banner image

How to make your own worm farm

What you'll need

  • two broccoli boxes (available at your supermarket or fruit shop)
  • newspaper
  • brick or ice-cream container
  • compost or potting mix
  • worms.

Worm farm and worm supply

  • Contact your local hardware to see if they supply worm farms and/or worms.
  • Your worm farm will cost about $50 for the worms.
  • If you reuse materials around the house, your worm farm will be free.

Steps to build your farm

Step one: Prepare your boxes+

  • Make holes in the bottom of one of the boxes to let the liquid drain.
  • Worms breathe through their skin.

Step two: Prepare to collect the worm juice+

  • Place the box with the holes on top of the other box.
  • Optional: Make a tap in the bottom box to let the liquid drain.
  • Worm juice can also be collected by removing the top tray and pouring liquid from the bottom tray into a container.
  • Put the upturned ice-cream container or a brick in the bottom box to help the worms climb.

Step three: Make the bedding+

  • Make the bedding: Soak a few layers of newspaper in water then place in the bottom of the top box.
  • Add compost over the newspaper, to the thickness of your palm.

Step four: Add your worms+

  • Add your composting worms - earthworms are not suitable.
  • Worms can double their population in three months.

Step five: Add food scraps and feed your worms+

  • Add food scraps: Put your kitchen scraps on top of the bedding regularly, but in small amounts.
  • Over time as more worms breed, you will be able to give them more to eat.

Feed your worms

  • Don’t add too much food at once.
  • Avoid feeding the worms meat, bones, fatty food, bread or dairy products.
  • Worms don’t like citrus fruits, raw onion or raw garlic.
  • Some foods such as fruit, form acid. Add a little wood ash, dolomite or garden lime every few weeks to prevent the worm farm from becoming too acidic.
  • Wait until the worms have burrowed in the bedding before applying lime or wood ash.
  • Worms can eat up to their body weight in one day.

Step six: Add water to keep moist+

  • Cover the food scraps with newspaper or a piece of hessian, and place the lid of the broccoli box on the top.
  • Add water to the box whenever it gets dry. It should be the consistency of a damp sponge. If it is too wet, mix dry shredded newspaper throughout the bedding.
  • Place the worms in a cool and shady spot in your garden or garage.

Step seven: Maintain your farm+

  • Harvest the worm castings by moving it all to one side of the farm.
  • Add fresh bedding to the empty side.
  • Many of the worms will move to the fresh bedding in a few days.
  • Collect the worm juice from the bottom tray.

Contact us

If you need more information about worm farms, please contact waste services on: