Composting and Worm Farming - Northland Regional Council

From this…… to thisSuitable bedding includes newspapertorn into 25cm wide strips (avoidcoloured print), cardboard, peat, straw,aged manure or compost. Sawdust isnot recommended as it contains resinand similarly, chicken manure should beavoided as it is too acidic.It’s as simple as that.What to feed your wormsFeed worms left-over food scraps,vegetables and non-citrus fruitpeelings, tea and coffee bags, coffeegrounds and eggshells.Meat, fish and dairy products maybe fed in moderation. Make sure youbury them in the bedding (not toodeeply) to avoid odours and flies. Ifodours are a problem, then leavethese products out.Don’t feed your worms onions, oil,fats or oily foods, citrus peelings oracidic fruit, peppers, or spicy foods.Garden waste is generally notsuitable for these worms. Materialssuch as grass clippings heat upquickly, which can kill the worms.Garden waste is best dealt with byconventional composting.Top tipsPut your worm bin in a sheltered, shadyarea, away from wind and sun.To prevent odours, slimy conditions andattracting flies, add food regularly ratherthan in large quantities. Food in excesswill sour and rot before the worms candeal with it.Odours generally occur because thesystem has been overfed, allowed tobecome too moist or the bedding hasbecome packed, limiting airflow. It isimportant to fix this, otherwise theconditions may kill the worms.Chopping or mincing up food scrapshelps speed up the process.Add crushed eggshells or a lightsprinkling of dolomite or garden limeonce a month to ensure a goodenvironment for the worms, who don’tlike acidic conditionsWorms need to be kept moist, but notsoggy. If they dry out too much theywill die; but if things are too wet theywill drown.Be aware, that as worm farming doesn’tgenerate heat, any seeds included withthe food (eg pumpkin or tomato) maystill germinate!Using the worm compostFinished worm compost is rich innutrients. It can be used for pottedplants or in the garden. Use in smallamounts (a handful mixed into the soilwhen transplanting plants gives plants agood start).Compost used as part of a potting mixor as a topdressing around potted plantsshould not contain worms.