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The Traditional Way
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Worm farms can be started in a two to thirty gallon container or in a layered compost pile in the yard. A bin can be easily made out of cinder blocks, or buy a plastic bin or bucket. Drill holes in
the bottom for drainage or water. Drill holes in the lid for Air.
Fill with moist natural bedding (tree mulch,
shredded leaves, and old plants, making sure they are not diseased and mold free) or normal garden soil.
Keep bedding light and fluffy, never packed down. Mix in water if necessary and
keep lightly moist. The compost pile should be about two feet or higher to heat up properly.
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Foods To Feed Your Earthworms |
Earthworms have food preferences. They prefer certain tree leaves, and certain plant material to others. Instead of throwing away certain foods, feed them to the earthworms.
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Banana Peels
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Grass Clippings |
Egg Shells** |
Orange Peels |
Cabbage |
Kale |
Apples |
Carrots |
Tea Leaves |
Grapefruit Rinds |
Celery |
Coffee Grounds |
Pears |
Cucumbers |
Jack 'o Lanterns*** |
Tomatoes |
Lettuce |
Watermelon Rinds |
Onion Peels |
Beans |
Cantaloupe Rinds |
Soaked Bread* |
Broccoli |
Cornmeal**** |
*Soak your bits of bread in milk.
**Many people put eggshells in the compost pile. Our Nevada soil has an abundance of calcium, so eggshells are not recommended if where you live the soil also has calcium.
***Pumpkin and other seeds in a compost pile may result in the seeds growing. Turn them under with a garden fork so the worms can enjoy the young tender growth while they are newly sprouted.
****A weekly handful of finely ground cornmeal gives them needed nutrients for them to multiply quickly.
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Tips And Facts About Earthworms And Worm Farms |
Keeping The Balance
Avoid feeding only acidic scraps such as citrus peels. Worms prefer PH balanced foods, especially breads, cooked grains and vegetables.
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Does It Smell? |
| A bad smell indicates something is wrong. If there is uneaten food going rotten - remove it, and stop feeding for a while. Maybe the bin is too wet? Check the drain holes for clogs, or drain by gently tipping, or dig a trench in the middle and sop up excess water with paper towels or a turkey baster. |
Is There Fruit Flies?
Avoid fruit flies by burying all fruit peels deep under the soil. If fruit flies are a problem, vacuum up the flies when you open the bin, bury fruit scraps deep under and trap any remaining flies by putting sweet soda pop in a jar or cup. Tape the corner of a plastic bag over the rim with a hole in the corner that protrudes downward. Avoid fruit scraps if the flies continue to be a problem.
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What Are Earthworms?
They move through the soil, breaking up compacted soil so air and water can circulate more freely. Healthy organic soils have enough earthworms to move forty tons of soil per acre every year. They voraciously consume decaying leaves, grass clippings, and kitchen scraps. As the material goes through their bodies, it changes from waste to fertilizer. As the food processes through their bodies, they expel what is called "casting". A worm will eat the equivalent of its weight each day. As they produce 2,000 to 3,000 offspring each year, they can consume a great deal of waste product. |
Why Earthworms?
Earthworms are good protein and your box turtles love them. :) Don't forget Earthworms are not the only protein source you can give your box turtles. Whole feeder fish (chopped), slugs, snails, tadpoles, earthworms or grubs, and all insects. We feed our box turtles grubs found in our gardens and Roly Poly's.
Keep in mind, earthworms and insects, including feeder crickets, are usually low in calcium and should not be a major part of the protein based foods, but a Cuddle Bone will provide the needed calcium. A Cuddle Bone can be bought in a local pet store in the Bird section. |
Things To Know About Earthworms. |
The Life Of Earthworms
Earthworms are sexually mature in 60 to 90 days and can produce eggs in capsules every seven to ten days. The eggs hatch in 21 to 28 days. Each capsule produces two to twenty baby worms. Worms are hermaphrodites so they all can produce eggs. They reproduce by slipping their heads under the band or collar of another worm. They like to breed and settle in the center of the container where the temperature and moisture are the most constant. Under ideal conditions, one thousand worms can produce one million in a single year.
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Harvesting Worm Compost
After three to six months, begin to harvest compost and add new bedding materials. There are two simple ways to accomplish this: The first is to place the bin under a bright light, (not direct sun light as it will heat the compost and the worms). Worms do not like the bright light. They will move further down into the container as compost is removed. Worms or eggs that are found can be placed back into the bin. The second way is to move all the compost to one side of the bin and add new bedding material and food waste to the empty side. In several days, the worms move to the side with new bedding and food, making the harvest of compost very easy.
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What To Do With The Extra Worm Crop
The worm population will need to be thinned from time to time so they will not over-produce for the size of the container. When harvest is necessary, put the extra worms in the garden or other compost bins, or give them to your friends and neighbors. Or of course, feed some to your turtles, which is the whole point of this care sheet, right?
When planting extra worms in the garden, place about 200 worms in a 12in x12in hole with worm bedding. Space the holes 10 feet apart.
TOP TIP:
-Flower beds would love worms for soil aeration!
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IMPORTANT!
Once the earthworms are in the compost, it is IMPERATIVE to keep the pile moist. Worms do not have lungs, they breathe through their "skin". If it dries out, the worm cannot breathe and will die. Too much moisture will drown the worm.
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Caution!
Do NOT include meat, poultry, fish products, bones, or pet waste when feeding your worms. Use only household and yard waste that is organic plant byproducts, such as vegetable and fruit scraps, coffee grounds, tea leaves, etc.
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How To Make A Worm Farm The Fishermen's Way |
What you'll need is to go to a store that carries fishing gear, and see if they have a cardboard, Styrofoam, or M.D.F worm container. This is something fishermen use to put their worms into so it is easy to keep them alive on a boat for long periods of time without having to refrigerate the worms (you still should). Or if you buy a lot of worms, and you wish for the worms to breed.
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I recommend something like this
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When Buying Your Worms: |
You can buy Earth Worms, or even Night Crawlers for your container. They are kept in the fishing section inside a refrigerator, and are normally inside a styrofoam cup. Make sure that the "Cup-O-Bait" comes with some food and eggs already mixed inside the soil with the worms. This will save you even more trouble taking care of them, and will smell a little less foul.
TOP TIP:
-You can buy worms at Wal-mart if your local sporting goods store does not carry them. However buying earth worms in the bait section can be risky, only do this if other places in your area do not carry natural worms used for composting or food!
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Maintenance |
Normally all you need to do is keep the soil moist, by pouring some water into the soil once a week or when needed.
You should keep the worms refrigerated or in a dark, cool place for several reasons that are listed on the side of your "Cup-O-Bait" cup depending on what brand or species of worm you buy. |
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