Comprehensive instructions for worm farms can be purchased from The Worm Shed. Here are some basic FAQs to get you started:
Q. How do I look after my worms during hot weather?
A.
Keep them cool and out of the sun, limit feeding (the worms won't starve), add ice packs under the blanket, and prop the lid of the worm farm open. Keep their bedding moist at all times, but don't add more water if the bedding is already hot, or else you'll boil your worms. Just add ice packs at that stage, and water your worm farm after it cools down.
Q. What should I do before going away?
A.
Make sure the worm farm is in a cool and shady place. Ensure the worms have plenty of moist shredded paper for bedding, but don't overfeed with food scraps. If you're going away for an extended period of time or during the height of Summer, you can put the trays into your garden. For more information on how to do this and how to collect the worms upon your return, contact us to grab yourself an instruction booklet.
Q. There are red mites in my worm farm. Will they harm the worms?
A.
The red mites are not a problem. They will not harm the worms, and they will also help to break down the food. Red mites tend to come & go, appearing when particular types of food are used, like yeast products. If you want to get rid of them, try sprinkling on some dolomite (garden lime). Our instruction booklet explains the appearance of various critters and whether or not they are worrisome.
Q. Worms are on the inside walls and lid of my worm farm. Are they trying to escape?
A.
Often, the worms just wander about because they can; it’s not at all uncommon to see a few worms on the inside walls or lid of your worm farm, or gathering around some food that they really like.
However, when worms are clumping together in corners & around edges of the worm farm, this indicates that there is something wrong with the bedding they’re in and they are doing their utmost to get away from it. This requires your immediate attention to determine what the problem is & rectify it.
Q. I have had my farm operating for a while now, but it seems to be taking a long time to fill up with castings?
A.
It is very important to add plenty of shredded paper on a regular basis for the following reasons:
- It helps to aerate the bedding.
- It creates more surface area for bacteria to colonise.
- Worms need 4 times more Carbon (paper, cardboard etc) than Nitrogen (food scraps/green waste).
- As food scraps are mostly liquid, the paper adds bulk for the worms to process.
Q. How do I keep ants out of my worm farm?
A.
Stand the worm farm legs in containers of water & add a few drops of Methylated Spirits or Kerosene. To prevent attracting ants in the first place, make sure you bury food scraps completely in the bedding & do not overfeed.