I set up a new earthworm farm as already done before in the northern germany refuge, containing about 50 common earthworms (lat. lumbricus terrestris) at the moment. Aside from having good fishing bait at hand at all times, I want to supply my cherished chickens with yummy earthworms from time to time. Now the guys are sitting in the basement and I hope they’ll reproduce diligently 馃檪
Materials and How To:
- 15 l plant bucket
- 2 fitting pot saucers, one as a lid and one as, well, a pot saucer
- Some mesh weave and Garden fleece
- Pebbles or clay balls
- Several handfuls of torn cardboard
- Compost soil
Drill a hole in the side of the plant bucket, close to the bottom as a drainage hole. Fill the bucket with enough pebbles or clay balls higher than the top edge of the drainage hole and cover with garden fleece. This is to let excess water escape but keep worms and earth inside.
Drill or cut holes in the lid and/or the the upper edge of the bucket and cover with hot glue and some wire mesh. Earthworms like going on expeditions.
Add a layer of torn cardboard (egg cartons work well), then fill up with fresh soil. (Soil should be frozen overnight to kill off unwanted bacteria and spores). Wet everything (see below) and add a little food. The relocate your earthworms. Close the bucket with a weighted down lid
Storage and Feeding:
Place the bucket in a dark and sufficiently ventilated spot. Temperatures range from around 10掳C (50掳F) for just storing them. If you want them to reproduce and be a little livelier, give them about 18-25掳C (64-77掳F). You can see that they reproduce when you find tiny little yellow-ish worm-eggs.
Earthworms like decomposing food. So grass clippings, rotting leaves and small vegetable scraps are sufficient nutrition. Make sure to microwave the food on high for a minute or so to kill off any bacteria and spores. Only feed as much as they can devour in 45 days to prevent rotting. Keep the earth no wetter as that you can squeeze some drops of water out of a handful of soil.
