What 10 Months Of Worm Farming Has Taught Us

Summary

The host of a worm farm in East Yorkshire, UK, shares insights on breeding worms for soil improvement. They discuss the importance of vermicompost for plant health and detail the process of feeding, sieving, and maintaining worm bins. Challenges faced, such as protein poisoning and mouse infestations, are addressed alongside solutions. The video also covers the setup of different worm breeding systems and the use of vermicompost in farming practices.

Takeaways

• 🌱 The worm farm is located in East Yorkshire, UK, and aims to improve soil health and plant production through vermicompost.
• 🐛 The farm breeds two types of worms: tiger worms (isenia fetida) and dendrabinas, which are good for fishing and composting.
• 📦 Polyethylene bins are used for breeding worms, with bedding materials like coir and well-rotted horse manure for moisture retention.
• 🔦 Worms dislike light, so the farm uses constant lighting and underlay covers to keep them in their bedding.
• 🍽️ The worms are fed a mixture of chicken food, eggshells, and alpaca poo, with wet cardboard added for moisture retention.
• 🚫 Overfeeding led to protein poisoning and 'String of Pearls' disease, causing many worms to die, highlighting the importance of proper feeding ratios.
• 💧 Watering is crucial for the worms' respiration, but chlorinated water is avoided to prevent killing beneficial microorganisms.
• 🌱 Vermicompost is used as an inoculant for seeds, mixed into potting mixes, and made into extracts and teas for soil enhancement.
• 👶 A nursery racking system separates worm babies and eggs from adults, though it was found that eggs hatch faster in adult beds.
• 🔄 The worm farm has faced challenges with protein poisoning and mice, but these issues have been managed through changes in bedding and pest control.
• 📝 Sieving is an important process to separate adult worms from vermicompost and baby worms, ensuring a healthy worm population.

Q & A

What is the primary purpose of the worm farm mentioned in the script?

The primary purpose of the worm farm is to breed and grow worms to produce vermicompost, which improves plant health, flower production, and plant immunity on the flower farm.

What types of worms are being bred on the farm?

The farm breeds two types of worms: tiger worms (isenia fetida) and dendrabinas (European or African night crawlers).

Why were tiger worms and dendrabinas chosen for the farm?

Tiger worms were chosen because they breed quickly, and dendrabinas were chosen because they are good fishing worms and grow larger.

What bedding material is used for the worms, and why was it chosen?

The bedding material used is a mixture of coir and well-rotted horse manure, chosen for its good moisture retention and biological benefits.

What problem did the farm encounter with feeding the worms chicken food?

Feeding the worms chicken food led to overfeeding and fermentation in the worm beds, causing protein poisoning or String of Pearls disease, which is fatal to the worms.

How did the farm rectify the issue caused by overfeeding with chicken food?

The farm rectified the issue by sieving out the worms, changing the bedding, and adjusting the feeding mixture to include chicken food, eggshells, and alpaca poo.

What adjustments were made to the feeding schedule and method?

The feeding schedule was adjusted to about once a week, and the method included grinding chicken food into fine particles, and later adding eggshells and alpaca poo to the mix.

How do the worms respond to wet cardboard added to their bins?

The worms seem to enjoy wet cardboard, which helps with moisture retention and overall worm happiness.

What challenges did the farm face with mice, and how were they resolved?

The farm faced a challenge with mice eating the chicken food in the worm beds, causing disturbance. This was resolved by catching the mice and sealing entry points.

What methods are used to separate adult worms, baby worms, and vermicompost?

The farm uses a sieving process with different mesh sizes to separate adult worms, baby worms, and vermicompost. Adults are placed in new bedding, and the remaining material is sieved again for finer vermicompost.