Breeding California worms: good income without significant investment. How to breed California worms: personal experience California worm breeding at home

Breeding worms at home for beginners is also attracted by the simplicity of the equipment used. The cultivation technology is simple and does not require special knowledge. Also tempting is the lack of special facilities for breeding. In the initial stage, business can be done in an ordinary apartment.

If you have already decided to do such an unusual business, then you should know that you can sell the worms themselves, biohumus and worm tea. Biohumus is an excellent fertilizer.

Worm tea is a unique product that will increase the yield by at least two times. It is effectively used for growing strawberries, indoor plants, for growing vegetables and fruits both in greenhouses and on open ground. In order for a business to develop effectively, it is necessary to create the most comfortable conditions for the life and reproduction of worms.
How to breed earthworms at home and how to make this activity grow into a business - this will be discussed further.

What are the benefits of worms

Earthworms are soil animals that feed on decaying plant debris and animal excretions. They ingest bacteria, algae, nematode protozoa, fungi and their spores. Passing food through their intestines, the worms destroy it and mix it with the ground.

By processing compost heaps, they leave the most valuable forms of humus with high microbiological activity in the soil. Processes take place in the intestines of the worm, as a result of which the decay products of organic substances are converted into molecules of humic acids. Molecules combine with the mineral components of the soil, forming calcium humates. These substances make the soil structural.

The soil processed by worms contains a wide variety of enzymes, amino acids, vitamins, antibiotics, biologically active substances that disinfect the microflora. And the worms in this process play a dominant component. In addition, these animals take an active part in loosening the soil, which makes it water and breathable.

Earthworms are an indicator of the health and fertility of garden soil. If they feel good in your area, then the harvest will be good. Their normal density should not be less than five large worms per 1 square meter of dug up area. If this amount is less, then the land needs organic fertilizer.

You should know that worms help to neutralize the acidity of the soil, as they prefer a neutral environment. They eat straw, loosen the soil, reduce the number of nematodes.

Types of worms

Consider what types of worms you need to buy for breeding and how they differ.

Regular rain

Earthworms are invertebrates whose body consists of ring-shaped segments with short bristles. The body is smooth, slippery, cylindrical in shape, 15-30 cm long. The body of the worm moves based on the setae. The ventral side is flat, the back has a convex shape and a dark color.


The earthworm is a hermaphrodite but reproduces sexually through mating. The thickening on the front is called the girdle. There are glands that secrete a sticky liquid. The animal wraps eggs with mucus during reproduction. A cocoon of mucus protects the eggs from dampness and adverse factors. After a while, small worms come out of it. The life span of an earthworm is 3-4 years.

The earthworm does not have sense organs, but perceives irritations with the help of the nervous system and reacts to them reflexively. It also does not have organs of vision, but it perceives light irritations. Earthworms smell and are capable of regenerating lost body parts.

California red

One type of earthworm is the red California worm, which is often bred at home. Compared to earthworms, Californian earthworms have many advantages in breeding, growing, feeding. This animal reaches 6-8 cm in length and weighs 1 g. Reproduction occurs at the age of three months.


With proper care, each individual produces up to 500-1500 pieces of its own kind per season. The California worm is distinguished by both high fertility and longevity. Its life expectancy is about 16 years. The only drawback of the California worm is that it is very thermophilic and does not crawl deep into the ground when the temperature drops.

Prospector

The prospector worm is the result of selection. This species was obtained in 1982 as a result of crossing the southern and northern dung worms. A distinctive characteristic of the animal is the presence of the instinct of self-preservation. At low temperatures, it goes to a safe depth. This species breeds in a much wider temperature range - +8…+29 °С.


The productivity of the prospector worm is higher than the ordinary earthworm. He is unpretentious, does not get sick and is distinguished by perseverance in the substrate. Unlike the red Californian, the prospector worm easily switches from one type of food to another. The reproduction rate and life span are the same as those of the Californian, but this species retains high viability and productivity at a high density of the substrate.

Technology for growing worms at home

In order to get the required amount of vermicompost for fertilizing the garden, you should think about breeding earthworms at home.

The recipe for fertile soil mixture is simple. It is necessary to add 1 kg of sand and 5 kg of biohumus to the black soil per 1 square meter.

How to choose a seat

If you decide to start breeding worms, then you should know that this requires a mini-farm or vermicomposter. The worm can be placed anywhere: on the balcony, in the apartment, in the yard, in the garden, in the garage or any utility room. It should be a place without noise and vibration. In the process of processing, no unpleasant odors come from the structure. The main thing is that the temperature in the room is within acceptable limits.

At temperatures above 36 ° C, the worms will die.

The smell may be emitted by the food. In this case, it must be sprinkled with biohumus or earth.

Types of worms

For breeding worms, wooden or plastic boxes made of food-grade plastic 30-40 cm high are often used. The containers must be ventilated. To do this, use a drill to drill holes in the upper part of the box around the entire perimeter and in the lid over the entire area. Boxes must be installed on the legs at an angle. Then vermicay can drain through the hole in the bottom. Place the dishes for collecting it under the hole.

Worms also feel good in cardboard boxes. They eat pieces of cardboard. True, the boxes get wet, and they often have to be replaced with new ones.
An old refrigerator is also suitable for breeding. It is installed with the door up. Don't forget to make holes for ventilation.


The most convenient, but expensive equipment for breeding worms is a special worm composter. It consists of several plastic boxes, which are installed on top of one another. Each of them has side vents and slots at the bottom for the passage of water. The bottom drawer is placed on legs. A tap for draining vermicai is mounted in its bottom. The top drawer is covered with a blanket to maintain humidity and a plastic lid.

Instructions for making a homemade worm

Consider how to build a vermifarm with your own hands, where to start manufacturing and what tools you will need.

For a homemade worm, the same plastic food boxes are most suitable. They are well installed vertically and go into each other. The box must be solid, without holes, 60 × 40 in size.

The bottom drawer will be used to collect the soil solution, the top ones to contain the worm. From above, you can put three compartments for growing a worm. In the bottom drawer, a series of holes are drilled with a drill on top of the side pieces. But in the corners (up to 10 cm), you should not make holes, because the soil solution will drain through them.

In the second box, you need to make the same holes, but around the entire perimeter. In the bottom of the second box, we make cuts parallel to the stiffeners with the help of a grinder (approximately 8 pcs.). With a chisel, we clean the surface of burrs. We produce 3 boxes of the second type.

At the bottom of the boxes we lay a row of wooden rods as thick as a finger. They will prevent clogging of the bottom holes. It is necessary to sew bags from high-density spunbond fabric. They are laid on top of the rods. It is necessary to cut out the plastic nets to move the worms to a new box. They are used when there is 5 cm left to a full box, and continue to feed the worm. Then, with a full box, the worms will be in the grid, and they can be moved.

We repeat the procedure with resettlement three times until the worm is completely captured. The top cover is made of plywood. Using a drill, we make its perforation.

What equipment will be needed

To breed worms at home, you need to purchase a small amount of equipment: scales, a wheelbarrow, a sieve, a shovel, a pitchfork, a bucket, thermometers for measuring soil and air temperature, a device for measuring soil acidity, racks, boxes for growing worms.

Soil selection

The reproduction and life of worms depends on the quality of the soil. Half of the container must be filled with humus with the addition of crushed cardboard. The soil should have a moisture content of 70-80%. It's easy to check. To do this, take a handful of soil in your hand and squeeze it tightly. If as a result of compression 1-2 drops of water are released, then the soil has the right moisture.

When starting a business, you should not immediately buy expensive vermicomposters. Use a wooden or plastic food box. It is necessary to make a hole in it for the outflow of fluid and ventilation. The room should have a temperature regime within 18-25 ° C, lighting 60 W per 20 m, ventilation no more than 0.5 m / s. You should be aware that chlorinated water inhibits worms, so use water containers. Take care of the protection of worms from pests. They are eaten by moles, rats, and other rodents.

