Earthworm farming is a natural method of composting wastes such as kitchen garbage, fallen leaves and other discarded household wastes. It is also referred to as vermicomposting. The vermicompost obtained from the earthworm farming contains beneficial nutrients and microorganisms for the plants. Hence, it can be used as an excellent nutrient supplement and soil conditioner in gardening. Some people own the business of earthworm farming to supply the compost commercially.
Earthworm Farming
Earthworm farming is very easy, provided that the worm farmer understands the worm requirements properly. The thumb rule of earthworm composting is to keep the medium moist and protect it from drying, water accumulation and cold temperature. There are many species of earthworm that differ in their behavior. Hence, selecting a correct earthworm species is very important for a successful farming.
One of the most commonly employed earthworm species for vermicomposting is red wrigglers. They are not smelly and reproduce faster than other earthworm species. In order to start with farming, you can purchase these earthworms from a bait shop or other pet stores. You can opt for bulk buying of small size worms or fully grown ones that measure about 3 inch in length.
The next step for earthworm farming is to prepare a good medium for the worms by combining the bedding with manure. Some of the bedding options include peat moss, shredded paper, leaves, sawdust, plain dirt or a combination of these. Though peat moss is favorable for the earthworms, it is comparatively costlier than the other options for preparing earthworm medium.
Once you decide the bedding for the earthworm farming, mix it with 40-50 percent manure. Mix thoroughly the mixture by adding water, until the medium turns moist. While doing so, assure that the medium is not soggy, otherwise the earthworms will crawl away from the medium. You can keep the medium aside for about two weeks to allow decomposition.
Earthworms should not be introduced during the decomposition stage, as the high temperature of the medium is not favorable for the worms. You can introduce earthworms into the medium after two weeks when the temperature cools down. Eventually, you can add kitchen garbage and leaf litters from the garden into the medium. The things that you can add in the feed include chopped unused fruits and vegetables, paper, crushed egg shells, cornmeal and soiled litter of pets such as rats and rabbits. You should avoid adding oil, cat and dog feces, dairy products and meat.
It is claimed that the earthworms can consume kitchen garbage equal to their weight daily. Always add kitchen garbage and other household wastage to such an amount that the worms can clean up within a day or two. Otherwise, excessive feeding of wastes can lead to acidity and foul smelling of the medium, which can kill the worms. For aerating the medium, you can turn it once in a week.
When the earthworm population increases, you can divide it by creating a different medium. By using vermicompost, you can practice organic gardening and avoid the harmful side effects of chemical fertilizers and pesticides. Some of the concerning issues associated with earthworm farming are foul smell, feed, pests and worms leaving the medium. All these issues can be sorted easily by taking proper care while feeding and rearing the worms.
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