If you have a stacking worm farm system such as can-of-worms, worm-a-round or worm factory the included instructions are usually pretty confusing. To start out you need to use only one of the trays and store the remaining trays.
The video below from Worm Ohana is the best quality, easy to understand and no-fuss guide to getting started with your new stackable worm farm. The Windward Zero Waste School Hui is a project of Oahu Resource Conservation and Development Council and is a non-profit organisation.
The basic concept with stacking worm farms is that the top tray is the ‘working tray’, that is the tray you are adding food to. In reality all the trays are working as worms will migrate between them depending on food, temperature and moisture. Over time, the bottom tray will turn to finer worm castings, ready to be harvested.
- Add one tray to the worm farm, store the remaining trays.
- Add a good quantity of wet bedding such as torn cardboard, Coir or pet grade wood shavings, fill at least half the depth of the tray with bedding material
- Add the worms to the tray
- Add a small amount of food, feed your worms in the tray regularly with small amounts until it becomes established
- Place the lid on the worm farm
- After about 2 months, add the second tray. Add bedding and food as before
- If you have a third tray, wait another two months and add the final tray to the worm farm
- Wait around 2 more months, remove the bottom tray and harvest the worm castings, return any stray worms into the worm farm
- Place the empty tray on the top and fill with bedding as before.