How to Start a Worm Farm for Fishing

Creating a worm farm is an economical way to raise bait for fishing. In addition, it is an environmentally friendly hobby, because the worms live off food scraps, keeping excess garbage out of landfills. The worm excrement creates nutrient rich compost that makes a superior fertilizer for your summer garden. The procedure can be performed year round assuming you have an area to keep the farm safe from extreme weather conditions.

Things You'll Need

• 2 plastic tubs with lids
• Drill
• 1/4 inch bit
• Dirt
• Worms
• Newspaper
• Food scraps
• Bricks

Instructions

1. Find a spot in your yard that is not in direct sunlight.

2. Flip plastic tubs over and use an electric drill to put 1/4 inch drainage holes in the bottom of the container. Place holes about 2 inches apart in a grid pattern.

3. Drill 1/4 inch air holes into the tubs. These should be drilled into one of the plastic lids as well as along the sides of both of the tubs. Drill holes in the lid about 3 inches apart in a grid pattern. The holes in the sides should be about 2 inches from the top lip, 2 or 3 inches apart, all the way around the exterior of the tub.

4. Place the lid that does not have air holes on the ground and put bricks on each corner to keep it in place.

5. Set one tub on top of the bricks.

6. Add 2 to 3 inches of clean dirt into the bin and put about 3 dozen worms on top of the soil.

7. Pour additional dirt over the worms to cover them completely.

8. Insert the second tub into first. The bottom of the tub should come in direct contact with the soil that is covering the worms.

9. Add some balled up wet newspaper to the top tub.

10. Combine food scraps such as fruit and vegetable peels and coffee grounds with the newspaper. Don't add fatty meats to the mixture, but small pieces of lean meats are OK.

11. Place a piece of cardboard over the food scraps and newspaper and put the lid with the pre-drilled air holes on the top tub.

12. Put bricks on top of the cover to keep other predators from getting into the bins.

13. Place additional food scraps into the top tub a few times a week and stir the mixture together.

14. When the top tub becomes at least half full and has doubled in worm capacity, it is time to rotate the farm. This will occur once every 2 or 3 months.

15. Remove the compost (worm excrement) from the bottom tub and use it to fertilize your garden. Compost can also be stored in an airtight container until you need to use it.

16. Place the top tub filled with worms on the bottom and insert the bottom one inside of it as noted in Step 8. Repeat the feeding process as described in Steps 9 and 10.

Tips & Warnings

• Be sure to keep the contents moist, but do not saturate them or the worms will drown.

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish