Compost worms are tireless in converting organic (food and garden) waste into worm castings (manure) which is a complete organic fertiliser for plants. Charles Darwin first demonstrated how worm castings rejuvenate and enrich the soil. His experiment with potatoes showed their roots growing directly towards the castings, searching for their fine balance of nutrients. There are three main species of compost worms also known as earthworms – Reds (eg, lumbricus rubellus) and the striped Tigers (eg, eisenia foetida) are European imports now common in Australia, but there are over 1000 native varieties including Blues (eg, Octolasion cyaneum).
The average length of composting worms is from 50 – 150mm. Worm farming at home, work, school and in the community will help reduce pollution through landfilling. Around 5% of global greenhouse gases are caused by organics in landfills; worm farming and composting can stop this pollution and return the benefits to the soil.
Worms in worm farms like to eat most fruit and vegetable scraps but need them cut into small pieces, as they eat by sucking. Acidic foods like citrus, onion and dairy should only be used sparingly with lime or dolomite added to balance the pH. Worm farms generally produce – liquid, castings and baby worms all of which make healthy additions to your garden. Compost worms can also be used as food for other animals like birds and fish, including use as bait.
During autumn and spring and given optimum conditions, compost worms breed rapidly and may lay a capsule (cocoon) weekly. Each capsule contains between 2 and 20 baby worms which hatch in under three weeks and reach maturity in three months.
Worms are hermaphrodites (both male and female); they mate and each worm becomes pregnant at the saddle (clitellum – the lighter coloured section around 20mm below the head). To breed successfully your worm farm should be kept damp, cool, quiet and dark. For further information contact SCRAP Ltd on 02 9825 1062 or email us on support@scrapltd.com.au. We also have an extensive range of books on compost worms and compost worm farming (see our Green Buys Catalogue).
SCRAP’s Sustainable Schools Program began in 2000 when a consortium of partners came together to offer the EcoSnapshot Day in which schools undertook 5 audits and surveys covering – Solid Waste, Energy, Water, Biodiversity and Materials Use and Management in one day resulting in a comprehensive benchmarking of their environmental performance and great hands-on education
Australia is full of it but we’re losing it fast through destruction of habitat. We need to find that balance between using resources for our needs while maintaining the right of other species to exist. This is at the core of sustainable living and it is on a head on course with our modern system
The driest continent on Earth other than Antarctica should have its act together on water, don’t you agree? Well despite our obvious failures, in some ways,we do and KISSS (Kapillary Irrigation Sub-Surface System is one of those areas where we have wins. The system can save at least half the water needed for irrigation and
