Build your own worm farm

You can make a perfectly good worm farm using a couple of polystyrene vegetable boxes from the greengrocer. Here’s what to do.

you’ll need
2 deep polystyrene boxes (one with a lid); bag of compost; newspaper; box of live compost worms; food scraps; hessian

HERE’S HOW
Step 1 Cut the top half from one box, using a sharp-bladed knife. This box is the collection tray for the worm liquid.

Step 2 Using a pen or screwdriver, make a hole in the base of the half-size box, near one end. Position this box on a stand, made from 2 courses of bricks.

Step 3 Create a series of drainage holes in the base of the full-size box.

Step 4 Line the base of the full-size box with several sheets of newspaper.

Step 5 Position the full-size box on top of the half-box. Then spread a layer of compost over the newspaper.

Step 6 Dampen the compost and paper.

Step 7 Add the worms, spreading them evenly over the moist compost.

Step 8 Add the food scraps, placing them only on one half of the surface area. When the worms have eaten this, place the next load of scraps on the other side. The worms will migrate each time, allowing you to remove their castings and add them to your garden.

Step 9 Sprinkle a little more compost over the food scraps and dampen again. Finally, lay a piece of hessian over the top to keep the farm moist – simply pull it back each time you add food or remove castings.

Step 10 Pop on the lid. Place a plastic container under the hole in the lower box, so you can collect the liquid waste. Use this liquid diluted 1:10 with water as a soluble fertiliser for garden plants.