Some people find themselves thinking about how little effort it would take to make a bit of extra cash when it comes to worm farming. Perhaps the thought of having a personal supply of nutrient rich soil for the garden or flower beds sounds appealing. Either way, it's important to know how to set up a proper worm farm for your specific requirements.
Worm farming can be rewarding both financially and environmentally so it's important to understand the benefits and the reasons why you would want to take up worm farming. For starters, worms are able to provide you with an almost unlimited supply of nutrient rich soil. You can also aid the planet environmentally with worm farming. Worms are a great composting technique and they will eat virtually anything that is organic in nature. This includes newspapers, cardboard and kitchen scraps. Some worm farms are established for the purpose of providing live bait to fishermen, exotic pet owners and even aquarium fish owners.
With the purpose of the worm farm in mind you can now begin the set up process in your Calgary landscape design. One of the best ways to start is with a worm farming bin. These are readily available online or at your local gardening supply store. Various sizes, shapes, and colors add to the selection. Some large scale worm farms will often have these setups available at reasonable prices.
If you like to do it yourself you could even try making your own out of common household items. A modified plastic tub or a large wooden box is all you need to make a nice home for your worms.
Multiple layers are required to provide a space for the liquid run off at the bottom of your Calgary landscape design. The liquid will run off the soil above and can be drained via a tap or hole at the bottom of the container. Worms move about and live in the very top layer. It is on this top layer that you put all of your composting material for the worms to munch on.
There are many models of worm farms available that are made specifically for those of us who don't have backyards and need to put it in indoors. Worm bins can typically be stacked for adding more worms later on.
The proper bedding material is required to keep your worms healthy and happy. Using peat moss or coconut fiber interspersed with compost material are two such options. It is important to keep the bedding moist for the worms. When you purchase prepackaged worms you will more than likely get the bedding material with them as well as some instructions.
Location of the bin is important as well in your Calgary landscape design. Worms are unable to tolerate extremes in temperature. A controlled temperature of between 72 - 75 degrees Fahrenheit is perfect. Another option is to choose a fully insulated system to avoid extremes in temperature ranges. Your bin may dry out too quickly or stay too moist if you locate it in the wrong position.
When you have all of the above conditions met you now just need to add worms There are many species of worms that are readily available all boxed up and ready to go. If you are mostly using worms for compost Red Wigglers would be your best bet but for live bait you would want to go for the European Night Crawlers.
When worms are purchased, they typically come with acclimation instructions. An important step is to be sure the bedding and unit are fully prepared before the worms arrive for placement within the farm.
Now for the fun part, feeding the worms of your Calgary landscape design. There are a wide variety of items you can use as worm food. Fruit and vegetable scraps, egg shells, newspapers, cotton rags, cardboard boxes pre-soaked, leaves, dirt and even hair. Items should be cut down to manageable sizes. Fruits should be sliced into strips for easier consumption by the worms.
All of your composting materials are layered on the top layer of soil. If you only add food once most the previous food has been consumed you will avoid the problem overfeeding.
You will find worm castings in the bottom layer of soil. Worm castings are one of nature's most powerful fertilizers and you can add it straight to the garden. If your plants like a good dousing with water you can make a liquid version by just adding water.
Your worms will require very little maintenance once you have them established. Worms who aren't happy with their home will simply crawl away in search of greener pastures. Your worms will be happy to shack up with you if you keep up a fresh supply of food, good moisture levels and a constant temperature.
Having a worm fun can be both fun and profitable.
Written by:
Custom Stone and Waterscapes
3829 Parkhill Place SW,
Calgary, AB T2S 2W6
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