Starting your own personal worm farm can be a simple and inexpensive task which is a ideal way for children to learn about the benefits that worms can have in reducing the amount of waste that enters landfills etc.
Go down to your local fruit store or supermarket and get two large foam boxes.Also you will need a screw driver , a piece of hosing (about 30 cm long ) and of course worms (about 1000).
Take one of the boxes and make a series of small holes in the bottom of the box which will allow any liquid to escape into the collection area.
Now we have to take the other box and make a tap so we can access the liquid that would have drained into it from the top box.The best material to make the tap with is an old piece of garden hose cut to approx 30 cm long.Cut a hole in the box only big enough so the hose will fit into it tightly so no liquid will escape around the edges.Now to finish off the bottom box place a brick or a upturned icecream container in the box , this acts as a island for any worms that fall down from the top box to stop from drowning.
Its now time to get our bedding material ready for the worms to live in , my personal choice is peat moss but you may also decide to use manure or shredded paper.Follow the same procedures that I outline earlier in the site as to preparing bedding.Once the bedding is ready add it into the top box to about a depth of 10 cm.As for the worms you can purchase them from your local worm farmer or nursery and you will need around 1000 compost worms for a system this size. Before adding the worms find a spot in your garden or garage to put your worm farm and if all possible try and keep from putting it directly onto the ground as the will prolong the life of the bottom box.
Ok now that you have found a suitable position for the worm farm put both boxes together and gently spread your worms over the bedding and they will soon burrow down out of sight.As for feeding and harvesting the castings etc simply follow the details outlined earlier in the site and before long you will have a constant supply of rich organic fertiliser and liquid plant food that can be used all sorts of plants and vegetables.