Purchase of breeding stock

You can buy worms for breeding both on the Internet and from local owners of worm farms. When buying a breeding stock, you should pay attention to the appearance of the worm. It should be red, mobile. The breeding stock includes at least 1500 worms. The calculation must be carried out from the following ratio: 1-3 families are needed per 1 cubic meter of soil for breeding.

How to settle

After 2-3 days after preparing the soil, it is necessary to make a deepening in it and populate the first inhabitants there. After that, carefully spread the soil and close the lid. After a couple of days, you need to add food.

In order to determine the necessary acidity of the soil and check whether the worms will take root well in a new house, it is necessary to do a trial settlement in a small container. Based on the results, you can determine whether the optimal level of acidity has been reached or needs to be corrected.
The optimal acidity level for breeding worms should be in the range of 6.6 - 7.5 pH.

If there are a lot of dead worms, then the acidity must be changed. It is increased by adding straw, sawdust, plants. To reduce the acidity of the soil, it is necessary to add chalk, limestone, shells.
Within a week after moving in, you need to check how the worms feel in the new home. If the surface of the substrate is clean, and they are mobile, then the resettlement went well.

What to feed

How to feed worms at home?
Worms are not picky about food. They feed on dead or rotting plants. It is recommended to give potato peels, cabbage leaves, banana peel, stale bread, tea or coffee grounds, straw, grass, water from a container washed from under sour cream or kefir, chicken droppings.

Worms can be attributed to vegetarians. Citrus fruits, meat, eggs should not be added to their food. Fresh manure should not be added to the worms, as it generates heat up to 70 ° C.

All food you give to worms should be ground. They cannot process it in solid form. The composition of the feed should be maintained. Worms tune in better to the food that they have tasted for the first time in their lives. When changing food, adaptation of individuals must take place over a certain period.

Care rules

Growing and caring for worms at home includes feeding, maintaining a favorable temperature regime, watering and loosening the substrate.

The first feeding is carried out a few days after settlement. To do this, feed 3-5 cm thick is applied to the fourth part of the surface and evenly distributed. The next time the food is applied with a thickness of 5-7 cm on the entire surface of the box.

Top dressing for worms is added every 1.5 - 2 weeks, as they are eaten, until the box is filled to a height of 50-60 cm. The frequency of feeding depends on the number of worms and on the temperature of the content. It is necessary to keep worms at a temperature of +15 ... +25 ° С. Worms reproduce quite quickly, so it is necessary to have prepared transplant boxes. One family after wintering increases 10 times.

It should be remembered that worms need moisture. Therefore, the substrate must be watered regularly. The optimum humidity should be 80%. This procedure must be done using a watering can with small holes with settled or rain water at a temperature of 24 ° C.

Worms need oxygen, so if the substrate layer is 20 cm or more, it is necessary to loosen it regularly. This procedure is carried out with special forks with round ends. To do this, the substrate is pierced without mixing the layers twice a week to the depth of the worms.

As a result of their vigorous activity, the substrate in the box is divided into three zones.

The top layer contains nutrients and organic residues. The middle layer is intended for housing worms. The bottom layer is the most valuable. It collects all products of soil processing, which are used as biohumus and worm tea. As the worms work, the bottom layer is constantly increasing. The duration of the process of complete processing in one box is 3-4 months. After that, the worms with part of the old substrate are transplanted into another container, and everything starts all over again.

What and to whom to sell from the vermifarm

The main advantage of the vermi farm is that you can get valuable fertilizer and good income from unnecessary waste. To do this, you need to study the market and potential buyers.

For soil fertilization

To fertilize a plot of 3-4 acres, it is enough to purchase 1.5 - 3 thousand worms. During the year they will produce the required amount of biohumus. This valuable fertilizer can be sold to neighbors and acquaintances. When expanding the vermi farm, it can be offered to specialized stores, farms.

For fishing

Growing worms for fishermen and selling them in bazaars or selling them to specialized stores is also profitable, as this is part of the vermi business. The fisherman rarely takes the time to dig up the soil in search of a worm. It's always easier to buy. Fishing shops will take your stock because the lifespan of the worm is long and the demand is steady. The main thing is that the packaging contributes to the life of the worms for a certain period. Worm for fish is the most valuable product. Therefore, real professionals often breed worms at home for fishing.

To the pet store

The pet store also needs a constant supply of fresh worms and biohumus. Worms are used there as food for fish, birds and other inhabitants.

For fish farms

For the efficient operation of fish farms and the normal growth of fish, it is necessary to use live food for feeding them. Therefore, the need for the worm as an indispensable product with high nutritional value is constantly increasing.

For plant nutrition

The biohumus obtained from the vermifarm can be used for growing indoor flowers, seedlings, vegetables in the greenhouse and in the garden, for planting fruit crops, grapes, and medicinal plants. Biohumus is especially valuable in greenhouses, since it is important to exclude the possibility of diseases. If worms get into flower pots, you should not worry. Worms cannot cause any harm to plants. Since the use of biohumus is quite wide, the demand is obvious.


To expand the range, you can also offer vermicai. It is made on vermi farms by slowly passing water through a stack of containers or according to a recipe. To do this, biohumus is mixed with water in a ratio of 1: 10. Saturate it with oxygen for good bacteria reproduction. This can be done with an aquarium compressor. Insist for a day at room temperature, after which the solution is settled and filtered. The sediment can be used as a fertilizer, and the solution can be used for foliar and root dressing.

Vermichai should be used within 4 hours of turning off the compressor. With further storage, the bacteria die, the effectiveness of the solution decreases, and it emits an unpleasant odor.

How to prepare vermifarm products for sale

The main products of the vermifarm for sale are:
• worms;
• biohumus;
• worm tea.

To prepare products for sale, they must be properly packaged and stored. You can pack the worms in tight plastic bags with holes for ventilation. Store them in a cool place to avoid excessive worm activity. A sufficient amount of soil must be added to the bag.

The mother families for sale are well packed in cardboard boxes. The family should consist of cocoons, fry and adults.


Biohumus is a smearing mass of dark color. After extracting the worms, it is collected with a scoop, dried to a moisture content of 40-50%, sieved with a sieve and packaged for storage. Biohumus can be stored at temperatures ranging from -20 to + 30 °C. So that the fertilizer does not lose its biological activity, it is still not worth freezing.

Vermicai is packed in plastic bottles before being sold. Do not forget to indicate the expiration date of the solution.

Profitability calculation

From 1 cubic meter of a nursery, you can get up to 10 thousand worms and about 0.5 tons of biohumus per year. When selling 1 worm for 2 rubles, you can get 20 thousand from the sale of worms alone, not taking into account the profit from biohumus and vermicai. business, we get 150%. As you can see, the income is quite worthy.

Is it possible to make money on a business like growing strawberries all year round in a greenhouse? Let's try to answer this question in a separate one.

Mushrooms lend themselves well to artificial conditions. The demand for champignons in the food market makes them attractive for entrepreneurship.

Business pros and cons

Breeding worms is a profitable and rewarding business. This business is associated with minimal risks, so if you are interested, then you should try it first in an old refrigerator or wooden box. Having mastered the breeding of worms at home on video and in practice, having studied all the subtleties and working with the sale of products, you will decide whether it is worth expanding the business. There are practically no shortcomings in the worm business, as evidenced by the reviews of entrepreneurs. With a serious approach, the business will bring considerable income.

The importance of worms in improving soils is quite large. The realization of this predetermined a great interest in their artificial cultivation. So, as a result of many years of breeding work carried out by American researchers, in 1959 at the University of California, as a result of hybridization of various breeds of earthworm, a new variety of this species Eisenia foetida was bred, called the "California red worm hybrid" or simply "California red worm". Since 1979, it has been propagated in Western Europe, in Japan. In terms of fertility and activity, the hybrid significantly exceeds the usual earthworm and, unlike it, lends itself well to cultivation under artificial conditions.

