Build a worm box for organic waste yourself - how it works
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Building a worm box is not difficult once you know how to do it. With such a box you can produce valuable organic fertilizer yourself. In this article you will learn how to build something like this and create your own worm humus.
Why you should build a worm box
A worm box is nothing more than a compost. In contrast to compost, you do not necessarily have to move it outside. The humus produced there can be added to the plant soil as an organic fertilizer.
- Unlike the organic waste bin, there are no unpleasant smells in the worm box. The worms break down the organic waste very quickly, so that the waste becomes worm humus. It smells like forest earth.
- A worm box works best with two chambers, which are separated by a grid in the middle. So you have the possibility to take out the humus on one side and to feed the worms on the other side.
- To begin with, fill one side with organic waste, which the worms process into fertilizer. Only when you need the humus or the page is full, fill the second page. Since there is no more food on the filled side, the worms move to the other side.
- This can take a few days. Since the food is used up first and the worms then find their way. Through the grid in the middle they come to the other side unhindered and begin to wipe out the remains.
- Before you put the fertilizer in the flowerpot, you should make sure that it is also worm-free.
Buy or rather build yourself.
You can decide whether you want to do it yourself and build a box or whether you want to buy a finished box. Dimensions have proven to be 40 x 40 x 60 cm.
- However, you should pay attention to one thing, it doesn't matter whether bought or built yourself, the wood should be untreated and therefore free of chemicals. So the worms are not burdened by them.
- Since the wood is breathable, it absorbs moisture and releases it back into the air. A worm-friendly climate is created.
- Worms also need oxygen, so you should avoid isolation.
- For the sake of the environment, you should use local wood. This guarantees short transport routes and overexploitation of primeval forests is not supported.
- To separate the two sides, you can use an old metal grille or buy it at the Hasendraht hardware store. This is attached in the middle of the box and thus separates the two chambers.
- Suitable worms are the species Dendrobena veneta (giant red worm), Eisenia fetida (compost worm) and Eisenia andrei (earthworm species, which is closely related to the compost worm).
How to start with the worm box
In order for the start to go well, you should plan a few days. Because it is well known that good things take time. You will certainly want to own a well-functioning worm box.
- You need one thing to start the box. Waste paper. So far you can use all types of paper except glossy paper and color printed paper.
- You have to tear the paper into small pieces and soak it in water. After soaking, place the snippets a few centimeters high in one of the halves of the worm box.
- The worms are now placed on the paper. Place the entire contents of the can, including the substrate, on the paper. This gives the worms an opportunity to withdraw.
- Now all you have to do is put some organic waste on the paper every day. First fill only the side with the paper.
- You should not fill in too much organic waste for the first few days, since this waste is first processed by microorganisms. Only after a few days can you increase the amount of organic waste until you can put all of the organic waste into it.
- Now you are probably wondering what organic waste can put into the worm box. Under no circumstances should you add cheese or meat. These mold very quickly and are not broken down well by the worms. But what can get into it are coffee grounds, tea, fruit and vegetable leftovers.
- So that there is no acidification, you should occasionally add some rock powder. You can also add dry scraps of paper if necessary. This allows you to regulate the moisture and supply important carbon to the worms.
Another article tells you how to grow compost worms.