Segment: Earthworms
Episode: Spring 2019, Ep07
Presenter: Bonnie-Marie Hibbs
TX Date: 19th October 2019

If you’re looking to make your own compost for your garden, installing a worm farm is a great option for you.

• Installing a worm farm is a great project to do with the kids – it will show them not only the process of caring for worms in the backyard but also how we can be a lot more food wise.
• Be careful choosing the position for your worm farm, as it will need to be in a sheltered area where they will receive warmth during winter but be protected from the harsh sun during the summer.
• There are three layers to a worm farm, with the bottom layer being their bathroom. This is where the liquid waste ends up, which can be diluted to 1-part liquid waste to 9-parts water in a standard watering can. This will add a lot of nutrients to the soil, giving your plants a big boost.
• The next layer is the worm’s living area, which is the first place you’ll place them when setting up the farm. To help settle your worms, add a few layers of damp newspaper.
• The top layer is the kitchen. If you have just installed your fam, give the worms a smaller food portion; once they begin to multiply and grow, around 500g of food is plenty, and will take them around a week to eat.
• You can add crushed egg shells, ground coffee, tea bags, grass clippings, and chopped up food scraps. Avoid giving them meat or citrus scraps, as this is not good for them.
• Once this has been composted down, you get rich, coloured worm castings. This is fantastic compost to use around your garden – you can use a few handfuls around your potted plants, or use it in the veggie garden.