Unlike its wild relatives, the California hybrid is a "homebody". In the presence of food, he does not spread and consumes about the same amount per day as he weighs. Breeders genetically programmed the hybrid for round-the-clock processing of waste with a high efficiency (40% of the food consumed is consumed in the process of life, and 60% after digestion is excreted in the form of excrement - coprolites, i.e. produced biohumus).

The Californian red worm differs from other species in its ability to process all types of organic matter, as well as in its very high fecundity (more than 100 times) and longevity (4 times) compared to ordinary earthworms. For two months, a population of Californian worms of 30...50 thousand individuals (biomass about 4 kg/m 2) is able to process 300...400 kg of bedding manure on each square meter of a special plantation, turning it into a highly fertile humus fertilizer. Also, the biomass of live worms is a valuable natural food for poultry and animals, pond fish. In addition, valuable protein flour (protein content of about 70%), canned food for pets and fur animals are prepared from worms. After patenting, Californian worms began to be cultivated in large American specialized farms. Thus, the German government has begun to subsidize its agricultural producers under a special program that provides for the rejection of the use of pesticides and chemical fertilizers and the transfer of farms to biological methods of agricultural production using Californian worms.

The red worm of dark red color lives in areas with a temperate climate. An adult individual reaches a length of 8-10 cm, a diameter of 3-5 mm, a weight of 0.8-1 g. Body temperature is 19-20 ° C. During the day, it consumes an amount of food that is approximately equal to its weight (about 1 g), after digestion of which 0.8-0.9 g of coprolites are released. The largest particles that a worm can swallow are up to 1 mm in size.

Life expectancy - almost 16 years (wild forms - 4 years). Very prolific. Sexual maturity occurs at the age of three months and, under optimal conditions, one individual can produce an average of 1,500 individuals per year.

This worm is a hermaphrodite. Each individual has male and female reproductive organs, but cannot self-fertilize. Sexually mature individuals mutually fertilize each other. Fertilized eggs are separated from the body of the worms and placed in a protein ring, or capsule (cocoon), which is first yellow and then brown. As a result of mating of two individuals, 2 eggs or capsules are formed, 1 for each of the individuals. Each capsule contains 2 to 20 worms. The cocoons contain liquid that the young feed on by the time they hatch. The young are white.

The optimum temperature is 20-22 °C, and the critical temperature is below 0 °C and above 42 °C. At a temperature of +7 °C falls into a state of anabiosis. The optimum humidity is 75-88%, and the critical one is below 60% and above 90%.

Practice has shown that cultivated worms do not get sick and do not succumb to any epizootics. They can die only if the technology of their breeding is violated. Most often, the death of worms causes protein poisoning with incomplete fermentation of the substrate. As a result, the worm becomes "acidic" and emits noxious gases that are fatal to other worms.

Ways to grow worms.

Industrial cultivation of worms can be carried out both outdoors and indoors. All calculations related to the arrangement of sites for vermicultivation, settling and feeding worms, caring for them and other operations are performed based on a standard bed, which is called a bed. A bed is a unit of measurement used by American researchers, with a plot of 2 m 2.

The population density of one bed can vary from 30 to 100 thousand worms (adults, young and cocoons, with eggs). On 1 bed you need 10-12 centners of organic waste per year. Of these, 40% is used to meet the vital needs of worms, and 60% is allocated in the form of coprolatives, that is, biohumus. One bed gives annually 4-6 centners of biohumus and about 30-100 kg of worm biomass.

Year-round vermicultivation with beds on open land is possible only in regions with a mild climate, because in winter the activity of worms is significantly reduced, and their care becomes more complicated. And in other regions - seasonal - from April to October.

The bed is best arranged in areas with a certain slope to ensure normal water flow during rains and prevent the formation of puddles. In addition, it is desirable that the soil be sandy or rocky. Earthworms are very afraid of the wind, so you should choose places protected from it for placing lodges. To protect against pests, the bed should be arranged on metal nets with curved edges with a side height of 25 cm, concrete trays with brick walls.

Worms are kept on concreted sites or in trenches 2 m wide and 0.3-0.4 g deep. The length of the site or trenches depends on the size of the area allotted for vermicultivation. Stocks are made of galvanized metal mesh with niches. The area of ​​the bed is 2 m 2 (2 x 1 m), height is 15-30 cm. The bed is placed in sections up to 50 m long with a distance between them of 0.5-0.8 m. Each section has 25 boxes. Two sections form a sector. The distance between sectors is 2.5-3 m.

Indoors, worms can be cultivated year-round with beds placed on a concrete floor or on racks in wooden, metal, or plastic boxes arranged in tiers. It has been studied that indoors 1 m 2 of area gives twice as much biomass of worms and organic fertilizer - biohumus than outdoors.

For vermifarming, the optimal number is 1200 beds with an area of ​​at least 1 hectare.

The French company Green Prere designed a plant for vermicomposting waste. This is a cylindrical tower, which consists of 24 plastic pallets with a diameter of 230 cm, placed one on one. Pallets are filled with waste and populated with worms. The entire composting process is fully automated.

Substrate preparation for worms.

Worms feed on various organic wastes with a high cellulose content that have undergone a fermentation process. The basis of the diet for worms is manure biomass, to which a certain amount of other organic waste is added.

To obtain high-quality food for worms, the following requirements are imposed on the output organic substrate: humidity 70-80%, pH 6.8-7.2, the content of iron oxides is not more than 10%, the absence of solid parts - metal, wood, stones, glass, etc. .

For fermentation, organic waste is piled on a flat area with an acceptable slope. Burts can have different sizes: width - 1.7-2 m, length - 15-80 m and height - 1.5-2 m. It depends on the available labor force and mechanization.

Under the conditions of access of water and oxygen under the influence of aerobic microorganisms that are on the substrate (fungi, actinomycetes, bacteria), organic waste is decomposed. As a result of the hydrolytic cleavage of high-molecular compounds (proteins, fats, carbohydrates), intermediate and final low-molecular products are formed, which are consumed by worms.

The fermentation process of the substrate takes place in two temperature regimes. After laying the collars, the temperature inside the substrate rises to thermophilic values ​​(50-60°C), and then decreases to mesophilic values ​​(25-35°C) and after a few months decreases to ambient temperature. The stability of this indicator indicates the end of fermentation and the suitability of the substrate for feeding the worms. Biothermal processes that occur at a temperature of 50-60 ° C have a detrimental effect on pathogenic microflora, eggs and larvae of helminths, weed seeds, and urea and hypuric acid, which are contained in pus, decompose to ammonia, carbon dioxide and water. In addition to ammonia, a certain amount of methane is also released, which also has a detrimental effect on worms.

In summer, at high temperatures, the piles are periodically watered with water, drains, to maintain humidity at 70%.

During the passage of fermentation in the substrate, the pH of the medium is controlled. A slight fluctuation of pH from the optimum (6.8-7.2) negatively affects the growth and development of aerobic microflora, and hence the intensity of fermentation processes. Excess acidity is neutralized by adding the required amount of chalk, oil shale ash and other substances.

To ensure sufficient aeration of the substrate, which is fermented, to activate microbiological processes, to equalize the moisture content of the substrate throughout the volume, to eliminate aerobic rotting zones in the depth of the pile, it is mixed. The uneven mixing of the substrate should not exceed 10% in terms of the coefficient of moisture variation in the mass.

The full period of substrate fermentation in heaps under the natural fermentation regime depends on the type of organic waste and can last up to 6-12 months. Speed ​​up this process up to 1-3 months. possible by blowing hot steam through pipes into the substrate.

An indicator of the readiness of the substrate is the ratio of carbon to nitrogen (C: N), which should be within 20.

The feed for worms should not contain pesticides, a large amount of protein (no more than 25-30%), ammonia, methane, pathogenic microflora, eggs and helminth larvae. With a content of 40% protein in the feed, the worms die.

