FAQ's

How many worms come in your starter pack?
Thanks for your interest in worm farming. 
 
We provide “runner” stock from the heart of our commercial bins, which we transplant directly to the Worm Factory working bin with minimal disturbance to the habitat.  We harvest our bins when our sample plugs show distribution ratios at 45 to 50% juveniles, and 30 to 35% cocoons (cocoons hold from 1 to 20 babies).  The remainder are adults: typically over 500 worms.

 

 
 
What do I feed my worms?

What can I put in my worm compost bin?

Worms Like
Worm nodding

Worms Don't Like
Worm shaking head
  • Egg shells (worms need calcium and egg shells are an excellent way of supplying this and keeping the bin from getting too acidic)
  • Coffee grounds and tea bags
  • Cereals
  • Fruit
  • Annual weeds (not seed heads)
  • Tomatoes
  • Bread
  • Green leaves
  • Cow/horse manure
  • Vegetable peelings
  • Meat and fish (worms will eat these but they are best avoided as they tend to putrify and attract rats and flies)
  • Grass in any quantity (heats up and gives off ammonia, both of which will kill worms)
  • Weed seeds
  • Diseased plant material
  • Rice or pasta
  • Baked beans
  • Cheese
  • Onions
  • Cooked potatoes
  • Cat/dog faeces (these contain human parasites)
How Many, and What Type of Worms are Needed?

The number of trays and worms in your Worm Factory depends on the weight of daily food waste that needs to be processed. Worms can eat about half their own weight in food every day, so I use worm weight rather than the number of worms.  However, you can typically equate one pound of worms to be around a thousand adult Red Wigglers.

So, for each pound of kitchen waste you produce daily, you will need two pounds of worms (ratio of 2:1)
 
What type of worms should I use?
 
¨      Eisenia Andrei (Red Tiger Worm) Often mistaken for the Eisenia Fetida.  Its growth and reproduction rates make it best suited for Vermicomposting. 
 
¨      Eisenia Fetida (Manure Worm, Red Wiggler, or Tiger Worm) Used where animal waste, such as horse, bunny, lama, etc... is dominate
 
¨      Lumbricus Rubellus (Red Marsh Worm) commonly found in places rich in organic matter and moisture such as gardens and agricultural soils.
 
 
Where should I keep my Worm Factory?
This will depend on where you live.... 
 
Worms will not survive freezing temperatures, get stressed in temperatures over 85 degrees and will probably die if your trays get over 90 degrees.... Especially if your trays get too dry.
 
The ideal range is 65 - 75 degrees, with a moisture content of 60 to 70%, and a pH of 6.5 to 7.2
 
Avoid direct sunlight.
 
 
Do you guarantee live delivery of the worms?
If you wish to opt for "Priority Next Day Before 10AM" with either FedEx or UPS.  Not cheap but that is your call.

 

Conversely, we have some experience in doing this sort of thing and I would not send my worms off to some certain death. 

Shipping Information

We ship UPS Ground Track

 

If it is convenient for your, we prefer to have you pick up your Worm Factory at the UPS depot.  This insures the worms will stay in a covered area and out of direct sunlight.

 

If you prefer to have the Worm Factory delivered to your home or business address, please insure that someone is there to receive it, or you instruct your UPS delivery person to leave the parcel in a covered area out of direct sunlight.  Our default is NO Signature Required when delivered to a residential address to insure the Worm Factory delivery in the shortest time.
Teachers and NPO's
If you’re a Teacher or Non Profit Org doing a “kid” related project, give me a call or email your info.  I will do everything I can to get it to you for cost.  Please be legitimate because I will check on your request.
 
Please check out the The Earthworm Nursery™