earthworms. The farmer must also make sure to prevent overfeeding and keep the earthworms from escaping from the bins.

Other Duties

In addition to ensuring the health of the worms, the farmer also keeps track of them by counting them on a daily basis. The population count of the worms is logged into a notebook, and it allows the worm farmer to keep track of how many new worms are born and how many have died. The worm farmer is also responsible for maintaining the compost bin to ensure that the worms' habitat does not become toxic, which can happen if the flow of oxygen is obstructed. Thus, the worm farmer must check the oxygen flow and moisture level a few times a week, and drain excess liquid that accumulates over time.

Resources

• Everything you need to know about worm farming