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There are many ways to have a successful worm

farm You can keep worms in a converted fridge

or polystyrene box These instructions focus on

how to use the domestic multi-tray systems

What you will needWhat you will needWhat you will needWhat you will need

diams Worm farm available from most gardening

stores and some councils at a discounted

price

diams Bedding material worm castings shredded

paper andor coco coir block soaked in

water

diams Compost Worms at least one kilo or a

minimum of 1000 worms

diams A worm blanket hessian bag old towel

bath mat or similar

diams Container to catch the worm liquid

Getting startedGetting startedGetting startedGetting started

1 Choose a cool and shady site for your worm

farm either outside or inside (laundry

classroom or balcony)

2 Assemble your worm farm (you wonrsquot need

your second working tray for several months)

Tip Prop up one end slightly so the liquid can

drain out easily

3 Place the cardboard packaging or newspaper

on the bottom of the first working tray (this

has a perforated base) Add prepared bedding

and then the worms

4 Ensure the tap is fully opened with container

underneath and pour in 3-5 litres Some

people prefer to keep the tap open at all

times with a container underneath to prevent

worms drowning in built up liquid

5 Cover with a worm blanket

6 Do not feed for one to two days to allow the

worms to settle in

Adding another trayAdding another trayAdding another trayAdding another tray

7 Add working tray two when the first tray is

almost full so the worms can easily move

between the trays

8 Add a 5 cm layer of bedding worms and

castings (worm humus) to the new tray and

start adding food If you have 3 working trays

repeat steps 7 amp 8

9 After several months the majority of

worms will be in working tray 2 (or 3)

When this tray is

almost full you can

remove the first

tray and use the

castings Keep the

first tray to one side

until the second tray

is full of castings and

repeat from step 7

How to

Worm FarmWorm FarmWorm FarmWorm Farm

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983127983151983154983147983145983150983143 983124983154983137983161 1

983127983151983154983147983145983150983143 983124983154983137983161 2

983159983145983156983144

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How to feedHow to feedHow to feedHow to feed

Worms eat their body weight in food each day

Do not over feed your worms

Worms donrsquot have teeth they suck in food The smaller the food particle the more they can eat

Tip Blend chop or freeze then thaw food in the sun Bury the food in the beddingcastings do not

leave it on top

If food consists mainly of food scraps (high in moisture) add a handful of garden lime every

fortnight to reduce acidity and add shredded newspaper

What to feed your wormsWhat to feed your wormsWhat to feed your wormsWhat to feed your worms

Also see our lsquoHow to Compostrsquo factsheet Visit wwwearthcarersorgau

Worms Love Worms Hate

Teabagscoffee grounds Veggie scraps

Leftovers (raw and cooked) Straw

Pre-moistened paper products Garden refuse

Natural fibre clothing Lawn clippings

Water - water your worms every couple of days with a

litre of water Tip re-use cool water from pasta etc

Citrus peel

Onion

Garlic

Meat

Dairy

Problem Likely Cause Solution

Smelly worm farmToo much uneaten food and not

enough aeration

Stop adding food sprinkle some garden lime

and gently aerate top layer

Vinegar fliesThese are harmless but may

indicate too much foodCut back on how much you are feeding them

AntsThis is an indication of the

bedding being too dry or acidic

Add water and garden lime Put worm farm

legs in tubs of water with a few drops of

kerometho or smear Vaseline around the

legs Bury the food

Escaping worms

Some worms will move up the sides

and onto the lid - this is fine If

there are masses of them there

may be problems in the bedding

Monitor the moisture level food amounts and

add a little lime Gently aerate the bedding

Worms in the

liquid trayThis is usually due to heat

On hot days add a layer of newspaper soaked

in cool water on top of the bedding or place a

frozen bottle of water on the blanket Avoid

manures and grass clippings as these are

known to heat up as the break down

1000 worms = 1 cup of food per day

983159983145983156983144

983124983144983141 983127983141983155983156983141983154983150 983109983137983154983156983144 983107983137983154983141983154983155 983120983154983151983143983154983137983149 983145983155 983140983141983148983145983158983141983154983141983140 983138983161 983156983144983141 983127983141983155983156983141983154983150 983117983141983156983154983151983152983151983148983145983156983137983150 983122983141983143983145983151983150983137983148 983107983151983157983150983139983145983148 983151983150 983138983141983144983137983148983142 983151983142983098

How to feedHow to feedHow to feedHow to feed

Worms eat their body weight in food each day

Do not over feed your worms

Worms donrsquot have teeth they suck in food The smaller the food particle the more they can eat

Tip Blend chop or freeze then thaw food in the sun Bury the food in the beddingcastings do not

leave it on top

If food consists mainly of food scraps (high in moisture) add a handful of garden lime every

fortnight to reduce acidity and add shredded newspaper

What to feed your wormsWhat to feed your wormsWhat to feed your wormsWhat to feed your worms

Also see our lsquoHow to Compostrsquo factsheet Visit wwwearthcarersorgau

Worms Love Worms Hate

Teabagscoffee grounds Veggie scraps

Leftovers (raw and cooked) Straw

Pre-moistened paper products Garden refuse

Natural fibre clothing Lawn clippings

Water - water your worms every couple of days with a

litre of water Tip re-use cool water from pasta etc

Citrus peel

Onion

Garlic

Meat

Dairy

Problem Likely Cause Solution

Smelly worm farmToo much uneaten food and not

enough aeration

Stop adding food sprinkle some garden lime

and gently aerate top layer

Vinegar fliesThese are harmless but may

indicate too much foodCut back on how much you are feeding them

AntsThis is an indication of the

bedding being too dry or acidic

Add water and garden lime Put worm farm

legs in tubs of water with a few drops of

kerometho or smear Vaseline around the

legs Bury the food

Escaping worms

Some worms will move up the sides

and onto the lid - this is fine If

there are masses of them there

may be problems in the bedding

Monitor the moisture level food amounts and

add a little lime Gently aerate the bedding

Worms in the

liquid trayThis is usually due to heat

On hot days add a layer of newspaper soaked

in cool water on top of the bedding or place a

frozen bottle of water on the blanket Avoid

manures and grass clippings as these are

known to heat up as the break down

1000 worms = 1 cup of food per day