So you’ve decided you want to start your worm farm. You’ve made a new home for your worms, and everything is set up and ready to start your vermiculture project, but now you might be afraid to keep these little creatures alive and happy. Because there is no need to feel overwhelmed by this, and vermicomposting should be a stress relief activity, here is a short and easy guide with the essentials of caring for your worm bin to ensure a thriving worm population and nutrient-dense compost. The good thing is, worms are pretty low maintenance creatures. They do pretty well if they are nearly neglected. As long as the conditions are just right, your worms will thrive.
Feeding Guidelines
Worms are not picky eaters, but certain foods are better for their well-being. Provide a balanced diet of fruit and vegetable scraps, coffee grounds, eggshells, and small amounts of grains.
- What to avoid. Try not to feed them citrus fruits, onions, garlic, and spicy foods, as these can be too acidic or irritating for the worms.
- Amount of food. Moderation is key when feeding your worms. Overfeeding can lead to uneaten food and unpleasant odors. Start with small amounts and gradually increase as the worm population grows.
- Bedding. Every time you feed your worms, add bedding; the bedding at the bottom will absorb the water that comes out as the food breaks down. The bedding on the top will stop fruit flies from being attracted to the food in your bin and have clean vermiculture practices.
Maintaining Optimal Conditions
- Temperature: Keep your worm bin in a temperature range of 55°F to 77°F (13°C to 25°C). Worms are most active in these conditions, and their metabolism functions optimally.
- Moisture: Maintain the moisture level in the bin to keep it similar to a wrung-out sponge. If the bedding appears dry, mist it with water. Conversely, if it’s too wet, add more dry bedding materials.
- Ensure drainage. The holes at the bottom of your worm bin may clog, so constantly check that there is liquid draining out of the bottom of the container; if this is not happening, add more holes and remove the solid material that might be blocking the existing ones; you don’t want any flood in the bin.
- Aeration: Worms need oxygen to thrive. Ensure proper aeration by regularly turning the bedding with a fork or gently fluffing it up. This helps prevent compacted and anaerobic conditions.
- Darkness. Have you noticed that every time you open a bin with worms, they hide into the bedding below? This is because they do not like a lot of light, so store your worm bin in a dark place in order to keep them happier.
Harvest every 3 months
Imagine yourself crawling in your own waste… Not a nice image, right? It is the same with vermiculture, so if you want them to thrive and be happy, it is recommended that you take them out every 2-3 months. They will not die if you don’t do this, but population might not grow as fast as expected.
Maintaining a healthy worm bin is a rewarding and environmentally conscious way to reduce kitchen waste while producing nutrient-rich compost for your plants. Congratulations for taking this step to a stress relief garden. By following these suggestions you will make this activity fun and enjoyable.
Happy vermiculture composting!