Earthworm Farming
Compost worms (Eisenia fetida)
Worm capcules (2 to 10 worms can hatch from one cocoon)
We use red worms, special red earthworms called Eisenia fetida, whose main job in life is to produce compost - super vermicompost - as these earthworms excrete amino acids and enzymes, which help plants to access the nutrients more easily. These earthworms will not survive in your garden, they can only live in rich organic matter.
With chemical fertilizers you feed the plant, with earthworm compost you feed the soil and help to make a difference towards the future of the earth.
What better way to do your bit than by recycling your kitchen and garden waste to make super compost for your garden? Or even on a bigger scale by using what others consider waste and converting manure to earthworm compost for your own use or even to sell?
Plastic worm farm
Worms in tyres
More information can be obtained from Goodbugs.
The book Using earthworms to make super vermicompost by Charl Pienaar and Dora du Plessis can be obtained on CD from dora@goodbugs.co.za.
Group of Hope
In June 2002 a group of maximum classification prisoners at the Brandvlei Maximum Institution attended a HIV/AIDS prevention programme. They were so inspired with what they have learned from the program that they decided to reach out to the immediate community.
The inmates called themselves "Group of Hope" and they decided to "adopt" HIV/AIDS orphans and people in need from the community who will come and visit the maximum prison Group of Hope members. During the visits the group usually spoils the "adopted" people with snacks, vegetables and clothes that they have made themselves in the workshop and toys that were received as donations.
Besides their vegetable gardens, they were also introduced to worm farming (vermicomposting). Red wriggler earthworms were sponsored and soon they will be producing their own vermicompost. This means their soil will be conditioned by this type of compost which will allow them to produce 100% organic vegetables. In other words, they now not only have a vegetable garden, but also do "Earthworm farming".
More information can be obtained here.