Worm Farms are simply the best way of disposing of everything from leaf mould and grass clippings to coffee grounds, tea bags and soggy newspapers. Worms are nature's recycling system and given a happy home they are very efficient.
Worms like a warm, moist position, sheltered from direct sunlight. And a worm farm in the right position will make for happy worms. Worms best suited for worm farms are a little different to the normal 'garden worm', red worms (Eisenia fetida) also known as 'red wrigglers' are really great workers, tiger worms, and indian blue worms are all commonly used.
You can construct a simple worm farm by using an old polystyrene box, the type with drainage holes, although the new commercial 'stackable' worm farms are really efficient and we do use these ourselves. Worms like a nice place to start living, so try a bedding mix of moist well shredded coconut fibre or 'coir peat' well rotted, but not to moist compost will also do.
What will you get from the worm far?
Liquid fertilizer or 'worm tea'. Use this as liquid fertilizer, make sure you use it immediately, or ensure that you aerate it before use by pouring back and forth between containers.
Vermicaste or worm castings. This is just the best fertilizer you can get, 'natures own'. Use one cup to 1 gallon of water as a liquid fertilizer.
It is also worth exploring COMPOSTING as a means of household waste reconciling |