Frequently Asked
Questions
How much do
worms
eat? Well, mature worms can eat
as much as their own body weight
every day. For those that are just
starting out in worm farming and
would like to know how to make worms
eat
more to be more productive the answer
is simple- shred, mash or blend
food scraps since these will make
it more digestible and easily consumed
by the worms, also maintain worm
bed temperature at around 23-25
degrees celsius, since it is at
these temperatures that
worms
feed better.
Lastly, avoid acidic foods, since
it messes up the worms' digestive
system.
Here are some things you may also
want to avoid feeding your worms,
manure, onions, citrus fruits or
peelings, garlic, garden waste sprayed
with insecticides, dairy products
like milk and cheese or meat.
Is it ok to water the worm bed regularly?
Watering the farm will enhance the
production of
liquid
fertilizer, but make sure not
to pour too much water into it or
it could drown the worms. Take note
that food wastes are about 80% water,
which is released as the worms break
them down. If water is poured over
the system every couple of weeks,
be sure to just add water only as
much as getting the worm bed damp
and cool, you will have a constant
supply of liquid fertilizer.
Will I be able to harvest more
worms?
The answer is no, worms regulate
themselves with any given or available
space and the amount of food administered
to them.
Is it normal for these worms to
gather on the lid of the farm when
it is raining? Yes, since it is
a normal response for these worms
to react this way during the rainy
season to avoid getting drowned.
Simply move the worm farm boxes
over to an area where it does not
get exposed to too much rain and
replace the worms back to the farm
bedding.
Why are
worms
not moving to the top level of the
tray? This may be so because you
may have added new food before the
worms have consumed the previous
feeding batch.
Worms
have the instinct to stay with leftover
food and will not search for a new
food source until it consumes what
was left previously. Before you
add new trays, stop feeding the
worms
for at least five days to ensure
all existing food has been consumed.
Also make sure that the level of
castings in the working tray needs
to be high enough for the
earthworms
to pass easily up to the next tray.
Can worms endure high temperatures?
Worms can tolerate a temperature
range between 10-30 degrees Celsius.
If temperatures get hotter than
its tolerable levels, move the farm
into a shady, cool area where it
could regulate the moisture and
humidity of the worm boxes.
In cold temperatures, make sure
to cover the box with old garments
or carpets, blankets and wool shavings
to sustain the warm temperature.
It is also best advised to feed
the worms at least a quarter more
than it should, since more food
digested by the worms allow for
more heat being generated in their
bodies. So take heed of these ideas
and you can be on your way to getting
started on a worm farm with confidence.