Worms?
Traditionally, worms have been raised for fishing bait as well as a protein and enzyme source for various
products, including animal food and biodegradable cleansers. Worms have also been used to manage
agricultural wastes such as dairy manure. They convert waste into worm manure, a nutrient-rich, biologically
beneficial soil product.
Vermicomposting is the use of worms as a composting method to produce vermicompost. Vermiculture is worm
farming for the production of worms. In recent years, worm farming has been practiced on both a small and
large scale with three complimentary goals in mind: waste diversion, vermicomposting, and vermiculture.
What is vermicompost?
Vermicompost, or castings, is worm manure. Worm castings are considered by many in horticulture to be the
very best soil amendment available. There are several reasons for this. The nutrient content of castings is
dependent on the material fed to the worms-and worms are commonly fed materials with high nutrient content,
such as food waste and manures.
Worm castings provide these nutrients in a form readily available to plants. The biology of the worm’s gut
facilitates the growth of fungus and bacteria that are beneficial to plant growth. In addition, many chemical
compounds are found in castings that are thought to promote plant growth.
Much of the content of worm castings and their effect on plants is still being studied. Nonetheless, farmers and
soils blenders know the benefits of worm castings from their actual affect on plants and product sales, even
when the worms are fed low-nutrient materials such as paper fiber.
What kind of worms are used for vermicomposting?
Most worm farms raise two main types of earthworm: Eisenia foetida and Lumbricus rubellis. These worms are
commonly used to produce vermicompost, as well as for fish bait. Both are referred to by a variety of common
names, including red worms, red wigglers, tiger worms, brandling worms, and manure worms. These two
species are often raised together and are difficult to tell apart, though they are not believed to interbreed. While
several other species have been successfully bred in recent years, this fact sheet focuses primarily on the use
of these species.
The night crawler (Lumbricus terrestrius) is also harvested and sold for fishing bait. This species does not
breed well in captivity and is generally harvested from wild stock.
What do worms need?
Worms can survive a wide variety of temperatures, but they thrive best at temperatures between 55 and 77
degrees Fahrenheit (13–25 degrees Celsius). They need a moist, organic substrate or “bedding” in which to
live. They will eat the bedding and convert it into castings along with other feed. While moisture is vital, so is
oxygen, and bedding should be about as damp as a wrung-out sponge. A worm’s skin is photosensitive and
they prefer a dark environment.
Because worms have no teeth, they need some type of grit in their bedding that they can swallow and use in
their gizzard to grind food, much like birds do with small stones. A little soil or sand will work, but it should be
sterile so as not to introduce foreign organisms. Common additives used include rock dust or oyster flour
(ground up oyster shells).
Since oyster flour is basically calcium carbonate, adding too much will raise the pH in the worms’ environment.
Worms prefer a slightly acidic pH level of about 6.5. For a typical worm bin, no more than a tablespoon of grit is
needed, which should not significantly alter the pH.
What will worms eat?
Worms will eat a wide variety of organic materials such as paper, manure, fruit and vegetable waste, grains,
coffee grounds, and ground yard wastes. While worms will eat meat and dairy products, it is best not to feed
these materials or oily foods to worms, due to potential odor and pest problems. Worms will consume limited
amounts of citrus wastes, but limonene, a chemical compound found in citrus, is toxic to worms, so it is best to
limit or avoid feeding them this material.
Since worms have no teeth, any food they eat must be small enough to swallow, or soft enough for them to
bite. Some foods may not be soft enough initially for them to consume, but they quickly degrade so that the
worms can consume them.
Where should you keep worms?
Worms can be raised on a small or large scale, depending on your goals. If you are trying to manage food
scraps for yourself or your family, a small 12 to 20 gallon worm bin should be adequate. The bin should be dark
and opaque, and it should have a lid and drainage and aeration holes in the bottom. Small 1-inch legs and a
tray underneath are also helpful.
