Where to Find Worms for Worm Farming

Setting up a worm farm requires three things.  The first is an appropriate bin for containing the worms.  The second is plenty of compost materials to keep the worms properly fed.  We discussed both of these items last week, but of course the most important thing needed for a worm farm is, in fact, the worms. Learning where to find worms is the final step.

It is important to note that worms collected from the garden in the wild should not be used in a worm farm or you may not achieve the results you are looking for.  Various types of worms are available on the market specifically for worm farming.  These worms are sold for traits that make them more desirable for composting or as live bait. 

Red Wiggler (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

An established worm farm can require a large number of worms to be efficient enough to compost enough material for a small family.  Most small worm farms need to start out with at least 1000 worms. 

The first place to find worms for worm farming should be the local bait and tackle stores.  These places typically sell a variety of worms that can be used for both composting and live bait.  The Red Wiggler is known as being the best worm for composting and can usually be found in establishments such as these. 

The Internet provides a mass amount of options for purchasing just about any kind of worm to use in a worm farm.  Red Wigglers, Night Crawlers, Florida Wigglers, egg capsules and even exotic breeds of worms can all be found.  A simple search on any search engine will produce a number of opportunities and choices. 

Purchasing live animals online also means that shipping is something to take into consideration.  Care has to be taken when collecting and packaging the specimens.  Most worms ship well and with ease but shipping methods should be investigated.  Simply ask the supplier what the rate of live arrival is and find out what their shipping methods are.

Local garden centers may also prove helpful as a supply for worms.  Typically they sell other supplies for worm farming as well.  Depending on the geographical location, many garden centers have a full line of the various types of worms available for purchase.  The staff is available to answer questions about worm farming for new beginners.  If a specific type of worm is found to be unavailable at a garden center, an order can often be placed for particular varieties.

Close-up of Red Wiggler worm. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

A commonly overlooked option for locating worms is other worm farmers.  Worm farmers often have a surplus of worms and are more than willing to part with them.  Some are willing to offer them up for free in exchange for taking them off their hands while others will sell them for a low fee. 

Local worm farmers can often be found in the yellow pages under "worms" or "worm farms".  This provides a great source as worm farmers are often more than willing to give tips and hints for a successful farm. 

Worm farming can be fun and rewarding.  Knowing where to find good quality worms is essential in maintaining a successful farm.  Once your worm farm is established, it may one day prove to be yet another outlet and source of worms for those who are new to the worm farming world!  

What’s Vermiposting And How Do I Do It?

Vermiposting is a nice way to say your worms are making manure, and it’s a great way to compost some of your table scraps and vegetable peelings. Heck, the worms will even read your newspaper then eat it (well, that’s a stretch on the reading part.) 

Image via WikipediaEarthworms are good for the earth because they enrich the soil with their castings. These castings are like a bag of the best natural fertilizer and soil conditioner you could ever find for your garden.

Vermiposting is easy to do, inexpensive, and kids really get a kick out of it. Composting through worms is something you can do in the house without fear of bad smells or worrying about worms on the loose, and it’s a way to keep your composting going through the winter when your outside compost heap may be in deep freeze. This is an excellent way to recycle; from kitchen scraps to worms to rich plant food.

How to do it:
First thing to do is get your red wigglers. You can order them online or at some garden stores. The smallest amount they come in is one pound, but you need roughly two pounds of worms per one pound of garbage.

Next, you’ll want to prepare the worms’ home. Buy an 8-10 gallon tub with a lid. Drill holes in the bottom for ventilation, but cover the holes with a screen to keep the little guys from wiggling through. Run your black and white newspaper through a shredder, get it damp, and lay it on the bottom of the tub (on top of the screen.) Next put in some dirt, and on top of that add old leaves, then some compost. This should all be moist, not wet. If too wet, add dry shredded newspaper to absorb moisture.

What to feed them:
Fruit, vegetables, coffee grounds, any organic scraps, grass clippings, and other yard compostables.

What not to feed them:
Onions or garlic (they don’t like them), dairy, oiled or buttered leftovers, meat, or sugar.

The worm bin should not be smelly. If it is, it may be too wet. Quite possibly you may have more scraps in the bin than the worms can handle and the scraps are decomposing before the worms can get to them. Add dry shredded newspaper if it’s too wet or remove excess scraps if they are rotting.

To gather your worm compost, empty the bin out on a tarp so it looks like a mountain. Do this in the sunlight and the worms will dive deep and you can start taking the compost gold off the top. Use it around your plants, on your vegetable garden, or as a tea to water your favorite indoor plants.

Vermiposting is the ultimate in recycling because it gets rid of your food scraps. Plus, it’s good for your garden. I think you will be pleasantly surprised with how easy it is to do and how quickly it becomes a normal routine in your household.

Related articles on Earthworm Composting:

• Earthworms enrich garden soils by composting (mysanantonio.com)
• Earthworms: Just Plain Weird or Truly Beneficial? (brighthub.com)
• Setting Up A Wormery (lifegoggles.com)
• Worm waste key ingredient for soil health (commercialappeal.com)