How to Set Up a Mid-Scale Worm Farm Business Plan

Growing earthworms can be a profitable and straightforward proposition.

Worms are simple, straightforward creatures to care for. Many people choose to raise worms to use for composting and disposing of kitchen waste. Other people raise worms as bait, or bird, chicken and reptile food. If you are thinking of raising worms for yourself, consider starting a business of raising worms to sell to others.

Things You'll Need

• Box or bin (2 feet by 3 feet)
• Shredded newspaper (about 10 lbs)
• Garden/Potting soil (about 1 gallon)
• Water
• Red worms (about 2 lbs per 1 lb of garbage)

Instructions

1. Build a marketing plan for your worm farm business. Do research on the local market to decide whether this will be a successful enterprise. Build contacts with bait shops, home and garden centers and pet stores to determine whether they're willing to accept your business as a worm supplier. It's a good idea to get contacts and future contracts set up before you begin raising worms.

2. Put together your worm farm. Fill a wooden box with a mixture of 1/2 shredded paper and 1/2 potting or garden soil. Pour water over the mixture and leave it to settle for 24 hours. Put the box in a safe place where it will be protected from drafts.

3. Purchase red worms from a bait shop, pet store or home and garden center. If you buy from a bait shop, talk to the owner or manager about harvesting bait for them. Put the worms into your worm farm and allow them to dig into the bedding.

4. Maintain the necessary conditions for your worms. Keep the box in an area that consistently maintains temperatures of 70 to 80 degrees F. Moisten the bedding at least once a week, and fold kitchen scraps into the soil at least every third day.

5. Advertise your worm farm business while the worms are growing. Continue networking with businesses and those that might use you as a supplier. Settle on your price point. Advertise bait and worms for private buyers by posting flyers and taking out ads in the newspaper.

6. Clean the box and harvest the worms every three months, or when you have an order to fill. Gather the worms, dump the bedding in your garden and sell the large worms. Put new bedding in the box and replace the smaller worms to continue growing.

Tips & Warnings

• Consider selling compost to private gardeners, as well as the worms.

• Freezing temperatures and dry soil will kill earthworms.

References

• Aggie-Horticulture: Home Worm Production
• WSU.edu: Composting with Red Worms