Worm Farming (Vermicomposting)
Kitchen waste and garden waste can be regenerated to produce wonderful compost and other by-products that enhance soil fertility. This is cheaper and more sustainable than paying to transport biodegradable waste elsewhere, and spending good money on compost and chemical fertilisers
Build your own
Create your own worm farm. It could be a 'tower' of old car tyres, an old cooler box or tea box, or large bin with lid and drainage hole/tap. When it's ready, get a handful of worms from a friend or from the SHE Officer. Here are some ideas:
Worm farm facts
- Eisenia worms - known as 'red tigers' or 'red wigglers' - break down organic kitchen waste and create 'vermicompost' and 'vermi-tea'.
- Vermicompost: dig into the garden or use in potting soil.
- Vermi-tea: dilute 1:10 in water and use as a liquid fertiliser for garden and pot plants.
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Worms like: Organic materials such as fruit & veg scraps, avo pips and skins, egg shells, tea bags, coffee grinds, paper scraps, bread crusts, shredded paper, card, sawdust, kraal manure, grass cuttings (in small quantities), leaves, etc.
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Worms DON'T like: Animal protein, milk products, oil, fat, acidic items (like onion, pineapple, lemons, garlic, chilli, etc), non-biodegradable and domestic waste.
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DNA research at North-West University (2012) found Eisenia andrei in more than 10 worm farms in 4 provinces in South Africa. E. andrei (the 'red tiger') grows and reproduces more quickly than E. fetida, so is the most useful for worm farming.
Last Modified: Fri, 07 Feb 2020 08:38:21 SAST