If you are trying to manage larger amounts of organic materials or produce large amounts of worms or
vermicompost, worms can be managed in low-mounded rows called worm beds or “ricks,” or in large in-vessel
continuous-flow systems available from suppliers. Worms burrow into the bedding to protect themselves, and
they will not come into sunlight unless bedding conditions are intolerable.
How do you harvest worms and vermicompost?
Large-scale worm farmers using worm beds generally use harvesting equipment to separate worms and
castings. In-vessel “continuous flow” systems are generally designed to produce vermicompost. They rely on
the surface-feeding tendency of red worms to incorporate a casting harvest mechanism on the bottom of the
system, below the active feeding area. Food and additional bedding is added to the top, encouraging the
worms to continue feeding upwards.
Smaller scale worm bins are harvested in a variety of ways. In all cases, harvesting should begin when the
bedding and consumed food has turned a rich dark brown, with a consistency of coffee grounds. Waiting longer
can result in a sludgy material that is difficult to harvest and may become anaerobic and begin to smell.
One commonly used method of harvesting is to dump the bin onto a tarp in bright light, allowing the worms to
burrow down to escape the light. Castings can then be separated by slowly scraping them away, pausing
periodically to let the worms burrow further. Eventually, you are left with a pile of worms.
Some will harvest by placing new bedding in one half of the bin, and feed exclusively on that side. Eventually
(sometimes over a period of several weeks) most of the worms will move to the side with the new bedding, and
the finished compost can be harvested.
One simple method is to place a large amount of food in one area of the bin. Within a few days to a week, this
should become a writhing mass of feeding worms. By turning a plastic bag inside out over your hand, you can
then “reverse harvest” the worms by simply grabbing the mass of worms and turning the bag right-side out. You
then have enough worms to start your bin again. Some worms and egg cases will be left in the castings. This
should be no problem if the castings are used soon for indoor potted plants. Castings should be cured before
outdoor use.
Harvested castings can be mixed into potting soil soon after harvest for best effect on indoor plants. If they are
to be stored or used for outdoor plants, they should be cured in an aerobic environment to dry, eliminate the
potential to introduce new species and prevent mold.
Where can I get worms or worm bins?
To inform people where worms and bins can be procured, the CIWMB maintains a list of worm and worm bin
suppliers at www.ciwmb.ca.gov/Organics/Worms/WrmSuply.htm and
http://www.ciwmb.ca.gov/Organics/Worms/BinSuply.htm. Some larger equipment suppliers can be found listed
with other in-vessel composting technologies at www.ciwmb.ca.gov/FoodWaste/Compost/InVessel.htm
Will I need to buy more worms?
Worms will regulate their own population according to the conditions of their environment. These conditions
include space, moisture, pH, temperature, bedding material, and amount of food, among others. A typical
household worm bin might start out with one pound of worms (approximately 1,000 adults), which will soon
multiply to 2,000–3,000 if conditions are good. Conversely, if one or more of the above conditions are
unacceptable, the worms may “crawl” (leave the bin) or die off.
Red worms are hermaphroditic, meaning that each individual has both sexes, but they need two worms to
procreate and exchange DNA. A small egg case, usually amber in color, is produced which can contain from 2
to 20 baby worms.
What other organisms live with worms?
Worms do not live in isolation. In addition to microscopic organisms like bacteria and some fungi, you may
notice several other creatures, such as springtails, mites, pot worms (small white worms often mistaken as
baby red worms), and an occasional fungus gnat. These organisms generally stay in the bin, live in harmony
with the worms and cause little problems. Consistently burying the food in the bedding will minimize the
attraction of unwanted species.
Keeping the bin moist and stirring the castings and bedding periodically will minimize the growth of fungi and
the potential of fungal spores. If the bin is not stirred, full-sized mushrooms can grow.
If a bin is kept outside, the number of organisms that find their way into a bin increases greatly. Slugs and
snails, ants, spiders, soldier fly larvae, fruit flies, pill bugs, centipedes, even frogs, salamanders and some small
rodents have found their way into outdoor worm bins. Rarely will more than three or four of these cohabitants
occupy a bin. Most do not hinder the functioning of a bin, and they are not bothersome. It is best to keep
outdoor bins outside to prevent the introduction of unwanted animals into your house.