As practice shows, various organic wastes of both agricultural and industrial production can be food for worms. But it is best that the basis of any diet for worms is pus, to which other organic components are added in a certain proportion. Large organic waste particles must be crushed (up to 1 mm, no more).

In some farms from growing rabbits, the utilization of pus by vermiculture is carried out in this way: under the cages with rabbits, boxes are placed with a mixture of soil, crushed paper and sand enclosed at the bottom, into which worms are launched. The fresh excrement that comes from the cells is processed by the worms. The addition of sand is necessary for the normal nutrition of worms.

Chicken manure belongs to highly acidic substrates, therefore it is necessary to add crop waste or cardboard to it in a ratio of 1: 1 and ferment for 15-16 months.

When using manure biomass, it is necessary to adhere to certain conditions: pus that has not gone through the fermentation process cannot be used as a base substrate, and pus that has lain for more than 2 years after fermentation cannot be used to feed the worms.

It has been established that unfermented pus can be used to feed the worms, which is well tested for suitability (acidity, temperature, humidity, sample of 50 worms). Since it is applied in a layer of only 5 cm, i.e. there is no danger of fermentation.

Regardless of the type of substrate that is fermented, the feed should contain 20-25% cellulose in the form of chopped straw, paper, cardboard, etc.

Conditions for keeping worms in lodges.

After the formation of the beds, it is necessary to regularly monitor the physico-chemical parameters (temperature, humidity, acidity, test of 50 worms) of the feed and monitor the state of the worm population.

A new portion of feed after settling is recommended to be introduced only after 25-35 days. After that, the worms are fed regularly and only after processing the previous feed. In spring, summer and autumn after - 7-10 days, and in winter - after 25-35 days. Each new feed must be fermented and tested for quality.

New food is introduced in a layer 5-7 cm thick not on the entire surface of the bed, but first on an area of ​​1.4-1.6 m 2 (or 70-80%), and the remaining 0.4-0.6 m 2 area of ​​the bed remains free and acts as an additional insurance platform in case the new food does not meet the requirements. Worms crawl to this area, avoiding new food. If during the day there is no migration of worms, then this part of the bed area is filled with food.

It is necessary to strictly adhere to the feeding schedule for the worms and at the same time monitor the usefulness of the food, because with an insufficient amount of food, the worms crawl out of the beds, and with an excess of it, gas exchange and breathing of the worms becomes more difficult.

With insufficient activity of worms and poor eating of food, it is recommended to loosen the substrate with blunt pitchforks, preventing mixing of its different layers. This should be done systematically 1-2 times a week, which improves aeration in the bed, promotes the release of harmful gases from it and the influx of fresh air into the culture. When aeration deteriorates, the worms begin to "suffocate" and die, because they breathe the entire surface of the body.

To maintain optimal humidity in the lodges, they are periodically moistened. This is best done in the morning and evening to prevent a sharp contrast between the temperature of the water and the temperature of the contents of the lodges. During hours of high insolation, the bed should be covered with mats moistened with water.

The water used to wet worm beds must meet certain requirements. Water can be used from a well, river, canal, wells. It is necessary to carry out a chemical analysis of the water, which will be used to moisten the beds, for the presence of toxic substances in it.

Assessment of the state of the worm population.

The state of the worm population is assessed in terms of growth and development by monthly counting their numbers and determining the age composition. This is done in the following way. In different places of the bed (in a checkerboard pattern or diagonally), samples of the substrate with worms with an area of ​​10x10 cm are taken from its entire depth. All worms are selected from these samples, their number is counted and the biomass is determined (that is, they are weighed). Then the obtained average results are multiplied by 100 and thus the average number and biomass of worms per 1 m 2 is determined.

However, the increase in the mass of worms is not an unambiguous indicator. When feeding nutritious food, you can get a significant increase in the mass of worms, but they will not lay cocoons.

The reproduction of worms is affected by the density of the population. With its increase, the excitability of worms increases and stress from overpopulation negatively affects reproduction. Therefore, when breeding vermiculture, it is necessary to determine the optimal population density, which, in turn, will significantly depend on the ultimate goal - obtaining biohumus or biomass.

The intensity of reproduction of worms is also significantly influenced by food: its availability, quality, calorie content, attractiveness, and variety.

Therefore, during the quantitative accounting of the number of worms, the age composition of the population is also determined by counting separately cocoons, young and adult worms, and the average number of embryos is determined in cocoons. The ratio of different age groups gives an idea not only about the general state of the population, but also about the possible future. If the population is dominated by adult worms and cocoons over young forms, then this indicates that the conditions of vermicultivation prevent the development of embryos and the release of young. The correct analysis will make it possible to make changes in the conditions of detention and optimize the parameters of the vermicultivation process.

Technological methods of sampling worms - layer-by-layer removal of worms. Before introducing a new feed in the bed, a 5-cm layer of the previous one is removed. After 6-7 days, a layer of the same thickness is again removed, in which 50-60% of the worm population is located, and transferred to a new bed. Fresh food of the same thickness is added to the place of the removed layer. Again, after 6-7 days, this layer is removed, and it contains 25-35% of the worm population, they are also transferred to a new bed. New food is introduced again and it will contain the remains of the population, which is selected after 6-7 days. This method achieves an almost complete (95-97%) and, what is very important, painless for worms sampling of the population.

When worms process 1 ton of pus (in terms of dry biomass), up to 600 kg of biohumus is obtained with a content of 25-40% of humic substances, in which about 1% of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, and all the microelements necessary for plants. The last 400 kg of organic nutrients are transformed into 100 kg of complete protein in the form of live worm biomass.

The biomass of worms contains 17-23% of dry matter and in dry matter: protein 60-80%, carbohydrates - 17%, lipids - 6-9%, mineral salts - 15%, nitrogenous extract substances - 7-16%, many enzymes, vitamins, microelements, as well as almost all amino acids, including such indispensable ones as lysine and methionine.

The biomass of worms is used in animal husbandry, human nutrition and pharmacology.

The biotechnological process of obtaining biohumus is based on the ability of worms to use organic residues, transform them in the intestinal canal and excrete them in the form of coprolites.

In the process of digestion of organic waste in the intestines of worms, humic substances are formed. They differ in chemical composition from humus, which is formed in the soil with the participation of only microflora, because in the intestines of worms, the processes of polymerization of decay products of organic substances occur and molecules of humic acids are formed, which form complex compounds with mineral components that are stored for a long time in the form of persistent formations. . The concentration of humic substances in worm coprolites is 4-8 times higher than in manure biomass. Coprolites are dense, black-brown, odorless sticks that do not cake. Coprolites form the basis of a substance called biohumus, and their granular form gives it a crumbly appearance, which is very important for soil structuring.

Biohumus or vermicompost is an organic fertilizer obtained as a result of the decomposition of organic substances by heterotrophic organisms. Its basis is coprolites of worms. In addition, microflora and microfauna, which are part of the biocenosis of the compost heap, take part in its formation.

The composition and properties of biohumus depend on the composition of the original substrate and the technology of composting - vermicultivation. Biohumus accumulates a large number of macro and microelements, vitamins, antibiotics, amino acids and beneficial microflora. Biohumus is hydrophilic, has high water resistance, moisture capacity, mechanical strength, and no weed seeds. Biohumus can hold up to 70% of water and is 15-20 times more efficient than any organic fertilizer.

