Worm Tower

Description

Instructions:

Raised beds or large pots generally require the introduction of red wriggler worms, one handful is perfect for each tower. Submerge tower, add worms and then add waste scraps. Regular garden soil may already have indigenous ‘nightcrawler’ worms present, which is absolutely fine – you can choose to add red wrigglers to supe up the process, or let existing nightcrawlers do the job.

WHAT TO FEED YOUR WORMS
Raw and cooked fruit and vegetable scraps; crushed dried eggshells; coffee grounds and tea bags (paper bags not plastic); cooked grains, pasta, and rice in small amounts; newspaper and unprinted cardboard; egg cartons.

WHAT NOT TO FEED YOUR WORMS
Onion; Garlic; salty or oily food; meat or dairy products, and citrus (now being challenged);

The red wriggler (Eisena foetida)  is not native but is now widespread in many urban areas of South Africa and the world through introduction. It has not yet been observed outcompeting indigenous nightcrawlers – those big guys you used to find in the compost heap when you were a kid (if you didn’t have that experience growing up, make sure your kid does!).

Red wrigglers stay in the more rotten stuff at the top, while the nightcrawler (Eudrilus eugeniae) moves between the surface and deeper down. While the nightcrawler cycles nutrients between to the surface O horizon and the upper A horizon, the red wriggler specialises in fast breakdown of food waste and manure at the surface. They are therefore complimentary in function, and together create thriving healthy soil – local and foreigner side by side.

Red Wrigglers are great for greenhouse environments and tolerate temperature fluctuations well. They reproduce extremely fast and are great at breaking down waste.
Nightcrawlers are larger and ideal for outdoor gardens but don’t enjoy temperature fluctuations. These worms like to borrow deep and aerate the soil, but reproduce at a slower rate.

Included:

Tower + lid with handle
*Worms excluded