1The basics
The secret to happy worm farming is happy worms. Worms farm the bacteria that break down your food scraps and keep the bacteria balanced. Worms are easy to maintain if you remember they prefer a comfortable temperature (generally between 10-25C), darkness, and need to be kept moist but not too wet.
Worms need: air, moisture, food, and shelter protected from direct sunlight and rain.
Shelter
Your worm farm is best kept in a protected outdoor location out of direct rain and sunlight. You can even keep it indoors.
Food
Feed your worms predominantly fruit and vegetable scraps, small amounts of brown garden organics like dry leaves, hay or mulch, but not green garden organics like grass or sticks.
Air
Worms breathe through their skin, so need plenty of air. Ensure moisture drains freely out of the farm so the worm bedding does not become boggy and limit oxygen.
Moisture
Your farm should be moist, but not wet. You can pour a little water through it each week if necessary or if you're not getting enough worm wee.
Tips
It's best to avoid food waste in the first place.
There are many easy ways to do this, including planning your weekly meals in advance, serving just the right amount of food, loving your leftovers and more.
Download our Food Lovers Masterclass and learn how to plan & shop for meals like a pro in just 15 minutes!
Did you know?
- Worms eat their own body weight in food each day, though they are not actually eating the food but the bacteria on the surface of the food.
- The worms in worm farms are a mix of breeds called 'compost worms', and are different from earthworms.
- Compost worms self-regulate their population, only breeding within the boundaries of the amount of space and food you give them.