There are a huge number of types of worms, but few are able to reproduce and live in artificial conditions. Economically attractive and universal in their biological characteristics are worms that belong to the "red" species. They are used as an excellent bait for fishing, production of biohumus, liquid fertilizers and protein meal. Why do some earthworms have the commercial name "California"? There is a pretty simple answer to this. In the United States of America in the 50s of the 20th century, intensive cultivation of this worm began, from which its commercial name came. It was obtained as a result of the long work of the American Thomas Jason Barrett (Thomas J. Barrett, 1884 - 1975). He is the founder of industrial vermicultivation in the USA. The progenitor of the Californian worm and prospector is a common dung worm. In the United States, this technologically acceptable worm species served as the basis for breeding work, during which the California red worm was bred in 1959. Unlike its original wild predecessors, it has the ability to breed in ground vegetable garden type cultivators without any buildings or greenhouses in the Californian climate and produces 18 to 26 times reproduction per outdoor cultivation cycle and 512 times reproduction in closed greenhouse conditions, then as wild relatives give only 4 - 6-fold reproduction. It has been established that the worm consumes the amount of compost (substrate) per day equal to its own weight. This is the initial norm for feeding the cultivated worm population.

The fifth general biological feature of the cultivation of biological objects is the population density limit, upon reaching which the population stops its development. This also applies to cultivated worms. It has been established that the optimal “sowing dose” when populating a cultivator with a substrate with worms is their biomass of 0.3 kg/m2 (1500 individuals). During the cultivation cycle (160 ± 20 days), the population increases in the number of individuals and biomass by an average of 50 times (under other optimal conditions). An increase in the “seeding dose” at the end of the cultivation cycle leads to an overpopulation of the population, and the individuals become small, the total yield of the worm biomass decreases. After adaptation (adaptation) to new conditions, all the activity of the worms will be directed to the laying of cocoons (capsules, half the size of a lemon-like rice grain, yellow, with a soft but strong shell). Each cocoon contains from 3 to 21 embryos. Each worm lays one cocoon every 5-7 days for 12-18 weeks. After 15–20 days (depending on the temperature of the substrate), small newborn worms appear from the deposited cocoons, thin as threads, about 4–6 mm long, with a red, clearly visible spinal blood vessel. This is their distinguishing feature from the nematode - small white worms that do not have a red blood vessel. Worms grow up quickly and in 10-12 weeks increase their weight from 1 to 250-500 mg. The last cocoons are laid by worms at the end of July, and the last worms are born before the end of August. Worms grow up quickly and in the vast majority become fully grown by October. During the summer season, the number of worms and their total live weight in the cultivator increases by 20-50 times. They require a lot of food to reproduce and grow. Therefore, it is necessary to periodically add food in the form of compost to the worm bed (cultivator bed), layering it 15–20 cm every 2–3 weeks, starting from the first days of June.

The last feeding of the worms must be carried out at the end of October or even at the beginning of November before the onset of frost. When the temperature drops, the worms reduce their activity: their movements slow down, at a temperature of 6 ° C the worms stop eating, and at 4 ° C they release their digestive tract from food debris and begin to fall into a state of anabiosis (winter “hibernation”). With the onset of frost, they freeze. But it is not dangerous for them. They survived all the ice ages. With the onset of spring, they come to life and begin a new active period of their lives. During the summer cultivation it is necessary to make 7 - 8 layers of composts. As they are eaten by worms, they are compacted, but still the cultivator bed is getting higher and higher. Its height in autumn can reach 0.6 m. It is easily blown by the wind, it is more difficult to maintain the necessary humidity in it. Based on this, it is recommended to seal its side surfaces with boards (in the form of a box). During cultivation during the summer period in the wormhole, more than 1 ton of compost (50% moisture) will be processed with the help of worms per square meter of its area. By autumn, worms are located in the cultivator mainly in the upper (food) layer, while the lower layer is poorly populated by worms - it is used by them as a “sanitary block” for defecation. The thickness of the upper layer is about 20 cm. The lower layer consists mainly of coprolites and is a humic organic fertilizer (biohumus, worm compost), raw and in need of work. This is the product for which the cultivation of worms is carried out.

The main "advantages" of this worm: it multiplies rapidly (up to 1500 offspring from one individual per year), the tendency to "vagrancy" is lost (other species of the worm can simply escape from places of cultivation in search of food and sex), a long-liver (they say it lives up to 16 years ). The main disadvantages for Russia: perhaps only one disadvantage is the lack of self-preservation instinct at low temperatures. When the habitat cools, this worm does not go deep into the ground to the freezing depth, but gathers in one place in large quantities and freezes safely.

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Conditions for the preservation of worms in the soil

There are many, many worms in the resulting humus fertilizer. When humus is introduced into the soil for vegetable and berry crops, the worms will die. Very, very few individuals will survive from a population of worms. These few, as well as revived cocoons of worms that have fallen into the soil, will give rise to a population of worms that can live in the soil of a vegetable garden, orchard, or potato field. Only in this way will it be necessary to populate the soil of vast fields with worms, on which, with the help of chemistry, all animals - producers of humus - were killed and destroyed. This process is complex and long, but necessary, despite the enormous costs. On garden plots - it's easier and cheaper, as a rule there are worms here. Efforts should be aimed at maintaining their livelihoods, providing them with food (root, crop residues, creating composts from grasses and other organic residues) and water. The best conditions are created for them in the raspberries, since the earth here must be mulched with a thick layer of chopped straw, chaff, tree leaves, hay, etc. Under the mulch, the earth is always damp, there is a lot of food for worms and the conditions for their habitat are quite satisfactory. The berries in such a raspberry are large, juicy, bright, sweet. In a word, delight. Worms must be protected, protected, looked after. But not everyone knows how to do it. Many saw cut worms when digging their site. It is a misconception that a cut worm becomes two or more. No and no again.

Hence the first condition: do not dig up the earth with a shovel, but only with special pitchforks. The design of such a pitchfork and a description of how to make them are given in the magazine "The New Farmer" for 1991, March-April, p. 48. The photo shows how to use them right there. Many American farmers believe that organic farming also requires "organic" (appropriate) tools. One cannot but agree with this.

The second condition: overcompaction of the soil destroys the worms. It should be loose, soft and make it so worms. The third condition: the concentration of soluble salts over 0.5% destroys the worms. Many are addicted to using ash as a means of controlling soil pests. This infatuation is wrong. Use ashes only in a weak solution (1 cup of ash per 10 liters of water) and only to moisten the compost heap. Ash is a caustic alkali. It is detrimental to worms in high concentrations. The fourth condition: the acid-base balance of the soil must be neutral: pH = 7 (± 0.5) Too much acidification of the soil (pH = 6) and too much alkalinity of the soil (pH = 8) are detrimental to worms. To equalize the acid-base balance of the soil, it is necessary to add gypsum (or calcium carbonate - chalk, or lime, or dolomite flour) to it. To test the soil, special devices or ordinary litmus paper are used. They can be purchased at chemical fertilizer stores, gardening equipment, and household stores. This is also done in agrochemical laboratories where soil analysis is carried out. Fifth condition: do not burn garbage in the garden. At the site of the fire, worms die from overheating of the soil, smoke and ash. Then worms do not appear for a long time at the site of the fire, and the earth becomes denser, it is also depleted in organic matter and humus. For more than two years, even grass has not appeared on the site of the fire. Burning (burning dry grass, plant stems, etc.) is a very stupid, anti-environmental measure - fire is always unnatural on the surface of the earth. It drastically reduces soil productivity. Everyone should know this - from young to old. The sixth condition: it is necessary to maintain a sufficiently high soil moisture. This concept is relative and conditional. When the soil moisture is less than 30%, the worms are very thirsty and can die within a week. But this is in the laboratory. Under natural conditions, worms tend to go into the depths of the soil, where it is more humid, and lie there in suspended animation until the humidity level rises. Worms are not afraid of flooding and survive in the soil of water meadows during high water for many days and even weeks.

earthworm pests

Earthworms have a lot of enemies. The most dangerous of them are birds, moles, shrews, rats, toads, frogs; from large animals - wild boars, pigs, badgers and even calves, lambs, kids.

