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Worm Factory FAQWelcome to our Frequently Asked Questions page where you will find information on worms, vermiculture and The Worm Factory®.
- Where can I purchase worms for The Worm Factory®?
- What do worms eat?
- Do worm bins produce an offensive odor?
- Is it expensive to raise worms?
- Is raising worms hard to do?
- Are worms used in a worm bin the same as earthworms?
- Can worms bite?
- What happens if you cut a worm in half?
- Why is worm compost so good for plants?
- Will the worm bin attract flies?
- Do I have to stay at home to take care of my worms or can I leave them for a period of time?
- Will the worms crawl out of their bin?
- What will my compost look like?
- What if I find other insects in my worm bin? Should I try to get rid of them?
- How wet should my worm bin be and how much should I feed them?
Q. Where can I purchase worms for The Worm Factory®?
A. Worms are not included with The Worm Factory®. A good resource for finding a worm farm near you is by going to www.findworms.com.
Q. What do worms eat?
A. Red Wiggler Worms will eat any organic waste. Any wet garbage from your kitchen such as coffee grounds, left-over vegetables, fruit, banana peels, apple cores, etc. It is advisable not to feed them any dair or meat products. They will attract varmints before the worms can digest them.
Q. Do worm bins produce an offensive odor?
A. No. In fact the smell is like the fresh rich dirt that you might smell in the forest.
Q. Is it expensive to raise worms?
A. Raising worms is very inexpensive. You can start a worm bin with things you have around the house. Feeding them is free and they provide and organic fertilizer for your house plants and small garden.
Q. Is raising worms hard to do?
A. Worms are living things just like raising a dog or a cat. Once you make a place for them to live you just keep them fed and watered and they will life a happy life. They require very little attention. You can feed them just once a week, making sure their bin is wet and just let them eat your garbage, multiply and produce compost.
Q. Are worms used in a worm bin the same as earthworms?
A. When people think of "earthworms", they usually mean "nightcrawlers", which can be 8-10"long and 1/2" in diameter. These nightcrawlers are different from red wigglers, although both may be called "earthworms" since they both are found in the earth.
Nightcrawlers are soil-dwellers, thus they like to burrow several feet below the surface. By burrowing, the nightcrawlers mix different layers of soil, while creating tunnels which aerate the soil. On the other hand, red wigglers are surface-dwellers and prefer to live within the top 6" of the soil. Red Wigglers are often found among the fallen leaves of the forest, as well as manure piles.
Q. Can worms bite?
A. Worms do not have teeth, therefore thay cannot bite you. Do not be afraid to hold a worm. Most people find them to be soft and ticklish.
Q. What happens if you cut a worm in half?
A. Most people believe that if you cut a worm in half you will get two worms. The truth is that you will have two dead pieces of a worm. However, if you are lucky, the piece with the head may grow a new tail.
Some worms have a natural reflex, in which they will eject their tail when the tail is pulled. For example, when a bird catches the tail end of a worm, the worm will eject or sever its tail from the rest of its body. The worm remains safe and the bird ends up with a dead tail.
Q. Why is worm compost so good for plants?
A. Worm compost makes nutrients available to plants. When compost is mixed with water, is has the ability to hold many positively-charged mineral ions, which can then be taken up by the plants. Also, as worms process (digest) the food scraps, the nutrients in the food are changed into forms which can then be used by plants. Worm compost is rich in natural humus, nitrogen, potash, phoosphorous, and calcium; all essentials for healthy plant growth.
Q. Will the worm bin attract flies?
A. If the food in the worm bin is covered and the area around it is kept clean, it should not attract flies.
Q. Do I have to stay at home to take care of my worms or can I leave them for a period of time?
A. You can leave your worm bin unattended for a couple of weeks without causing them any major harm as long as the bedding is not allowed to dry out.
Q. Will the worms crawl out of their bin?
A. If you create an ideal environment with proper bedding, ventilationg, moisture and food, the worms will not leave their environment.
Q. What will my compost look like?
A. Your compost will look like granular coffee grounds and have a rich earthy smell.
Q. What if I find other insects in my worm bin? Should I try to get rid of them?
A. It's good to find other insects in your worm bin. They help the digestive process for the worms by breaking down the food, which allows the worms to process the food waste more quickly.
Q. How wet should my worm bin be and how much should I feed them?
A. Your worm bin should never get to wet or too dry. It should be the consistency of a rung out sponge.
Don't over feed your worms as this may cause your bin to get too hot and kill your worms. They eat their weight every day in waste. Weigh the amount of food you feed your worms and monitor how much you feed them for a couple of weeks. Your worms may eat more or less depending on the appetite of your worm family.
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