The most common “pests” in worm bins are probably ants and fruit flies. Keeping the bin moist, stopping
feeding for a week or two, and stirring the bin every day can eliminate ants. Fruit flies can be more problematic,
and sometimes can only be eliminated by starting over. Short of that, stopping feeding for a couple weeks and
using flypaper or other fly traps can work if the population of flies is not too high.
Worms raised in worm beds can also attract predators such as birds and moles. Birds can be deterred in
traditional ways such as placing scarecrows near the beds, or the beds can be covered with cardboard or other
material. Moles can breed quickly and can eat a lot of worms. They can be deterred either by raising the worms
in an in-vessel system, on a cement pad, or placing a wooden or plastic barrier several inches into the soil
around the beds. The barrier should stick out of the soil an inch or two to prevent the moles from finding a way
over it.
Are vermicomposting facilities regulated?
Vermicomposting is defined as an “excluded activity” from California solid waste regulation. However, an
“exclusion” recognizes that a given activity is involved in solid waste handling and therefore must comply with
fundamental health and safety codes.
According to California food and agriculture regulations, worms can be considered livestock, much as cows are
livestock in a ranching or dairy operation. Within reason, certain organic wastes can be viewed as feed.
However, the handling of compostable material prior to and after use as a growth medium is subject to
regulation under solid waste regulations.
If a large worm operation becomes a nuisance by taking in more waste than can be effectively fed to and
processed by the worms (resulting in odors, for instance), the activity could be viewed as a solid waste facility.
Concerns about a particular circumstance should be directed to a community’s environmental health
department.
Where can I get more information on vermicomposting?
Individuals interested in pursuing more information on vermicomposting or vermiculture, as well as worm and
soil market issues, can contact an existing worm farm, soil blender, or organic waste processor to discuss the
present and future possibilities of worm enterprises. Explore the rest of this site for more information on worms.
Traditionally, worms have been raised for fishing bait as well as a protein and enzyme source for various
products, including animal food and biodegradable cleansers. Worms have also been used to manage
agricultural wastes such as dairy manure. They convert waste into worm manure, a nutrient-rich, biologically
beneficial soil product.
Vermicomposting is the use of worms as a composting method to produce vermicompost. Vermiculture is worm
farming for the production of worms. In recent years, worm farming has been practiced on both a small and
large scale with three complimentary goals in mind: waste diversion, vermicomposting, and vermiculture.
What is vermicompost?
Vermicompost, or castings, is worm manure. Worm castings are considered by many in horticulture to be the
very best soil amendment available. There are several reasons for this. The nutrient content of castings is
dependent on the material fed to the worms-and worms are commonly fed materials with high nutrient content,
such as food waste and manures.
Worm castings provide these nutrients in a form readily available to plants. The biology of the worm’s gut
facilitates the growth of fungus and bacteria that are beneficial to plant growth. In addition, many chemical
compounds are found in castings that are thought to promote plant growth.
Much of the content of worm castings and their effect on plants is still being studied. Nonetheless, farmers and
soils blenders know the benefits of worm castings from their actual affect on plants and product sales, even
when the worms are fed low-nutrient materials such as paper fiber.
What kind of worms are used for vermicomposting?
Most worm farms raise two main types of earthworm: Eisenia foetida and Lumbricus rubellis. These worms are
commonly used to produce vermicompost, as well as for fish bait. Both are referred to by a variety of common
names, including red worms, red wigglers, tiger worms, brandling worms, and manure worms. These two
species are often raised together and are difficult to tell apart, though they are not believed to interbreed. While
several other species have been successfully bred in recent years, this fact sheet focuses primarily on the use
of these species.
The night crawler (Lumbricus terrestrius) is also harvested and sold for fishing bait. This species does not
breed well in captivity and is generally harvested from wild stock.
What do worms need?
