How to Build Your Own Worm Farm

One pound of red earthworms, called eisenia fetida by zoologists, is equal to the weight of about 1000 worms. They can double their population every two to three months. They eat organic garbage in a process called vermicomposting. Then, they excrete worm castings, which make a highly prized organic soil additive. So, your worm farm can produce worm castings for organic gardeners as well as newly reproduced red earthworms to sell.

Things You'll Need

• 1 lb Red earthworms
• 1 wooden bin, 12-16 inches deep
• Peat moss
• 1 qt Compost
• Kitchen scraps
• Burlap cover

Instructions

1. Drill drain holes in the bottom of the wooden bin. The holes should be 1/4 inch in diameter, spaced out every three inches. Place the bin on legs or bricks so that air can circulate and get in through the drain holes.

2. Add peat moss to fill the wooden bin to a depth of six inches. This forms the bedding material in which the worms will live and burrow. It will also decompose along with the kitchen scraps. Spread the compost on top of the peat moss.

3. Place one pound of red earthworms into the wooden bin. Add kitchen scraps, including a layer of broken egg shells to provide the worms with calcium. Sprinkle the worm farm with water. Cover the bin with the burlap to help keep the bedding moist.

4. Maintain a temperature of between 72-75 degrees Fahrenheit. Whenever the worms have eaten the kitchen scraps, add more until the worm farm takes up 12 inches in the wooden bin. That means that the worms have produced a deep enough layer of worm castings to harvest.

5. Dig out the top 6 inches of the wooden bin's contents with a garden fork. Put this layer, which contains the worms, into a bucket until you pour our the remaining newly vermicomposted organic soil. Divide the worms in half - your worm farm has just doubled. You can start a second worm bin or sell the worms to another vermicomposter.

Resources

• Acme Worm Farm