Worm farming or Vermicomposting
Kitchen waste and garden waste can be "regenerated" to produce wonderful compost and other by-products that enhance soil fertility. This is cheaper and more sustainable than paying to transport biodegradable waste elsewhere, and spending good money on compost and chemical fertilisers - as happens in this humourous look at 'conventional' gardening: The Suburbanites (also at http://baetzler.de/humor/suburbanites.html).
Many people start a worm farm using the 'red wiggler' (Eisenia fetida)* - a non-invasive worm from the northern hemisphere that lives near the soil surface (unlike our indigenous South African earthworms that burrow into the soil). It quickly breaks down organic kitchen waste to create 'vermicompost' and 'vermi-tea' or 'worm tea'. Most of the information resources and suppliers listed below are based in South Africa.
*Current DNA research at North-West University (2012): the only species identified in over 10 worm farms in 4 provinces in South Africa is Eisenia andrei. 
Build your own worm farm
-
Make a Worm Farm using a Black Bin (diagram of pic here)
Some commercial suppliers - Eastern Cape:
-
Janis Lister, Bedford: 046-685.1064, 082-871.7715, jan(at)dragonflydell.com
-
Earthworms Unlimited, Cannonville (Sundays River Estuary), Port Elizabeth: Les Kingma, 041-468.0140, 082-465.4391, 086-628.5003 fax, email address: info(at)addocruises.co.za
-
Worms for Africa, Knysna: Mark, 084-606.0813
-
Michelle's Garden Shed Nursery, East London: 084-798.6249, michelle(at)michellesgardenshednursery.co.za or alan(at)michellesgardenshednursery.co.za
-
Early Worms, Cedarville: Peter Earle, 039-757.5593, 082-347.3463, earlyworms(at)live.co.za
Some commercial suppliers - other parts of SA:
-
Earthworm Buddies, Gauteng: Ken, 072-533-0304, info(at)earthwormbuddies.co.za
-
Earthworms R us, Durban (KZN): 031-266.1843, 083-309.3304 - also gives instructions on how to assemble your worm farm.
-
Full Cycle - Can-O-Worms, Noordhoek, Cape Town: 021-789.2922, 086-618.8865
-
Suburban Earthworms, Paarden Eiland, Cape Town: 079-699.0375 / 072-516.7722, earthworm(at)telkomsa.net / ecoearthworm(at)telkomsa.net
-
Wizzard Worms, Greytown (KZN): 072-102.1636, 033-413.1837, donblacklaw(at)greytown.co.za
-
WormFarming.co.za, Gauteng: Johan, 082-299.3276 / 078-133-5786, sawormfarming(at)gmail.com
-
Worms4Africa, Howick (KZN): 079-022.5432, info(at)worms4africa.co.za / worms4africa(at)gmail.com
-
Worms Galore, Gauteng, KZN, Free State: Ashley 082 854 8661, wormsgalore(at)vodamail.co.za, or Cape: Lesli 083-266.5275, wormsgalorecpt(at)gmail.com
What's in? Organic materials like vegetables, egg shells, bread crusts, shredded paper, card, sawdust, kraal manure, grass cuttings (in small quantities), leaves, etc.
What's out? Avoid animal proteins, large amounts of acidic matter, body waste, non-biodegradable and domestic waste.
Did you know? The largest earthworm in the world - the Giant South African Earthworm, Microchaetus rappi - lives in the Eastern Cape. The record length is reported to be 54 centimetres. Another claim is that it was 6.7 metres long!
More info:
-
Earthworm Interest Group of Southern Africa (EIGSA) provides worm farming info and support: email earthwormer(at)absamail.co.za or contact Ken Reid on kareid(at)iafrica.com (PO Box 1577, Ferndale 2160, T 011-792.3478 t, F 086 672 2958, C 076-185.8505).
-
City Farmer writes about Composting with Red Wiggler Worms
-
Footprints: helpful reading Footprints Guide to Earthworm Farming and Footprints Wormbin Creatures (more info: 084-506.3089, gsdouglas(at)worldonline.co.za)
-
Full Cycle aims to establish worm farms at Pick n Pay regional offices throughout South Africa.
-
Good bugs lets worms do the work. Good Bugs, Little Workers: Using earthworms to make super vermicompost is an E-Book by Charl Pienaar and Dora du Plessis. See Chapter 1: Using worms.
-
Greenworks helps us figure out how we can reduce our consumption and produce less disposable waste.
-
North West University: current DNA research has shown that the only species (in 10 worm farms in 4 provinces) in South Africa is Eisenia andrei.
-
University of Free State promotes Low External Inputs Sustainable Agriculture through sustainable practices such as worm farming - see vermicompost benefits.
-
Worms Recycle Garbage ... thought-provoking info on sustainable living.
Want to TAKE ACTION?
Go to the Rhodes University ENVIRONMENT front page. Suggestions/Questions? Contact environment(at)ru.ac.za
