RED WIGGLER

• Worm Castings

Worm castings are the richest form of natural fertiliser known to man. It promotes a
higher than average growth in plants (ideal to start seedlings, when mixed with
potting mix or as a top-dressing around plants).

• How Much Will Earthworms Eat

Earthworms will chomp (suck, really!) their way through about ½ their own weight in
food each day. 1kg of worms will consume about 500g of food per day.

• Basic Worm Farming

· Provide a dark moist environment that is not disturbed too often.
· Provide loads of bedding (for e.g. shredded and damp newspaper, cardboard, straw, leaves, compost or Hessian bag). Layers of bedding laid over the surface of the bin helps prevent the worm bin from drying out too much.

• Provide food.

• Where to place farm

· Place your worm farm in a convenient, cool and shady spot.
· Worms do well in temperatures between 50 and 80 degrees.
· Your worm farm can be kept indoors (in the garage, shed, laundry or even under
the kitchen sink) or out doors.
· It is important that your worm farm stays cool and moist, and is kept out of direct
sun, (heat build up in the bin from direct sun will kill the worms).

• Bedding

Bedding is what the worms live in. The worms will also eat the bedding so it needs to
be replaced regularly. Shredded damp newspaper (no colour ink preferably) is the
most convenient type of bedding. Straw, shredded paper or cardboard, coir
(coconut fibre), Hessian, cotton rags or old leaves can also be used. A mixture of
these things makes a good bedding material. 'Aged' horse or cow manure can also
be used. (Fresh manure can heat up). Soak the bedding materials in water for a
while, squeeze out the excess water before placing it in the bin. IMPORTANT all new
bedding and soil must be moist before placing in bin.

1. Line the worm farm with wet newspaper.
2. Fill half the bin with bedding materials.
3. A few handfuls of soil should be added to the bedding to supply a "grit" to aid in the worm's digestion process and to introduce helpful digesting micro-organisms into the bin.
4. Add the worms to the bedding material.
5. Make sure the worm bin has a lid. This helps prevent the worm bin from drying out, helps keep “undesirables” out and helps keep the light out.
6. Layers of unshredded newspaper, Hessian or cotton fabric should be placed over the bedding and it acts as an additional covering.
7. Your worm farm should be kept moist (the consistency of a damp sponge is ideal), especially in hot and windy weather.
   
   << Prev - Next >>
   
   

   < Prev