The most significant destruction of worms occurs during plowing. In the pre-war and first post-war years, a flock of rooks always flew behind the plow. They selected worms and larvae of various insects from an inverted layer of earth. After a night rain, the worms crawl out to the surface of the earth, for which they were called rain worms. They crawl out of minks at night to search for a sexual partner (search for a partner underground is difficult). But with the sunrise, they do not always have time to hide underground, and here they are overtaken by birds and even grazing cattle. This causes only some minor damage to the worms, as their population recovers very quickly. The earthworm does not have any protective organ. Any animal can harm or kill him, even by accident.

The mole is one of the most dangerous enemies of earthworms, because earthworms are tasty food for him. Nature endowed the mole with the ability to lure worms into its underground passage with the help of the smell of a special musk. During a morning walk along its passages, it eats the creeping worms, and when it has eaten, it gathers the rest and, biting their head end, immobilizes them and puts them in reserve in its pantry. It is enough for one mole to appear on the site, as in a short time it will tirelessly destroy worms. Do not rush to use any poison against the mole - it will be poisoned by the worms, and this will poison them with the same poison. Use mole traps.

Among the smaller enemies of earthworms are centipedes, moths, and ants. These arthropods are not considered particularly dangerous for earthworms, since they do not attack them directly, but they are food competitors. There is no specific poison for centipedes. Poison for them is poison for worms. Therefore, you have to kill them one by one every time they catch your eye.

Ants consume sugar in large quantities, leaving the worms deprived, in addition, they can attack individual worms and eat them. Our observations testify to the fact that ants in the garden and even in the worm hive with worms somehow get along and make friends, and if they harm them, then not enough to start a fight with them. To poison them with poisons is also dangerous for worms. According to my observations, ants disappear if their nest, inhabited by their eggs, is shoveled.

The main enemy of earthworms is a person who, for the most part, does not know the priceless virtues of these earthworkers, and sometimes considers them harmful creatures. This is delusion from ignorance and ignorance. It must be explained that there is not a single animal that would be such a good friend of the earth and our well-being as the earthworm. As already noted, earthworms are very sensitive to all pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, and insecticides. By destroying various pests with them, you will destroy the worms and, consequently, the fertility of the soil. To save worms and all life on earth, other, new biological means of combating weeds, insect pests, and pathogenic fungi are needed. One of them, most importantly, was found - providing the soil with humus. This is the same specific means of restoring the biosphere as oats are for a horse. From here new proverbs were born: feed the horse with oats, and the soil with humus. Put the humus thick - the bins will not be empty. The earth can enrich if it is fed with humus. Learn to make humus with worms and the earth will repay you with an abundance of bread, fruits and vegetables!

Growing instructions

TEMPERATURE CONDITION:

optimal 16 - 25°C

admissible 15 - 30 °С

extreme 5 - 35 °C

LIGHTING:

normal 60 W for 20 m²

maximum up to 80 W per 20 m²

minimum 40 W per 20 m²

WATER SUPPLY:

Water is used river, spring, well. Chlorinated water inhibits worms, so water containers can be used in this case. Under certain conditions (for example, in the absence of sewerage), you can use drains for humidification - rainwater, domestic; there are some restrictions for industrial effluents. Too cold or too warm water causes the so-called stress reaction in worms (fright, shock), and they stop eating well and multiplying. Water for watering a cultivator with worms should be stored in a container and allowed to stand for at least a day. During this time, it will warm up to the desired temperature, and chlorine will disappear from it (if the water is from the city water supply).

VENTILATION:

Natural, forced is allowed with a wind speed of not more than 0.5 m / s. PESTS:

Worms are a delicacy for moles, rats, bears, frogs and others. The mother liquor should be inaccessible to them - the floor is hard-surfaced, the walls and ceiling are impenetrable. Periodically, you need to take measures to eliminate rodents.

SEWER:

Sewerage is desirable, but not required. Own drains are reused.

FEEDING:

Food for worms is a nutrient medium necessary for life (food, substrate, compost), obtained as a result of the decomposition of organic compounds. Our vermifarm mainly uses rotted cattle manure (mainly cows), fruit and vegetable residues, leaves, hay, straw, paper and cardboard.

Feed composition

The composition of the feed may include various proportions of overripe manure from any kind of cattle and small cattle, horses.

Bird droppings (chicken, quail) are highly acidic, composting can take up to 8 months, and it is necessary to dilute and mix thoroughly with 50% straw, sawdust or other compounds.

Pig manure contains a large amount of proteins and has a strong acidity, the composting process takes from 3 to 7 months.

Goat dung and rabbit dung can be used without prior preparation.

It is not recommended to use manure that has lain for more than two years as the main composition, since it contains practically no necessary nutrients for worms. It can be mixed with other vegetable and food waste, making the composting process faster and more uniform.

Straw, hay - in the feed substrate performs the same functions as sawdust and wood chips, it also serves as food for the worm. It is added mainly in crushed form. Sand - I read somewhere that sand serves as a "cleaner" for the worm's digestive tract. I didn’t check it, I took my word for it, since then I have been constantly adding Mel to the feed substrate - a universal remedy for deoxidizing the feed substrate. I use it all the time. Dead leaves from trees and shrubs, chopped grass and small particles of hardwoods (poplar, aspen, birch), rotten remains are an excellent substrate. Worms are very fond of rotten bananas and their peel, any remains of melon, watermelon, pumpkin, tomatoes , cores of apples and pears. Also suitable are carrots, beets, potato peels, leftover cereals, moldy bread, crackers, mushrooms, cabbage leaves, rotten dried fruits and other vegetable waste. You can always add coffee grounds, brewed tea leaves, including custard bags without additional processing .Worms process products of the pulp and paper industry: napkins, newspaper, cardboard. If you apply in large quantities, you need to compost for several months together with other plant waste or manure. The remains of fruits and vegetables, if possible, should be crushed a little before adding to the main container with worms. , 1 - 2 drops of moisture will appear.

What should not be present

Chemicals, metal particles, liquid plastics and silicone mixtures, soaps, poisonous plants, chlorine-containing, petrochemical liquid products and their constituents.

Plants treated in large quantities with chemicals to kill harmful insects.

Do not add dairy products as they increase acidity and encourage mold growth. Worms do not process animal protein, in large quantities they can die from it.

A well-prepared substrate is of decisive importance in the breeding of worms. The substrate is prepared by fermenting microorganisms, decomposing protein to amino acids by composting. Composting of organic materials occurs only in heaps. Many home gardeners compost organic waste in so-called compost pits. However, this is not composting, but ensiling (a completely different biochemical process associated with the formation of acidic decomposition products).

Peasant (farming) farm "Vermilife" is engaged in the sale of high-quality red Californian worm and biohumus on favorable terms. We offer good discounts for wholesale buyers. More information about the cost of our products and conditions of purchase can be found

Biohumus is a granular bioactive fertilizer obtained from organic waste processed by the red Californian worm. Its use ensures good development of plants, increase in yields by 30-70%. Knotted fruits are less affected by diseases. They differ in more tender pulp, pronounced taste and aroma. The production of biohumus at home is not particularly difficult and does not require significant costs.

Properties and composition of biohumus, its advantages

Biological humus is a fertilizer that is superior in composition and nutritional value to ordinary compost and manure. Its addition to the soil in a ratio of 10-20% to the total volume allows you to improve the soil that is depleted or contains a large amount of salts. In the process of processing, there is a complete disinfection of organic masses, their purification from helminth eggs. Biohumus contains many useful components in an optimally balanced form:

• Mineral elements in a form well absorbed by plants.
• Enzymes. They provide the transformation of organic residues into nutrient compounds.
• Substances that prevent the reproduction of pathogens.
• Phytohormones. They improve the growth and stress resistance of plants.

This type of environmentally friendly fertilizer contains 4-8 times more humus than cow dung or compost obtained from plant residues. Its advantages include good moisture capacity, friability, compatibility with other types of organic fertilizers, no need to use significant energy costs in the production and application process. The possibility of selling surplus products allows you to recoup the costs and receive a certain income.

