Composting with worms, or vermiculture, is an eco-friendly way to turn your kitchen scraps and garden waste into rich, nutrient-filled compost. While worm farms can be made from various containers, using an old bathtub is a fantastic option. It’s spacious, durable, and provides the perfect environment for worms to thrive. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the process of building your very own worm farm using a bathtub.
Why Use a Bathtub for a Worm Farm?
Before diving into the steps, let’s look at why a bathtub is an excellent choice for a worm farm:
- Size: Bathtubs offer plenty of space, allowing you to compost larger amounts of waste and produce more compost.
- Durability: Bathtubs are built to last, making them a long-term solution for your composting needs.
- Drainage: The built-in drain helps manage excess moisture, which is crucial for maintaining a healthy worm environment.
- Upcycling: Repurposing an old bathtub is an environmentally friendly way to recycle and reduce waste.
This is how we build our wormfarm
Step 1: Location
The first step is to find the right spot for your worm farm. Choose a location that’s shady and cool, as worms prefer temperatures between 13°C and 25°C. A spot under a tree, near a garden shed, or against the side of a building is ideal. Make sure it’s easily accessible so you can add scraps and harvest compost without any hassle.
Step 2: Prepare the Bathtub
Once you’ve chosen a location, it’s time to prepare the bathtub:
- Elevate the Bathtub: Place the bathtub on bricks or cinder blocks to elevate it off the ground. This will help with drainage and make it easier to collect the liquid fertilizer, known as worm tea, that drains from the bottom.
- Cover the Drain: Place a piece of mesh or a wire screen over the drain hole to prevent the worms from escaping while still allowing excess water to drain out.
- Check for Leaks: Ensure that the drain is functioning properly. If needed, seal any leaks around the drain to control where the liquid fertilizer exits.
Step 3: Create a Bedding Base
The bedding is where your worms will live and thrive. Here’s how to create a cozy environment for them:
- Shred the Bedding: Start by shredding newspaper, cardboard, or straw into small pieces. You can also use coconut coir if you have it.
- Moisten the Bedding: Soak the bedding material in water until it’s damp but not soaking wet. It should feel like a wrung-out sponge.
- Add Soil: Mix a small amount of soil into the bedding material. This provides the worms with grit, which they need to help digest food.
Spread the damp bedding evenly across the bottom of the bathtub to create a thick layer, about 4-6 inches deep.
Step 4: Add the Worms
Now it’s time to introduce your worms to their new home:
- Red Wigglers: These worms are the best for composting because they thrive in decomposing organic matter and reproduce quickly. You can buy them online or from a garden store.
- Settle Them In: Gently place the worms on top of the bedding. They’ll quickly burrow down into the bedding to escape the light.
Step 5: Add Organic Waste
Worms love a variety of organic waste, which will serve as their food source. Here’s how to feed them:
- Start Slowly: In the beginning, add only a small amount of food scraps to give the worms time to adjust to their new environment.
- Feed Regularly: Over time, you can add more food scraps as the worms begin to consume them more quickly. Good options include fruit and vegetable peels, coffee grounds, tea bags, and crushed eggshells.
- Avoid Certain Foods: Don’t add meat, dairy, oily foods, or citrus, as these can attract pests and make the worm bin too acidic.
Cover the food scraps with a layer of bedding each time you add them to prevent odors and discourage pests.
Step 6: Maintain the Worm Farm
To keep your worm farm healthy and productive, follow these simple maintenance tips:
- Monitor Moisture: The bedding should remain damp but not too wet. If it feels dry, mist it with water. If it’s too wet, add more dry bedding to absorb the excess moisture.
- Turn the Compost: Every few weeks, gently turn the compost with a shovel or garden fork to aerate it and help the decomposition process.
- Cover the Bathtub: Use a tarp or old blanket to cover the top of the bathtub. This will keep the environment dark and moist, which worms love, while also protecting the farm from heavy rain.
Step 7: Harvest the Compost
After a few months, you’ll start to see rich, dark compost forming at the bottom of the bathtub. Here’s how to harvest it:
- Move the Worms: Gently push the compost to one side of the bathtub, placing fresh bedding and food on the other side. The worms will naturally migrate to the fresh bedding over time.
- Collect the Compost: Once most of the worms have moved, scoop out the finished compost. This nutrient-rich material is perfect for your garden, flower beds
Happy worm farming!
