Vermiculture, or the art of raising worms, is an interesting and potentially financially rewarding hobby or occupation. During these economically challenging times, a supplemental income that requires little time, work or investment can be most appreciated. If you are a fisherman that wants to raise worms for bait or a hobbyist that wants to experiment with a new type of composting, worms are educational and fun to raise. And it is easy to start your own worm farm.

Eco-Friendly Vermiculture

Composting with worms is an earth-friendly way to recycle kitchen and garden waste and turn it into dark, nutrient-rich soil conditioner. Worm composting can be done inside or out and thus allows for year-round recycling. When practicing vermi-composting, you do not have to "turn" the compost pile to provide aeration. Worm farming can be set up in a shed, a basement or garage, or on a large scale in an industrial warehouse. Apartment dwellers, or those with limited space, can have a compact farm in just a small kitchen rubber tub or trash container. You can expand your worm growing operation to any size you wish as long as you have a continual supply of organic waste to feed the worms. Over time, the microorganisms in the soil and the worms will convert the organic waste into rich compost that may be used for houseplants, outdoor gardens and lawns. There is a large and growing market for worm castings. A home grower can readily sell bagged "castings," or vermi-compost, at local farmers markets. The worms multiply quickly. You may choose to use these worms to start more growing bins or sell the worms to garden nurseries, bait shops and pet stores. It is very gratifying to have recycled waste that would have ended up in a landfill and an unlimited source of toxin-free organic compost for the garden; and you can sell the worms and castings.

Setting Up Your Worm Bed

Many growers start out on a small scale. You can make a worm-growing farm from a rubber tub (with lid) or a 5-gallon bucket with a tight-fitting lid. You may wish to purchase a commercial worm bin designed for the small gardener. (Research vendors online or visit your local home and garden center to evaluate the many different worm-growing bins and tubs available.) To build a worm bed at home, simply drill tiny holes in the lid of your container to allow the worms adequate ventilation. (Use a very small holes so that the worms do not escape from the bin.) Place two to three inches of small rocks or pebbles in the bottom of the container. Add two quarts of potting soil. Fill the container or tub half full of shredded newspaper. Drizzle a bit of water over the mixture to dampen. (Damp but not soggy. Aim for the consistency of a wrung-out sponge.) Add used coffee grounds or a cup or two of kitchen scraps. Toss the mixture gently, do not stir up the rocks on the bottom that provide drainage. Place the container in a sheltered spot out of the direct sun and in a place where there is no danger of freezing temperatures. (Worms do best at temperatures from 55 to 80 degrees Farenheit.) Now you are ready to add your worms.

Purchase A Starter Stock Of Worms

To start recycling your kitchen waste and composting with worms, purchase a breeding stock of red worms. One pound, around 1,000 worms, will get you off to a good start. Worms can be purchased online or from lawn and garden centers and organic product distributors. Look for brightly colored, firm and active worms. Choose Georgia red wigglers for their hearty appetites. Regular earthworms do not grow or multiply as quickly.

Feeding Your Worms

Most kitchen organic waste is perfect for feeding to the worms. Fruit and vegetable scraps, peelings and cores, coffee grounds, tea bags, rice, pasta, bread products, grains and table scraps can be added to the worm bin. Do not add excess amounts of scraps that have a high citric or vinegar content, as these can be harmful to your worms. Avoid fats and meat products. Although the worms will consume these over time, they produce strong odors. If you have a larger worm bin or compost pile to which you have added worms you may feed it with shredded newspaper, torn scraps of cardboard, aged grass clippings, dried leaves, garden waste and trimmings, along with aged manure from herbivores (cows, sheep, horses, goats and lamas). If you are feeding a lot of worm bins, ask your local espresso stand or coffee shop to save the coffee grounds. Georgia red wiggler worms love coffee. So throw it in the worm bin, filter and all.

Harvesting Your Worms

To harvest worms for sale or fishing, dig a couple of shallow depressions or trenches into the top of the mixture in the worm bin. Sprinkle about 1/4 inch of cornmeal in the depression. Put the lid back on the bin. In 24 hours the worms will have migrated to the top of the soil to feed on the cornmeal and they can be easily scooped out with a small garden trowel. Place a piece of window screen over a bucket and deposit the worms on the screen. Most of the soil will fall through the screen and you can easily place the worms in small containers containing damp peat moss. (Stryrofoam cups with slotted lids work very well for this purpose.) Store in a cool place until sold or used. Bag the casting for sale or add to houseplants and gardens.

Source:

Southern Bait Worms

Nandu Green Earth Friendly Living: Red worm composting

University of Kentucky: Raising mealworms or fishing worms

Resource:

TheFarm.org: Catching and Keeping Worms For Bait

Aggie Horticulture: Home Worm Production

SustainableEnterprises.com: Coffee and gardening