Components for biohumus production

Before you start the production of biohumus at home, you should prepare the substrate for vermicompost and the necessary inventory items. The composition of the substrate includes:

1. rotted cow dung and
2. Leaves of plants in fermented (silage) or dried form (hay).
3. Vegetable peelings, leftovers from unused products.
4. Overripe sawdust, tree leaves.
5. Peat and lime (2% of the total weight of the mixture) to improve the quality of the vermicompost.

California worms are also needed for biohumus, the function of which is the processing of the nutrient mixture. As an inventory, you will need boxes made of wooden planks or plastic, a spatula for a set of substrate, a sieve with cells with a diameter of 2 mm.

Features of growing Californian worms

California worms outwardly practically do not differ from ordinary earthworms. But they carry out the processing of organic substances into a form convenient for assimilation by plants much faster. When using them, you can get ready-made fertilizer in 1-1.5 weeks. The cost of one individual varies in different regions of the country: from 25 kopecks to 1 ruble. The following rules should be observed when using vermicompost for the preparation:

• Breeding at home requires maintaining certain temperature values. Its lower limit should not be lower than + 4 ° C, and the upper one - above 40 ° C. Lower and higher values ​​can lead to the death of biological material.
• In winter, the worms are placed in containers with a nutrient substrate and brought into a room with the required air temperature or covered with insulating material. It ensures the free flow of air into the soil mixture.
• For the normal life of this species of invertebrates, it is necessary to maintain the humidity of the compost heap at the level of 70-80% by regular irrigation with water in hot weather. In addition, they should be protected from the direct rays of the sun by placing them in the shade.

To prevent the death of Californian worms in severe frosts, covering the place of their keeping with the advent of autumn with a layer of compost 40 cm thick or more will allow. After snow falls, additional protection will be provided by warming the embankment with a thick snow cover.

Substrate preparation

The production of biohumus at home requires special preparation of the substrate before launching worms into it. First, a wooden box, a plastic container or a recess in the ground is prepared. It is recommended that their depth be from 70 to 100 cm. It is possible to prevent the penetration of technological worms outside the pit by finishing its bottom and walls with some natural material.

Then, a mixture prepared from well-rotted manure, ripened compost, rotten plant tops, and food waste is placed in a container or pit. The substrate must mature. To do this, it is kept for the required time, regularly moistened with warm water and stirred every 2-3 days. Initially, under the influence of the processes taking place in the mixture, the temperature will rise to 40-50 ° C. At the end of the fermentation of the components, its values ​​decrease and remain stable.

Vermicultivation technology

When the substrate is fully ripened, Californian is launched into it at home, allowing you to get them in sufficient quantities for the desired volume of the mixture. The laying rate is 700-1500 pieces per cubic meter of substrate. You can determine the suitability of the mixture for launching worms by first placing 50 individuals in it. If they feel good, add the rest, evenly distributing over the surface of the substrate.

The acidity of the prepared mixture should be in the range of 6-8 points. Periodic gentle loosening will provide free access to the inner layers of the air necessary for the worms to breathe. Regular irrigation with settled water heated to 20 ° C will create a fairly humid environment. To maintain optimal temperatures and humidity of the substrate, the container is covered with a layer of straw.

Collection of vermicompost

During the first 1-2 months, the worms adapt to the new environment. Then they begin to actively multiply and process the components of the mixture into biohumus. Every 10 days, additional application of a nutrient substrate is necessary as a top dressing. After 3-4 months, you need to check the number of worms. If it has increased significantly, you can begin to separate them and use the finished fertilizer for its intended purpose.

There are 2 ways to free the vermicompost from the worms in it. One of them uses sifting the substrate through a sieve. The worms are then transferred to another container. In the second method, the introduction of top dressing is delayed for several days. Then pour a new portion of the substrate on the surface of the box. When the hungry worms rise up, they are separated and moved to another place.

Application of vermicompost

The production of vermicompost at home presents a certain benefit. It can be used not only for fertilizing a personal or summer cottage, but also for sale. To reduce the cost of obtaining this environmentally friendly and highly effective material will allow the presence of pets that provide the technological process with a sufficient amount of manure.

Surplus vermicompost can be sold to neighbors in the country, farmers. With a significant volume of production - on the market or in bulk in your own online store. Worms can be in demand by fish or poultry farms. In order to sell biohumus, the price for 1 kg of which ranges from 10 to 20 rubles, it should be offered to potential buyers in a package that is convenient for use.

Product packaging

Dry vermicompost is packed in polyethylene bags. In the manufacture of liquid humus in a concentrated form, the best option is bottling in plastic bottles. Like the widely used "Em" preparations, they contain many beneficial soil microorganisms that improve soil fertility and ensure high yields in the most environmentally friendly ways.

When packing in bags, biohumus should be pre-weighed. The price for 1 kg can be indicated on the label or not affixed to the wholesale sales of the material. The cost of goods in different regions varies significantly. As well as liquid preparations "Em", it is desirable that the packaged vermicompost contains instructions outlining the properties of the material and the rules for its use.

Instructions for use

Vermicompost is in demand not only for growing fruits and vegetables. It is widely used in floriculture, to restore depleted soil that has lost its natural properties. It can also be used to reduce the number of harmful insects, since the microorganisms that make up the preparation are able to break down the chitin of their external skeleton.

In what quantities and how best to apply biohumus - the instruction covers in detail all the issues that arise when using fertilizer. The time of its introduction into the ground is not limited. The drug has a prolonged action, giving good results for several years. Concentrated biohumus is diluted three times. It is recommended to add it to water when watering plants and spraying trees.

Application features

The drug is used for the preparation of soil mixtures. Biohumus is especially useful for seedlings. It is enough to add 1 part of the product to 3-5 parts of peat. Before planting the grown plants in the ground, about 150 g of fertilizer should be added to the wells, mixed with the ground. The planted bushes are watered abundantly, and the soil surface around the seedling is mulched with a small layer of biohumus.

It is possible to protect plants from damage by insect pests by introducing the agent into the soil or by surface treatment of their vegetative parts with its aqueous solution. A good effect is given by regular feeding of vegetable crops, trees, shrubs, flowers. For these purposes, it is enough to apply 0.5 kg of biohumus per 1 m 2 for plants every 30 days.

Using vermicompost for soil restoration

Biohumus in a short time increases the nutritional value of the soil, supplementing it with a complex of substances necessary for the good development of plants. The soil microorganisms contained in it contribute to the transformation of plant and animal residues into easily digestible compounds.

The addition of biohumus to the soil that has lost its fertility due to the immoderate application of chemicals increases the content of useful elements in it, improves the structure of the soil, and neutralizes high acidity. This allows you to create an environment in which those involved in the formation of the fertile soil layer are able to live. Increasing the concentration of humus most directly affects the quantity and quality of the crop.

Breeding worms as a business is a great way to generate income without serious financial outlays. Starting capital is minimal, equipment is simple. The technology of growing worms at home does not require special knowledge and skills.

For those who decide to start a business, selling worms is a great way to make a profit with a small start-up capital. High profitability and steady demand will ensure the prosperity of your vermifarm. Learn the features of this process, invest some money and get a stable income.

Is there a demand for who are the buyers of the worms?

Before opening a vermi farm (the so-called place for breeding worms), study who will need your products. Creeping Workers provides several valuable products that can be sold:

• actual living worms;
• biohumus (fertilizer);
• worm tea (vermichay).

For soil fertilization

Valuable organic fertilizer - vermicompost is in demand both by summer residents and large farms. Biohumus increases soil fertility, enriches it with useful substances.

Start small. Use the humus yourself and sell it to your neighbors in the country. The expansion of production will allow reaching more reputable customers.

For fishing

It's rare these days to find a fisherman who spends time looking for worms for an upcoming fishing trip, digging up the soil. Most prefer to come and buy bait from fishing shops. The life expectancy of worms is long, the demand is stable. One individual can be sold for 2 rubles. How many worms do you need for fishing? Minimum 30 pieces. You will sell several packages per day. The conclusion is obvious.