Worms can survive a wide variety of temperatures, but they thrive best at temperatures between 55 and 77
degrees Fahrenheit (13–25 degrees Celsius). They need a moist, organic substrate or “bedding” in which to
live. They will eat the bedding and convert it into castings along with other feed. While moisture is vital, so is
oxygen, and bedding should be about as damp as a wrung-out sponge. A worm’s skin is photosensitive and
they prefer a dark environment.
Because worms have no teeth, they need some type of grit in their bedding that they can swallow and use in
their gizzard to grind food, much like birds do with small stones. A little soil or sand will work, but it should be
sterile so as not to introduce foreign organisms. Common additives used include rock dust or oyster flour
(ground up oyster shells).
Since oyster flour is basically calcium carbonate, adding too much will raise the pH in the worms’ environment.
Worms prefer a slightly acidic pH level of about 6.5. For a typical worm bin, no more than a tablespoon of grit is
needed, which should not significantly alter the pH.
What will worms eat?
Worms will eat a wide variety of organic materials such as paper, manure, fruit and vegetable waste, grains,
coffee grounds, and ground yard wastes. While worms will eat meat and dairy products, it is best not to feed
these materials or oily foods to worms, due to potential odor and pest problems. Worms will consume limited
amounts of citrus wastes, but limonene, a chemical compound found in citrus, is toxic to worms, so it is best to
limit or avoid feeding them this material.
Since worms have no teeth, any food they eat must be small enough to swallow, or soft enough for them to
bite. Some foods may not be soft enough initially for them to consume, but they quickly degrade so that the
worms can consume them.
Where should you keep worms?
Worms can be raised on a small or large scale, depending on your goals. If you are trying to manage food
scraps for yourself or your family, a small 12 to 20 gallon worm bin should be adequate. The bin should be dark
and opaque, and it should have a lid and drainage and aeration holes in the bottom. Small 1-inch legs and a
tray underneath are also helpful.
If you are trying to manage larger amounts of organic materials or produce large amounts of worms or
vermicompost, worms can be managed in low-mounded rows called worm beds or “ricks,” or in large in-vessel
continuous-flow systems available from suppliers. Worms burrow into the bedding to protect themselves, and
they will not come into sunlight unless bedding conditions are intolerable.
How do you harvest worms and vermicompost?
Large-scale worm farmers using worm beds generally use harvesting equipment to separate worms and
castings. In-vessel “continuous flow” systems are generally designed to produce vermicompost. They rely on
the surface-feeding tendency of red worms to incorporate a casting harvest mechanism on the bottom of the
system, below the active feeding area. Food and additional bedding is added to the top, encouraging the
worms to continue feeding upwards.
Smaller scale worm bins are harvested in a variety of ways. In all cases, harvesting should begin when the
bedding and consumed food has turned a rich dark brown, with a consistency of coffee grounds. Waiting longer
can result in a sludgy material that is difficult to harvest and may become anaerobic and begin to smell.
One commonly used method of harvesting is to dump the bin onto a tarp in bright light, allowing the worms to
burrow down to escape the light. Castings can then be separated by slowly scraping them away, pausing
periodically to let the worms burrow further. Eventually, you are left with a pile of worms.
Some will harvest by placing new bedding in one half of the bin, and feed exclusively on that side. Eventually
(sometimes over a period of several weeks) most of the worms will move to the side with the new bedding, and
the finished compost can be harvested.
One simple method is to place a large amount of food in one area of the bin. Within a few days to a week, this
should become a writhing mass of feeding worms. By turning a plastic bag inside out over your hand, you can
then “reverse harvest” the worms by simply grabbing the mass of worms and turning the bag right-side out. You
then have enough worms to start your bin again. Some worms and egg cases will be left in the castings. This
should be no problem if the castings are used soon for indoor potted plants. Castings should be cured before
outdoor use.
Harvested castings can be mixed into potting soil soon after harvest for best effect on indoor plants. If they are
to be stored or used for outdoor plants, they should be cured in an aerobic environment to dry, eliminate the
potential to introduce new species and prevent mold.
