Since worm farming is an unusual career, we get a lot of questions. Here are some of the most frequently asked questions regarding worm castings, composting, gardening, Red Wigglers, and worms in general.
Q: What are worm castings?
A: Worm castings are a fancy way of saying worm poop. We like to describe it as a natural alternative to chemical fertilizers. Basically, it’s like a probiotic for your plants: full of beneficial microbes, nutrients, plant growth hormones.
Q: What’s the difference between worm castings and your worm compost mix?
A: Our compost mix includes about 300-500 Red Wiggler composting worms, worm cocoons, and partially finished compost. It is an ideal product for those who want to jump-start the decomposition of a compost pile or who would like to start their own worm bin from scratch. You put the compost starter in the worm bin of your choosing and feed them your food and paper scraps. If you’re interested in composting, this is the way to go.
The worm castings, on the other hand, is the worm poop with no worms included. The castings can be used on your gardens and plants. If you’re looking to improve your plants, this is the way to go.
Q: How many bags of worm castings do I need?
A: Unlike chemical fertilizers, which can burn your plants if you use too much, you can’t overdo it with worm castings. We recommend using a handful or a cup for each plant. If your garden is already established, sprinkle one gallon of castings on a typical-sized raised bed and let the water seep the castings into the soil.
Q: Can I use the compost mix in my garden?
A: The worms we breed are Red Wigglers, which are specifically composting worms. They don’t do well in regular soil, however, they thrive in compost! Unless your garden has a lot of compost, we recommend only using the castings on your garden and keeping the worms with the rest of your compost.
Q: Why do you sell in gallons, but some other worm farmers sell by the pound?
A: Worm castings are known to hold a lot of water, meaning the weight can fluctuate depending on how wet or dry the castings are. Selling by the gallon ensures you receive the same amount of castings regardless of moisture levels.
Q: Can I use your worms for fishing?
A: Red Wigglers are often used when fishing for trout and panfish. However, they are rather small (only about 2 – 4 inches), which would make them difficult to get on a hook. We are in the process of breeding other types of worms though (like European Nightcrawlers), which can be used both in the garden and for fishing, so feel free to drop us a line and we will be glad to notify you when we have these available!
Q: How often do worms multiply?
A: If the environment is right, they will double in population every three months until they reach the capacity of their container. So rest assured, the worms will not spawn into a wormy army that takes over your house and holds you captive to do their bidding.
Q: Will the worms escape?
A: They shouldn’t. If for some reason they are trying to escape, shining a light on them for a few days will cause them to burrow. If a worm or two does escape, the worm will not go far before it dries up. While the thought of worms drying up can leave some people uneasy, at least you can feel comforted that they won’t magically appear in random places. If this were the case, Ben would never have received permission from his wife to start the worm farm in the basement years ago!
If you have any additional questions, please leave a comment and we will cover them in another Q&A!