Last updated on October 23rd, 2023 at 08:34 pm
More and more people don’t just want to throw away their kitchen waste, they would like to use it themselves. But how can you compost the waste sensibly and turn it into valuable soil if you don’t have your own garden or have very little space available. The solution is to build or buy a worm farm. It allows you to compost kitchen waste in a very small space. If you also happen to like fishing, you get a double benefit from the worm farm. Compost and worms for fishing.
Contents
What is a worm farm?
A worm farm is the home of worms and the place where they turn kitchen waste into valuable humus. It usually consists of 3- 4 levels, preferably boxes that can be easily stacked inside each other. The lowest level should ideally have a small drain, because that is where the liquid, called worm tea, is collected.
Through the small drain cock, you can easily let this worm tea run out. The next box is placed on the lowest box and filled with untreated moist soil and a few kitchen scraps. To loosen the soil, you can use crushed and damp cardboard. When it comes to kitchen waste, make sure that you do not use meat, fish and citrus fruits.
Worms like very much, for example, used coffee filters with the coffee grounds. This is the floor where the worms go in. The next box is placed on the box with worms. In this one you can put fresh kitchen waste after 3-6 months and the worms will move up and start to utilize the new waste. Of course, the two boxes must each have holes in the bottom area so that the worms can migrate up and any liquids can flow to the lowest level.
When this crate is again well filled with worm humus, place the 3rd tier on top of the 2nd tier and fill it again with kitchen waste. The worms crawl into the next crate and so you can harvest the worm humus from the 1st floor wonderfully easy.
When you have cleaned this crate, you can simply put it back on top. A constant cycle begins.
Which worms are best suited for a worm farm?
Once you have decided to set up a worm farm, you must consider the question of which worms you would like to offer a home. The most suitable worm for a worm farm is the compost worm Eisenia foetida. This worm eats about half of its body weight every day and also multiplies very quickly. Temperature plays a major role in the reproduction of the worms. The Eisenia hortensis is also very suitable. It does not reproduce as fast, but it grows larger than the compost worm and eats more food. Worms can live up to 10 years
What is the best location for a worm farm?
When choosing a location for a worm farm, keep in mind that worms are very shy of light. Therefore, you should look for a dark place if possible and protect the worm farm from sunlight so that it does not dry out or become too hot.
If you can’t find a place outside, it is good to put the worm farm in the basement or even find a small place in the kitchen, because there are no unpleasant smells in a well-maintained worm farm. Ideally, the temperature is 15 – 25 degrees Celsius.
What do worms want to eat?
Worms need crushed material, as they do not have teeth. The more varied the food supply, the more valuable the worm humus becomes. Fruit and vegetable waste is readily accepted, except citrus fruits, coffee grounds and tea bags. Meat and dairy products are unsuitable. Bread scraps and oatmeal are also recommended. Shredded newspaper, egg carton or cardboard are suitable for loosening. This is moistened and added to the kitchen waste. From time to time, the worm food should be sprayed with water to ensure moisture balance. Worms breathe through their skin and their environment must be kept moist accordingly. Excess moisture can drain down through the holes in the bottom of the boxes.
How to maintain a worm farm?
Even though the worm farm is easy to maintain, it does require some attention. Temperature, humidity and food must be checked at regular intervals. You should also keep an eye on the number of worms, because they multiply relatively easily and quickly. During the winter, the boxes must be housed frost-proof.
What is worm tea and what is it used for?
Worm tea is the liquid that collects in the lowest container. This worm tea should be checked once a month and drained if necessary. It is an excellent fertilizer and natural pesticide. In any case, it should be diluted in a ratio of 1:10 (1 part worm tea : 10 parts of water). The nutrients are sufficient for the plants even in the diluted state.
Conclusion
More and more people want to have a bit of nature in their city apartment, and they want it to be as natural as possible. Many would like to not only throw their kitchen waste into the organic waste garbage can, but use it wisely. A worm farm is the best way to do this. You can compost your waste in a very small space and get good and nutrient-rich worm humus for your flowers and balcony plants. But the worm farm is also perfect for the small garden. If you are not only a gardening enthusiast but also like to fish, you can use your worm farm twice. As compost for the garden and as a worm supplier for the fishing rod.