Where can I get worms or worm bins?
To inform people where worms and bins can be procured, the CIWMB maintains a list of worm and worm bin
suppliers at www.ciwmb.ca.gov/Organics/Worms/WrmSuply.htm and
http://www.ciwmb.ca.gov/Organics/Worms/BinSuply.htm. Some larger equipment suppliers can be found listed
with other in-vessel composting technologies at www.ciwmb.ca.gov/FoodWaste/Compost/InVessel.htm
Will I need to buy more worms?
Worms will regulate their own population according to the conditions of their environment. These conditions
include space, moisture, pH, temperature, bedding material, and amount of food, among others. A typical
household worm bin might start out with one pound of worms (approximately 1,000 adults), which will soon
multiply to 2,000–3,000 if conditions are good. Conversely, if one or more of the above conditions are
unacceptable, the worms may “crawl” (leave the bin) or die off.
Red worms are hermaphroditic, meaning that each individual has both sexes, but they need two worms to
procreate and exchange DNA. A small egg case, usually amber in color, is produced which can contain from 2
to 20 baby worms.
What other organisms live with worms?
Worms do not live in isolation. In addition to microscopic organisms like bacteria and some fungi, you may
notice several other creatures, such as springtails, mites, pot worms (small white worms often mistaken as
baby red worms), and an occasional fungus gnat. These organisms generally stay in the bin, live in harmony
with the worms and cause little problems. Consistently burying the food in the bedding will minimize the
attraction of unwanted species.
Keeping the bin moist and stirring the castings and bedding periodically will minimize the growth of fungi and
the potential of fungal spores. If the bin is not stirred, full-sized mushrooms can grow.
If a bin is kept outside, the number of organisms that find their way into a bin increases greatly. Slugs and
snails, ants, spiders, soldier fly larvae, fruit flies, pill bugs, centipedes, even frogs, salamanders and some small
rodents have found their way into outdoor worm bins. Rarely will more than three or four of these cohabitants
occupy a bin. Most do not hinder the functioning of a bin, and they are not bothersome. It is best to keep
outdoor bins outside to prevent the introduction of unwanted animals into your house.
The most common “pests” in worm bins are probably ants and fruit flies. Keeping the bin moist, stopping
feeding for a week or two, and stirring the bin every day can eliminate ants. Fruit flies can be more problematic,
and sometimes can only be eliminated by starting over. Short of that, stopping feeding for a couple weeks and
using flypaper or other fly traps can work if the population of flies is not too high.
Worms raised in worm beds can also attract predators such as birds and moles. Birds can be deterred in
traditional ways such as placing scarecrows near the beds, or the beds can be covered with cardboard or other
material. Moles can breed quickly and can eat a lot of worms. They can be deterred either by raising the worms
in an in-vessel system, on a cement pad, or placing a wooden or plastic barrier several inches into the soil
around the beds. The barrier should stick out of the soil an inch or two to prevent the moles from finding a way
over it.
Are vermicomposting facilities regulated?
Vermicomposting is defined as an “excluded activity” from California solid waste regulation. However, an
“exclusion” recognizes that a given activity is involved in solid waste handling and therefore must comply with
fundamental health and safety codes.
According to California food and agriculture regulations, worms can be considered livestock, much as cows are
livestock in a ranching or dairy operation. Within reason, certain organic wastes can be viewed as feed.
However, the handling of compostable material prior to and after use as a growth medium is subject to
regulation under solid waste regulations.
If a large worm operation becomes a nuisance by taking in more waste than can be effectively fed to and
processed by the worms (resulting in odors, for instance), the activity could be viewed as a solid waste facility.
Concerns about a particular circumstance should be directed to a community’s environmental health
department.
Where can I get more information on vermicomposting?
Individuals interested in pursuing more information on vermicomposting or vermiculture, as well as worm and
soil market issues, can contact an existing worm farm, soil blender, or organic waste processor to discuss the
present and future possibilities of worm enterprises. Explore the rest of this site for more information on worms.
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