WEBSITES AND WORM FORUMS
This website features a lively worm discussion forum. Publishes a magazine called Earthworm Digest.
A professional journal on the subject of large-scale composting and recycling. The journal and related conferences sometimes feature information on worm composting projects.
VermiCo, a company that sells worms but focuses mainly on educational seminars and workshops, publishes a bimonthly newsletter called Casting Call.
The website of Mary Appelhof, leading worm educator and enthusiast. Books, worm bins, and—of course—worms are for sale.
More information on the Minnesota Worm Watch program and the destruction of Minnesota’s forests by worms.
Information on earthworms from the University of California at Davis, including species profiles for several common earthworms.
An interesting and informative site that offers soil tests and useful information about soil ecology; run by Dr. Elaine Ingham, who teaches workshops on organic soil management practices.
Hosts an on-line discussion forum for Can-O-Worms users. Also sells worms, bins, books, and other items.
Wide-ranging discussions on everything worm related.
Manufacturers of the Worm Factory. Includes how-to videos and other information.
www.recycleworks.co.uk/cgi-bin/ubbcgi/ultimatebb.cgi
Includes an active worm forum for worm enthusiasts in the United Kingdom.
Wiggly Wigglers is the leading supplier of worm bins and worm composting advice in the United Kingdom.
WORM BINS
New worm bins are coming on the market all the time. It’s a good idea to check some of the worm forums like www.wormdigest.org for reviews of new models. Also, for any size project, there is a homemade option. Small-scale worm bins can be built in wooden boxes, plastic tubs, or garbage cans. Mid-scale bins are often nothing more than large wooden boxes with lids, or discarded freezers or refrigerators equipped with a few modifications for safety and drainage. Even a large-scale worm composting system can be made with windrows: long rows of feedstock that worms work their way through, with a little shelter from the weather and a source of water to preserve ideal conditions for the worms.
You can buy a worm bin with or without worms included. Many worm farmers sell a variety of bins in addition to worms, worm books, and videos, and supplies such as bedding, thermometers, and pH meters.
Small Scale
There are several small, stacking worm bins on the market. These bins consist of three or four stacked trays with holes in the bottom of each tray; the worms move through the holes to reach the topmost layer of food. Eventually the bottom tray can be emptied and placed on top, allowing the process to begin again. Some popular brands include Can-O-Worms, Wriggly Wranch, and the Worm Factory. The bins are widely available from garden supply companies, worm growers, nurseries, and city worm- bin distribution programs.
Some worm farmers also sell wooden or plastic tubs that can be used as worm bins. They usually include drainage holes in the bottom and a few other special modifications. These bins are well suited for indoor use—for instance, in a classroom, under a kitchen sink, or in a cellar—but when it comes time to harvest the castings, it can be more difficult to separate the worms from the castings. Fortunately, this does not have to be done very often—worms are content to live in their castings for months at a time.
Mid-Scale
The Worm Wigwam is one of the most popular mid-scale composters. It is three feet tall, three feet wide, and suitable for a restaurant, small grocery store, or small school. Available from EPM, Inc., PO Box 1295, Cottage Grove, OR 97424; visit www.wormwigwam.com or call 800-779-1709.
The Eliminator 300 is manufactured by Happy D Ranch. It is built of wood and plexiglass and is appropriate for schools. Contact Happy D Ranch at PO Box 3001, Visalia, CA, 93278; visit www.happydranch.com, or call 559-738-9301.
Large Scale
Large-scale bins are almost always built to custom specifications. They can be designed to work with existing equipment on a farm or in a factory. Often they are built on site inside a warehouse or barn. Some of the most popular models include the Worm Gin (352-485-1903), the Oregon Soil Corporation Reactor (503-557-9742), and the Vermitech (in Australia: +61 2 9261 4045 or www.vermitech.com).