Photo: Mosman Council / Flickr

They are creepy, a little bit slimy and very wriggly, but they are also brilliant at breaking down organic matter and turning it into useful compost. We are of course talking about worms, and the new worm farming craze. Who would have thought that so many people would be keeping a tub of slithering worms at home? But this is just what is happening as more and more people catch on to the benefits of this amazingly easy and natural composting resource.

Reduce pollution

There are many benefits to worm farming. Firstly, it is a very useful way of disposing of organic waste in your home. Usually your fruit and vegetable waste will end up in a landfill along with all your other rubbish. Although you might assume that organic materials on rubbish heaps pose little environmental threat, you would be wrong. Because these items are not buried in the soil they are never absorbed and properly biodegraded. Instead they decompose and release large amounts of gas that contribute to global warming. Worm farming cuts back on this pollution.

Organic compost

Photo: Tim Musson / Flickr

The chemicals found in synthetic fertiliser can be toxic and they leach the soil in the long run. But the compost produced by the worms is a wonderful non-synthetic soil fertiliser. It is very useful for organic gardening and farming, which promotes better health for consumers and gardeners alike. The worms eat the food scraps you discard and through their digestion and waste produce this rich compost. They also produce a substance called ‘worm tea’ which you can collect and use on your plants.

Do it yourself

You can start your own worm farm by purchasing worms and a special worm farm container from your local nursery. The container will have different compartments, one for the worms and compost and another collecting the worm tea. It is important that you only feed the worms on fruit and vegetable scraps, never meat or dairy. You should also give your worms a varied diet. Even worms get tired of eating the same thing every day.

Worm farming may seem complicated but once you are all set up it is a simple process. And it is a wonderful way to teach your children about the cycle of life and how to care for the environment.

Tags: organic compost