Worms, worms, worms!

"I would not enter on my list of friends (Though graced with polished manners and fine sense, Yet wanting sensibility) the man Who needlessly sets foot upon a worm" William Cowper.

Well, old Billy boy certainly recognised a good thing when he saw it, but he was not alone. The Pharaohs of ancient Egypt were amongst the first people to recognise the importance of earthworms and instigated further study by a section of the priesthood. In fact they were considered so indispensable to the agricultural economy that Cleopatra declared the earthworm sacred, and anyone trying to take them out of the country was subjected to the death penalty. Perhaps this is not surprising in view of the fact that tests carried out in the Nile valley by the US Department of Agriculture in 1949 proved that the great fertility of the soil there was due largely to the work of earthworms. During the six months' growing season, nearly 120 tons of worm castings were deposited per acre on the ground - some ten times the quantity normally deposited on good agricultural land in Europe.

So, what use are worms to me?

Earthworms are basically the unsung 'soldiers of the soil'. Placed in the garden they will:

• Aerate the soil, breaking it up for easier access for plant roots.
• Turn dead Organic matter into a valuable source of nutrients, thereby providing a life support system for plants and trees.
• Improve the soil structure and improve water retention by pulverising soil and creating tunnels in their search for food.

Place a quantity of earthworms in a compost heap or wormery and they will:

• Speed up the recycling process and reduce the volume of waste by a factor of between 4 and 8.
• Convert Organic waste into nutrient-rich castings at a rate of between 75% and 100% of their body weight in one day.
• Produce a liquid fertiliser that will reduce the need for chemical equivalents.

© Tallywacker Farm 2000

Why Compost?

Organic materials, such as kitchen scraps and garden waste, when dumped in landfill sites impose burdens on the environment out of all proportion to their volume. As they break down, because air is excluded, they generate large quantities of toxic leachate and also methane, a 'greenhouse' gas far more potent than carbon dioxide. Composting Organic waste avoids these problems, turns a 'waste' product to a much needed resource, and is in principle a far more sustainable procedure.

Worm Castings - Old Muck or Black Gold?

Worm castings, the waste product of worms, have long been regarded as a very rich source of natural Organic plant nutrients. They may be used as a medium for the rapid germination of all seeds, and even the most delicate of plants will thrive in castings. Worm castings can also be used for the following purposes:

• Potting compost - Diluted with good garden soil or a peat substitute
• Lawn dressing - When mixed with sand
• Planting out time - A small quantity added when planting
• Plant food - As a top dressing
• Liquid fertiliser - When mixed with water
• General nutrient - As a slow release top dressing

"It may be doubted whether there are many other animals which have played so important a role in the history of the world as these lowly creatures" Charles Darwin.

The Tallywacker Worm Breeding Farm

In March 1998 approximately 1,000 square metres of worm beds were set up at Tallywacker Farm. Since the introduction of a large quantity of highly prized stud Dendrabaena venera worms back in June 1998, the Tallywacker 'herd' has gone from strength to strength. A strict regime of feeding, watering and good husbandry, combined with the loving affection we bestow on our little 'babies' has resulted in a stock of worms that are both happy and virile.
And as we all know, a happy worm is a productive worm!

Horses for Courses

To speak of 'the earthworm' is actually inaccurate - in fact, 28 species of earthworms have been identified in Britain, whilst throughout the world it is estimated that the total number of species may be as high as 3,000. All species do not behave in the same way , and are not of equal importance.
Four of the most common worms found in the garden are:

The Night Crawler (Lumbricus terrestis) is about 12 -15 cm long. A surface breeder, it is normally found in areas of high rainfall. It is light grey to silver in colour and fairly thick and solid.
The Field Worm (Aporrectodea caliginosa) is redder, slightly smaller and generally remains below the surface.
The Red Worm (Lumbricus rubellus) is 6 - 10 cm in length, red on top and sometimes paler and flatter underneath.
The Tiger Worm (Eisenia fetida) also known as the manure worm has distinctive rings around the body and generally prefers sloppy, manure-rich conditions.

Having performed trials with all the above species we have concluded that for general composting purposes the Compost worm (Dendrabaena venera) has proved to be the most efficient. They are far more gregarious then the four listed above and will rapidly multiply to fill your wormery or compost heap.

Compost Bin or Wormery?

If you already have a compost heap this is the ideal place into which to introduce your worms. Our instructions for adding worms to a compost heap will take you through the steps necessary to establish the worms in their new home. Wormeries can be purchased from a number of sources, although many different containers can be used for the job. Again, our instructions will guide you through the setting up process.

We can also supply you with a self contained wormery made of a durable, high quality, dual chamber polyethylene bin with aeration vents, easy turn taps and double-sealed lid. There is an internal separating platform allowing easy access to an integral sump (90 litre capacity - 30 x 24 x 17 inches).