WORM FARMS BY SOPHIE AND HANNAH

OUR QUESTIONS Our key questions were: How can you create and sustain a worm farm? What scraps can/can’t you feed worms? Are worm farms an effective way to get rid of food waste?

IN THIS PRESENTATION YOU WILL LEARN ABOUT: How to create a worm farm. How to sustain a worm farm. What you can and can’t feed worms. If worm farms are a reliable way to get rid of food waste. The life of a worm. Why worms are such fascinating creatures!

HOW TO CREATE A WORM FARM You will need: A plastic or glass space, large enough to fit soil and worms comfortably in it. It will need to have a tap or small holes near the bottom for collecting worm tea. It will also need holes in the top so the worms can breathe. Worms (red wigglers and tiger worms are best). Soil Newspaper

HOW TO CREATE A WORM FARM 1.Fill up a third of your container with worm-free soil. 2.Fill the rest of your container with soil that contains worms. This soil should be slightly moist. 3.Place the newspaper on top. 3.You now have a basic worm farm! Tip: keep a jug under the worm farm for the worm tea to drip into. It will take around a month for your worms to start producing tea.

HOW TO SUSTAIN YOUR WORM FARM Your farm will need to be kept moist. It should be kept in a dark space as worms hate the light. Having newspaper on top also helps to keep your worms happy. If, for whatever reason, you have to touch the worms, you should wet your hands first to prevent hurting them. Only feed your worms a small amount of scraps at a time, otherwise uneaten scraps will make the farm slimy and unpleasant. If you notice any tiny, white worms, it means you need to increase the acidity in your worm farm. At places such as Mitre Ten Mega, you can purchase a product called ‘Zing.’ Sprinkle this on top, and it should help to solve the problem.

WHAT CAN’T YOU FEED WORMS? You can feed worms almost anything, including dog poo, tea leaves, eggshells and coffee grounds! But there are a few things that worms can’t eat. These things include…… Meat and Dairy products. Citrus and seed fruits (such as lemons, oranges and apricots). Garlic Pineapple (it will kill them) Onions Salted/pickled foods Toxic house plants Freshly cut grass/sawdust Weed clippings Pineapple is not actually a citrus fruit. It is

ARE WORM FARMS AN EFFECTIVE WAY TO GET RID OF WASTE? We discovered that worm farms are not the most effective way to get rid of food waste, as you cannot feed them too much food at a time. We think they are a good way to get rid of some waste, but you still end up throwing out a fair bit of food. However, we love the idea that you can do your bit to save the planet and end up with a free fertiliser!

FUN FACTS The scientific name for an tiger worm is ‘Eisenia Foetida.’ The scientific name for a red wiggler is ‘Eisenia Fetida.’ There are many different types of worm farms, such as: -The Wheelie Bin Worm Farm -The Bathtub Worm Farm -The Styrofoam Worm House -The Worm Tower Worm tea acts as a fertiliser, and helps to grow beautiful, healthy plants.

THE LIFE CYCLE OF A WORM The life cycle of the red wiggler starts off by two worms, one female and one male, mating. After four days, a cocoon begins to form. After 23 days, the incubation period is over. The cocoon then breaks open and the hatchlings come out. There is normally three hatchlings per cocoon. At around 40- 60 days old, the worms become mature, and the process starts again.

FACTS ABOUT RED WIGGLERS Though red wigglers are earthworms, they are rarely found in soil. They excrete a foul smelling liquid when handled roughly (handle them with care!) When happy and healthy, these worms will eat up to half their body weight. Red Wigglers have gizzards* in their stomachs that help grind up their food. *a gizzard is an object that breaks down the food for worms. It is similar to a very muscular stomach.

BIBLIOGRAPHY - VIDEOS https://youtu.be/V8miLevRI_o https://youtube/Berf8Sy0SCI https://youtu.be/arb2RX_69uQ

BIBLIOGRAPHY - WEBSITES www.wormfarm.co.nz www.letthechildrenplay.co.za www.kidspot.co.nz www.gardeningwithangus.com https://nz.pinterest.com www.youtube.com www.teara.govt.nz www.en.wikipedia.org Sophie’s Mum

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