Worm species:

Worms are extraordinary little creatures, with no eyes, no lungs, no nose, no teeth, no ears. They are somehow a digestive tract with a skin covering. The external parts of the worms are: The prostomium: a flap-like organ over the mouth that is used to insert food. The Mouth: under the prostomium. The worms literally eat their way through their environment. Tea clitelella: The fairly long, smooth section midway between the mouth and the tip of the tail. Tea somites: These are the evenly spaced lines (segments) from the mouth to the tip of the tail, used to move through its environment. Tea Cilia: the last of the thick segments before the tip of the tail. One species of worm bred for composting is the “Red Wiggler” or Eisenia Fetida. They live in the area above ground, under freshly fallen leaves, and in the partially decomposed matter between decomposed organic soil and leaves. They are worms that live in shallow water. The other species used for composting is the Eisenia hortsenis or “European Nightcrawler”. They are also good composting worms, however, they live deeper, moving from the surface to burrows up to 6 feet deep. Together they make a perfect team to add to a garden.

Food:

Worms eat almost anything. There are some foods they don’t like very much: hot peppers, garlic, oranges, or anything too acidic. Fats are avoided by them. They reject dairy, as well as salad dressings. Eggshells (pulverized), coffee grounds, lettuce, melon rinds, leaves, pumpkin, and vegetables of any kind are preferred. They have gizzards, the egg shells break down, neutralizing the PH in the litter, as well as providing grit to aid in digestion. They will eat about half their body weight in food per day, when the litter temperature is between 60 and 90 degrees Fahrenheit. During the winter months, when the litter temperature drops between 34 and 60 degrees Fahrenheit, they are less active. In cool litter temperatures, food lasts longer because they don’t eat as much and the cold acts like a refrigerator. The good “bugs” that break down food are also less active, causing a delay in the breakdown of organic matter. The maggots will eat meat and fecal material, however caution should be used. The molds can be contaminated with pathogens. Pathogens would be a problem if faeces (earthworm manure) are used in a garden. You literally get out of them what you put into them. It is best to know what the molds will be used for, that way you can regulate their feeding. They need to eat 50% protein (vegetables) and 50% carbon. Charcoal consists of dry leaves, shredded paper, and (they love) cardboard. The litter must be moist, squeezing a handful should expel a few drops of water, otherwise the litter is too dry.

Some truths:

There are no native North American worms. All species have come from somewhere else; Europe, Africa or Asia. All species were wiped out during the last ice age. They were probably unknowingly imported by early European settlers. In fact, many of the northern states and Canada will not allow many species to enter due to the destruction they can cause to coniferous forest. Worms don’t like pine needles.

Worms don’t have brains. They have some sensory nerves that end in a bundle in the area behind the mouth. They feel the dryness, the heat, the sunlight (which they dislike very much) and the sense of taste. That’s it, no reasoning, no thoughts, and no communication (I question their ability to communicate, I think they do somehow).

Which brings us to reproduction. They must breed with another worm of the same size and species (how do they know?). They lie head to tail, for up to two hours, wrapping their bodies in a slippery film. Then the eggs are emitted under the film, when they move away from each other, the partially dried film is rolled into an egg shell and slides off the tail end. Each gut has 1 to 10 developing baby worms that hatch into exact replicas of an adult, ready for action. A conservative estimate is that the worm population will double during the 3-month summer.

If you cut a worm in half, you can double the population. No, You can not! They both die. Some species can shed their tails when grabbed by a predator, but otherwise simply die. They are very tough creatures and at the same time very fragile, especially when they are raised.

Conclusion: Some of us find worms fascinating, some disgusting, and some don’t pay attention. A common goal in worm farming is compost, molds, and “worm tea” or homemade fertilizer. Humus are rich in nitrogen, unlike commercial fertilizers, they cannot “burn” your plants. It introduces good bacteria to your soil, and when the tea is brewed (and used within 4 days) it will also act as an insect repellant, when sprinkled on the leaves. Another common goal is to have a “herd” large enough to consume all kitchen waste and be zero litter other than plastics. There are several blogs and websites dedicated to vermicomposting. If this article sounds like it’s for you, do some research and get started. Eccentricity seems to be a common factor among worm farmers. Worm farming is critical to taking your self-sufficiency and survival skills to another level. Be careful, you can get attached to them. The ultimate goal is to do what I have termed “circular gardening.” I grow the vegetables in the compost my worms create, fertilize them with their droppings, and then feed them leftover vegetable clippings from the kitchen. Circular agriculture, many of us do it.