xc Worm Farming: May 2006

Thursday, May 18, 2006

This process was not quite as easy as it sounded. There were quite a few worms left in the 'compost' and I ended up donning a thick pair of gardening gloves, 'sieving' through the compost with my hands and removing the worms to replace them back into the wormery.

I couldn't decide whether these were 'loser' worms who had never made it out of the bottom level, or 'champion worms with attitude' who headed to the upper levels for feasting and returned to the lower levels for a rest.

Anyway, rescued (recaptured?!) most of the worms and have put them back in the wormery. This process took about half an hour and I can't help thinking there must be a better way. Any other worm farmers out there with any suggestions?

It occurs to me that this is the first full cycle of the wormery. We started in January, so it has taken about 4-5 months to fill the wormery with scraps and get the first compost out. It will be interesting to see how long it takes now for a level to be ready for emptying.

Will now start to monitor (roughly!) how much waste is being consumed by our worms.....

posted by blogaboutstuff @ 4:15 AM   1 comments

All three levels full

As all three levels of the can-o-worms are full (as described below) it is time to address the issue of putting the 'compost' from the bottom level on the garden. Not sure what to do about all the worms that are still in there. Contacted Wiggley Wrigglers and they suggested removing the bottom layer and leaving in the light for a while. The worms would then dig down into the 'compost' (they don't like light) and I could remove the compost a layer at a time. Right......here goes......

posted by blogaboutstuff @ 4:12 AM   0 comments

Saturday, May 13, 2006


Worm Wee
Continuing to tap off 'worm wee' (named by Peggy our neighbour!) from the bottom of the 'can-o-worms). As we are advised to use this diluted one part to ten, we are 'harvesting' more than we can use on our own garden. However, have friend with allotment who seems happy to give it a go (it's on its way Emily!).

It seems that the amount of 'worm wee' that requires draining increases significantly after a period of rain. We have a rain cover on the top of the can-o-worms. Is the aparent rain/quantity link just a coincidence?

posted by blogaboutstuff @ 3:01 AM   0 comments


The top level of the Can-o-Worms looks like this. There are some worms in this level working away.

I am wondering when I should start emptying out the lowest level. If I were to do it at the moment, it seems that many worms would be within the material and would be lost to the wormery. Is this just part of the process?

posted by blogaboutstuff @ 2:56 AM   0 comments


The middle level of the 'can-o-worms' looks like this, there don't seem to be many worms (that I can see) in this level.

posted by blogaboutstuff @ 2:55 AM   0 comments



Now have all three levels of 'can-o-worms' in operation. The bottom level looks like really good composted type material, very dark brown in colour (see pic. attached). There is still a lot of worm activity in the level, I can see them at the top whenever I take a look. Should they still be down in this bottom level?

You can see in the photo that some seeds have started to grow in this bottom level (obviously something which does not require any light to grow!).

posted by blogaboutstuff @ 2:49 AM   0 comments

Monday, May 01, 2006

Flies seem to have done their thing and gone now, so that wasn't too much of a problem.

posted by blogaboutstuff @ 8:48 PM   0 comments