Raising Earthworms?

StormySar · #1 03/30/08, 12:36 PM

I am looking into raising earth worms. I dont' have much room for over the winter, but we could possibly work something out for a temporary solution then have them outside the rest of the time. How much room do they need?

Anyway, my husband does a ton of fishing, and I think this would not only save us money, but allow me a chance to sell the excess at a local store I have a connection with. Can I just sell worms, or is there some sort of red tape to sell them in a store?

If I got worms next month, what is the liklihood that I'd have enough to begin selling for the fishing season? Or during the fishing season, not necessarily starting from the beginning of the season. I have no idea how quickly worms breed, gestate, mature, etc.

Any good websites? Experience? Would I need to move them into a larger container over the winter because I wouldnt be removing any for selling?

Before I jump in, obvisouly I want to be sure I have the time, information available, space and ability to do this so please, please share your experience or links. Also books that I can borrow from my library. Thanks!

Sarah

quadcam79 · #2 03/30/08, 01:08 PM

http://www.cityfarmer.org/wormcomp61.html

piglady · #3 03/30/08, 01:26 PM

It sounds like you are wanting to do it small scale for yourself and sell a few. I can't see how that could go wrong but we do know of two different families that were ruined by buying into the whole worm farm thing. They each built a large warm house and bought the original supply and thought they would be able to support their family and quit their jobs. In both cases, it was a scam and the promised income never happened. One had to sell the farm due to the mortgage they got to pay for the whole worm set up and the other just converted it into a mother in law house and went to driving a truck but it caused trouble in the family since everyone pitched in money for this thing. Just be careful. It it sounds too good to be true, it is!

donsgal · #4 03/30/08, 01:28 PM

see also www.unclejimswormfarm.com

donsgal

wy_white_wolf · #5 03/30/08, 05:58 PM

PM Shrek, He's the resident worm raiser.

tyusclan · #6 03/30/08, 07:07 PM

www.acmewormfarm.com

diamondtim · #7 03/30/08, 07:21 PM

www.vermiculture.com

Used to ship some of their freight. Good people.

dancingbear · #8 03/30/08, 11:38 PM

I'm not an expert by any means, but I've been reading up on this myself. Anybody sees any glaring errors in this, please, tell me!
I wouldn't do anything big to start, but a big plastic tub with holes in the bottom for drainage, with nylon screen over the holes so the worms don't crawl out, filled with a mixture of dirt, leaves, table scraps, oatmeal, cornmeal, some grass clippings...let it go through it's heating composting phase, then add a couple thousand worms. That initial set up shouldn't bankrupt you, and I read that feeding a little cornmeal makes them reproduce like crazy. just keep it out of direct sun, maybe pile some bales of straw around it if it's gonna be really cold, it should do fine out side. Don't let it get flooded in a heavy rain, worms will drown. Don't let it get too dry. Bury you kitchen scraps in the corners, the worms will munch them up. If it works out, you could add another tub. And another. And so on. If it doesn't work out, you still have a place to make wormpost for the garden (or to sell) worms to fish with, and a place to put your coffee grounds and potato peels, etc..

Bonnie L · #9 03/31/08, 09:34 AM

As soon as the snow melts & the manure thaws, I'll be composting manure. Lots of it! Is it worth the money to buy worms to put in the pile, or just let the wild ones find it?

Toads tool · #10 03/31/08, 06:54 PM

I can answer these questions.
(How much room do they need?)
You can grow worms in a 5 gallon bucket, you can grow them in a soup can.
It all depends on how many you need and how many you want. A plastic tote being the most commonly used only takes up about 4 square feet.

(Can I just sell worms, or is there some sort of red tape to sell them in a store?)
States vary as do store rules on bait sales.

(If I got worms next month, what is the liklihood that I'd have enough to begin selling for the fishing season?)
Slim to none. Unless you plan on being a reseller, and there's little money in that. It takes at least three months for your worm population to double in size. Unless you plan on buying an established bed from someone; it will take time to build your stock. The only way you make money on worms is selling the ones that you have bread out and raised yourself.

(Would I need to move them into a larger container over the winter because I wouldnt be removing any for selling?)
If you grow say in a 5 gallon bucket and don't sell any of the worms you will start seeing your supply shrink in physical size not in number. Kinda like raising fish in a tank you need plenty of space to grow big fish. Indoor this is solved with devideing your container in two, thus increasing your growing/breeding area.

Selling worms isn't something to jump into.
See if you can even raise them before you commit to the chore of selling them. Start small, read everything about vermiculturing that you can find.
Good luck

Bonnie L.
I wouldn't go buy any worms. Once the pies thaw they will be drawing the worms up to them. If nothing else wait for this batch to cool then go worm pickin in the fresher patties.
If you are composting the manure the heat will drive off any in the pile momentarily. So if you add them too early they 'll go away. I lay some wet flakes of straw around my fresh manure heap/compost pile to give the worms a place to crawl too while the pile works. Once it cools they crawl back into the pile.