Bedding

Bedding is what the worms live in. They will also eat it and eventually turn it into compost, so it has to be renewed eventually. A good clean bedding material is waste paper and cardboard that has been shredded/torn and then soaked in water. The material should then be allowed to drain until no more water emerges. When a handful is squeezed, some drips should still run out. If the bedding starts to look a bit dry round the edges then sprinkle on some water using a watering can. Pure rainwater is best but cold tapwater is fine. Remember, if they think that their beautiful home is flooding then they will leave, so don’t overdo it. It is always advisable to add a little at a time until you get it right rather than have to deal with a problem that could have been avoided. (This approach works with feeding the worms aswell).

Bedding should be kept loose to allow plenty of air to reach the worms. The top 10cms – 15cms layer can be lightly turned with a garden handfork to maintain this. Loosen the bedding just before you add food and you will soon become familiar with the condition of the bedding and quantity of food that the worms are consuming or leaving behind.

 

Insulation

If the worms freeze, they will die. If the bedding freezes, they cannot use it and if their food freezes then they cannot eat it. Some basic insulation will avoid these problems. The wooden walls of the box provide insulation along with the carpet over the bedding which is adequate for most of the year. However, during the coldest part of the winter, additional measures can be taken to avoid problems. Layers of corrugated cardboard can be laid on top of the carpet to help trap some warm air and to keep the frost off. Dead leaves can be added under the carpet and the worms will eventually consume them.

Preparing Your Wormery For Winter

To give your worms the best chance of