Make your own Worm Farm

Create your own Worm Farm at home!

As part of our Term Studies we are asking parents and whanau to help their child to make a simple worm farm. Below are a few links to websites to help you create your worm farm.

http://www.yates.co.nz/kids-gardening/in-the-garden/build-a-worm-farm 

http://www.planetkids.biz/documents/How_to_Build_Your_Own_Worm_Farm.pdf

http://letkidscreate.blogspot.co.nz/2012/04/making-worm-farm.html

http://www.createyourowneden.org.nz/schools_docs/Create%20your%20own%20Eden%20School%20Resource%20-%20Composting%20at%20School%20.pdf

Once you've made your worm farm please send in some photos because we would love to feature it on our blog. We would love to have them completed by mid next week (week 7).

Below is some extra information about worm farms to help you get started.

Worm farming - what is it?Worm farming is the process of using tiger worms in an artificial
ecosystem to convert organic waste into nutrient-rich fertiliser. This
process is also called ‘vermiculture’. Solid castings and a liquid are
produced as worms digest and excrete food and paper waste. These
products known as vermi-cast and vermi-liquid provide beneficial
nutrients (nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium) for the soil,
encouraging plant growth.
Vermi-cast can either be diluted into a liquid fertiliser for plants or be
used in solid form as a compost-like soil conditioner to mix in with soil
in order to enrich it.
Vermi-liquid (also called worm ‘tea’ or worm ‘wee’) is the liquid
produced in a worm farm. It is used as a liquid plant food that is high in
minerals and nutrients.
What can worms eat?Worms can eat organic waste from the kitchen (except the items
listed in the section below), including teabags, ground coffee
beans, eggshells, paper and cardboard that breaks down when
wet, paper lunch bags, serviettes, paper towels, (unwaxed) lunch
paper, hair trimmings, vacuum cleaner dust, and even toe
clippings!
You should aim to include about 20 percent paper and 80 percent
food scraps in your school worm farm (by volume). This provides a
good living environment and food source for the worms. Adding
items such as shredded paper and screwed up paper towels or
lunch paper will ensure the worm farm remains aerated and does
not become too wet.
What should not be put in a worm farm?Do not put garden waste, citrus fruits or peals, spicy foods (such as onion, garlic and peppers),
meat, oils and fats, cooked food, bread, dairy food, or plastic into your worm farm.
Biodegradable bags (such as those made out of cornstarch) may be used to collect food scraps
for the worm farm. If these are added to the worm farm they must be torn or cut up, or they will
not break down and will create a barrier blocking airflow and access to food for the worms.
A poster showing the types of materials than should and should not go in a worm farm can be
found online at www.createyourowneden.org.nz.