Poppy becomes a Worm Farmer!

Recycling food scraps like your left-over apple core or mum's potato peelings into organic matter is
a cool way to give energy back into the Earth. One of the best ways to create organic matter is to use
composting worms to convert food scraps into nutrient-rich ‘worm castings’ (worm poo!) which you
can use as compost. Tiger worms, Indian Blues and Red Wrigglers are the three most common types
of composting worms available from garden centres or worm farmers.

Although you can buy ready-made worm farms, it’s quite easy to make you own out of
almost any large, sturdy, waterproof container.

How To Make Your Own Worm Farm

Method You Will Need
Ask an adult to help cut a 20mm drain hole in the bottom of your • A large plastic container with a lid
container and to drill several 6mm breathing holes around the (approx 50mm x 50mm x 100mm)
top of the container. Place the container outside in a shady area
• A 50mm square of screen mesh from
on top of four of old bricks or blocks of wood and cover the drain
your local hardware shop
hole with the square of screen mesh.
• 4 x old bricks or blocks of wood
Pour the gravel into the bottom 10mm of the container then lay
• 1 x 50mm x 100mm layer of weed mat
the weed mat on top to stop the worm castings mixing with the
gravel. • 1 x small bag of coarse gravel
• 1 x small bag of natural manure
Now place a 10mm deep layer of hay on top of the weed mat.
Add food scraps to one half of the container. Don’t use citrus • 1 x small bag of hay or straw
scraps like lemons and orange peelings or onions, as worms
• 1 x 50mm x 100mm piece of
dislike these. Meat and dairy foods should also not be used as
old carpet or heavy cloth
they attract flies, rats and wasps.

Add the worms into the hay and cover the mix with a piece of old
carpet or cloth that has been soaked in water. This will keep the
worm farm cool and moist. (If the worm farm ever seems dry,
re-moisten the carpet.

Feed your worms regularly by placing more scraps under the

moist carpet. When you've filled one half of the container, move
on to the other half. Once both sides are full, it's time to 'harvest'
your worm poo! Take out the first half and sprinkle the
nutrient-laden worm castings over the garden for
beautiful flowers and vegetables.

BREATHING HOLES
HAY & FOOD SCRAPS
WEED MAT
GRAVEL
HOLE with
WORMS mesh on top
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