Having two in-ground worm farms has seen my veggie patch improve in leaps and bounds. Because of this looking after my worms is a priority. They don’t ask for too much really – providing them with food is all the maintenance I need to do. When I first got my worm farms, my idea of how much worms would eat wasn’t realistic.
I thought I would throw in a mountain of scraps and they would plow their way through it! Little did I know that they needed to grow and build up their numbers so small amounts of food was required at this initial stage. Once that amount of food was gone, I would add a little bit more.
I did have some idea of what to feed them. After they had a worm workshop, the kids came home from school and told me all about what worms liked to eat. Citrus and onion were only to be given in small amounts. They liked most other fruit and veggie scraps.
Chopping up these scraps into small pieces helps the worms as well. Worms don’t have teeth to help them chew food. I have been laughed at by a friend when he asked what I was doing after seeing me chopping up the veggie scraps. I like to keep my hard worm workers happy so if it means chopping up the veggie scraps then so be it. I haven’t yet pulled out the food processor to whizz up the scraps but who knows maybe one day.
However, it isn’t necessary to chop up the scraps either. I have also thrown in the scraps as is but I will try to make sure the pieces aren’t too big.
Ripped mushroom paper bags, coffee grounds and crushed eggshells also go into my worm farm. If you can get cow or horse poo they will also like that. I have put horse poo in there once when I was putting some into my veggie patch. I have read that if the animals have been given anti-worming medication not to use their poo in a worm farm.
Just like us, shelter from the elements and having a comfortable home will keep worms happy. My worm farm has a lid to stop the rain from getting in. Because of this you will need to check that the worm farm doesn’t get too dry. I found in the beginning I would have to spray the hose in there every now and then. But as the worms numbers increase and more scraps are able to be put in the bucket, I have found I haven’t had to do this. The worm farm stays moist without extra water.
I have noticed on sunny days the worms go to ground. They aren’t visible when I check on them. I guess it is too warm for them topside! If you have a worm farm that isn’t in-ground, put this in a space that doesn’t get too hot.
Finally, observing your worms will give your an idea of their happiness level. If the food you are giving them is getting eaten and you can see their numbers building then all is well in the worm world.
It was a bit hard to get a photo that showed all the worms – they keep on wriggling under the ground because of the light!
How do you keep your worms happy? Please feel free to share in the comments below.
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Hi just checking regarding bought compost worms. My understanding is that they are imported eg red wrigglers, so they can take over our native worms in our vege gardens…I actually have nightmares about this! Thank you for writing about such a great topic ☺
Compost worms are the rubby wrigglers. I do not think they are imported, might have migrated with the first settlers. I have a worm farm and they just arrived I did not buy any worms. They keep to the compost, they do not like to be in the open in the garden soil. This area is the domain of the big grey looking worms. I hope that it helps with your nightmares A.nnette
Thanks Barbara – yep, I find that my compost worms stay close to their food source. 🙂
I have a three tiered one out of the ground. I too was under the misunderstanding that you could throw a heap of scraps in but have had to limit how much goes in over the years. Once I put too much in and I could smell and see the rot so extra lime and dry leaves and straw rescued the colony. I also flush 5 ltrs of water through every now and then and collect the water to put on the garden. The worms seem to love it as does the garden. I was keeping a fibre type covering directly on top of the dirt but they kept eating it and I’d have to replace it, then I started using damp newspapers that they also ate. Now I am using an old piece of carpet. They seem to like having an covering over the top of the soil before the lid. The colony is under our patio near the BBQ. Gets a bit of rain blow in sometimes but it is in the shade. We often go away for three or more weeks at a time so I give them am extra serve of food and find that everything is still ok when we get back.
Did you use compost worms or set your worm farm up in the garden and then rely on ordinary garden worms?
we sectioned a square of ground with a low brick wall made with holes between each of the bricks. The back yard had been covered in concrete for many years and nothing had been planted. We threw everything in that worm farm: citrus, onions, meat scraps, chicken bones (but not animal bones because they are too big. It made the most wonderful compost for many years. And the worms just arrived on their own initiative.
We collected our kitchen scraps in a lidded bucket and when that was full it got dug into the compost (one third of the area) and covered over with compost. Next week, the bucket got put in the next third and the following week, the third third. By the time we had to return to the first third, the worms had done their work. Because all that gup was buried it didn’t smell.
When they were seen to be huddled in a bunch that was a sign that the compost needed a handful of lime sprinkled over it.
Hi Wendy
The worm farm I bought came with a compost worm bomb – this was a package with loads of worms eggs and some baby worms.
Nat
Where can you find the in the ground worm farms
Hi Jeanette
https://www.gardenware.com.au/worm-farms-no-fuss-way-look-soil/ – just scroll down to the sub heading, Wanting to buy a worm farm.
Nat 🙂