Worm Farm Here at Last
Our worm farm arrived and now it is time to assemble it and set it up ready for our worms.
Got back from an extended period away from the inter-net and computers to find hundreds of emails needing attention and a worm farm sitting in my neighbours’ hall way! So – I sent a text to my great-nephew, Jake, who is going to be my right-hand worm man and arranged for him to visit. I get a mixed reception to worms from children. Some love them, some run screaming. They get little sympathy from me, I’m afraid, just a quick lesson on the beauty of the different faces of nature and little creatures that help us.
With great anticipation, this week Jake and I worked on assembling the worm farm and setting it up ready to receive our worm guests. It proved to be very easy and my staunch assistant did most of it (he is 8 years old) with great enthusiasm and understanding. We took the advice of the suppliers of the multi-tiered worm farm I had chosen and prepared it according to their instructions, using the supplied coir block as the bedding. This only needed to be soaked in a bucket of water and then squeezed out. Assembling it was a breeze.
My secret worm ‘guru’, Bentley, from Red Worm Composting, suggested adding some food right away, so as to prepare the bed for the worms upon their imminent arrival. Doing that and leaving it for a week or so allows the new home to mature, so to speak, making a more comfortable environment for our new charges.
They have now been ordered and we look forward to receiving them in a few days’ time.
So exciting. All the children are waiting to make new worm-friends and I hope to end up with three great-nieces and a nephew who do not run screaming to the hills at the thought of handling and looking after these amazing little creatures. Actually, I know that they won’t! And – I can now confirm that assembling the worm farm was child’s play! Yes – it is official. Children can do it!
Thank you, 1st Worm Assistant!
My new worm bin arrived on Friday!
The one at the community garden is now being looked after by someone else, although he still has a bit to learn… I put a laminated “worm menu” up next to it though. He keeps putting a new tray on before the last one is full, and emptying the bottom one too early. They are also given whole apples, cooked food and goodness knows what else. The towel I put on top to keep them moist ended up in a middle tray. Ah well, what do I know. The worms look happy and they are busy laying eggs. We’ve had them nearly a year now and they finally seem up to full speed.
I decided to get my own to keep on my balcony and provide castings for my balcony planters. I haven’t ordered the worms yet (or opened it and set it up) as I may be moving soon. It’s taken over a month to get a courier to successfully deliver it and I didn’t know that before. So I’m going to hold off for a while.
Hi Sarah,
Thanks for stopping by.
I am still waiting for my worms. It is a long drawn-out process, isn’t it? I laughed when I read about your worms and what they are eating. I have read thousands of words about doing this and each person has their own “rules”. No citrus – citrus, tomatoes – no tomatoes, holes in bin – no holes in bin, opaque bin, yes – opaque bin, not necessary. Goes on and on. Same with Bokashi. I think we tend to over-analyse, maybe. Anyway I’ll tell you after a month or so of looking after mine. If I end up with a ‘deadliness’ of worms I will have to get a grip, start again and hope that second time proves more successful. It seems a bit hard that the worms will have to pay the price, though.
Here’s to the arrival of the extended family!
Offering to baby-sit?