To the pet store

Birds, fish and other inhabitants of the pet store are constantly in need of live food. Worms will be taken from you with great pleasure.

For fish farms

Fish farm owners need a lot of live food. The high nutritional value of worms explains the need for vermifarm products.

For plant nutrition

worm tea- a unique product that allows you to increase the yield of fruit and vegetable crops by more than 2 times. Those who will also become your customers. The waste product of the worms is collected in a container. Natural fertilizer can be used for indoor plants and for open and closed ground (in greenhouses).

About the production of biohumus and its demand is described in this video:

Technology Fundamentals

The scheme is this:

• Preparing the habitat of your "pets".
• Purchase of breeding stock, consisting of adults, fry and cocoons of worms.
• Settlement of the family in the prepared "house".
• Processing of compost by worms and turning the latter into biohumus after a certain period of time.
• Reproduction of worms.
• Collection of fertile layer, worm tea, live specimens for sale.
• Adding a new layer of nutrient bedding that serves as food for worms.
• The process starts over.

Nuances and secrets in the process of breeding worms

Consider the characteristics of the life of worms. Your task is to create comfortable conditions for their life and reproduction. A quiet, calm place without vibrations and noises will help to achieve good results.

The soil

It is not enough just to fill the box with earth, populate the worms and wait for their rapid reproduction. The soil in which they live can be divided into three zones:

• Upper layer- food place. You will need soil enriched with nutrients and organic residues;
• middle layer- the space where the bulk of individuals live;
• bottom layer- the most valuable. It accumulates products of soil processing and derivatives of vital activity: biohumus and worm tea.

Temperature

Observe the temperature regime in the room. The optimum air temperature is from + 15С ... + 25С. There is a species of worms that breed well at a temperature of + 8C ... + 30C.

Room area

Please note: worms multiply rapidly. Think about whether you can increase the area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe vermi farm. Prepare a sufficient number of new "houses" for transplanting individuals.

Sale

Year-round worm farming will require good distribution channels. Study the market and potential buyers in your area, city, village. Focus on indicators: a stable family, having wintered in good conditions, will increase by almost 10 times!

Basic conditions for breeding worms - what is needed for this business

Study each item carefully. Creating a home vermifarm is quite simple. The advice of specialists and experienced farmers will help you.

Even some pensioners are planning to open a business on breeding Californian worms, the main thing is to study the technology and put it into practice, as described in this video:

What room can be used, requirements for it

Suitable for any heated room with normal humidity:

• garage;
• cellar;
• attic;
• economic outbuilding.

The air temperature should not drop below +4C. The worms will hibernate. At temperatures above + 36C, individuals will die.

What types of worms are best to use and why

Various types of worms are suitable for a home worm farm. Pay attention to popular varieties.

common earthworm

Local worms, well adapted to their habitat, are used because of their rapid adaptation to the conditions of a closed farm in their native soil. Reproduction will start faster. The disadvantage is that the vital activity is lower than that of the stronger "pedigreed" species.

California red worm (CRW)

Popular look. When buying, make sure that the individuals are mobile and red. The breeding stock should be from 1500 individuals or more. For 1 cubic meter of soil, from 1 to 3 families will be required.

Quickly multiplies, gives high-quality biohumus. Not picky about food. It does not tolerate temperatures below + 10C.

Worm Prospector

Direct competitor of the well-known California counterpart. High activity, the ability to process feed qualitatively, and a rapid increase in biomass distinguish the Prospector species.

It tolerates temperatures from + 9C to + 28C. From 1000 kg of substrate, biohumus yield reaches 60%.

Give preference to industrial types of worms: HRC or Prospector. Productivity is higher than that of an ordinary earthworm.

What equipment will be needed

To organize a small home vermifarm, you will need a minimum amount of equipment and inventory:

• scales;
• sieve for sifting;
• wheelbarrow;
• bucket;
• shovel;
• pitchfork;
• devices that measure the acidity of the soil and its temperature;
• room thermometer;
• shelving.

Make the main emphasis on the proper arrangement of piles, pits or boxes for growing worms and preparing compost.

What container and in what cases it is better to use

Where to place newly acquired individuals and where to deposit new families? At home, several types of nurseries are used:

• wooden box

Size: 1m x 2m x 0.5m. Boards - from 25 mm thick. Holes in the bottom will ensure the outflow of valuable liquid. To collect it, the box is installed with a slight slope. Below you need a pallet for collecting vermicai. The lid is made of plywood and knocked down boards with holes for ventilation.

• old refrigerator

All "insides" are removed, the chamber is installed with the door up. Need holes for ventilation in the door and walls. Be sure to install the "house" at an angle on the bars.

• Cardboard box

An excellent option to get started. Cardboard nursery box dimensions: 400 mm x 300 mm. Eco-friendly material breathes well. The worms feed on pieces of cardboard. The box is damp and thinner - bring a new one.

• Plastic container

There are many varieties: from a large flower pot to a high-quality plastic container of large sizes. Prerequisite: air access, otherwise the worms will suffocate in too wet soil. Drill holes in the walls and lid. Place a basin or tray to collect the vermicelli.

• Special vermicomposter

The most convenient and expensive option for worm breeding equipment. Most small entrepreneurs use simpler homemade options.

How does a vermicomposter work?

Which soil is better to use and why

The activity of individuals, their reproduction and the rate of processing of organic waste depend on the quality of the soil.

Follow the rules:

• cover half of the container with a layer of humus. You can add some shredded cardboard;
• moisten the mixture. Humidity should not exceed 70-80%;
• after 2-3 days, make several indentations in the soil, populate the worms with part of the soil in which they lived before transplanting into the box;
• gently level, moisten the soil. Cover the "house" with cardboard;
• wait a couple of days;
• after successful acclimatization, you can feed.

Always test populate in a small container. Place 50 to 100 individuals in the substrate. After a day, check if they are alive. This way you will know if the acidity of the soil suits your pets.

Optimal score:

• from 6.5 to 7.5 pH.

Several dead worms are a signal for a change in acidity.

To help improve your scores:

• sawdust or straw;
• tops of plants.

To reduce acidity are suitable:

• ordinary chalk;
• crushed shell;
• limestone.

What and how to feed worms

All types of worms do not have special requirements for food. The value of worms is that they speed up the processing of waste rotting on your site in a compost pile for 1.5 - 2 years, several times. Biohumus for sale and grown worms can be collected every 4-6 weeks.

Basic feeding rules

Worms feed on decaying and dead plant debris.

Forbidden:

• meat waste;
• citrus. Increase acidity;
• undiluted kefir. Increases the level of soil acidity, which leads to the appearance of mold;
• whole peel of vegetables or fruits, cores (freeze or mince peels to destroy cell walls);
• fresh manure. The rotting substance releases a large amount of heat. The temperature will rise to 70C, the worms will die.

• plant residues: cabbage leaves, potato peels, banana peels, boiled vegetables;
• food waste;
• stale bread, pastries;
• tea leaves and coffee grounds;
• eggshell powder;
• water with which you rinsed a jar of sour cream or kefir;
• grass, leaves, straw;
• fermented manure (cow, horse), chicken droppings. Important: Few nutrients remain in very old manure.

A new portion of food is added after everything is eaten. Excess food waste leads to increased acidity and fermentation in the soil.

What packaging options can be used to transfer worms to customers

Products are packaged in:

• dense plastic bags measuring 150mm x 100mm with holes for the breathing of worms. Store at a temperature approaching the lower mark. So the worms will be less mobile. A sufficient layer of soil is required. Convenient for fishing shops or individual fishermen;
• cardboard boxes. The weight of the box is within 8 kg. A sufficient layer of substrate is required. Transportation of uterine families is well tolerated. The transfer method is suitable for large consignments of goods.

Please note that you must send the buyer a broodstock consisting of cocoons, fry and adults.

Worms implementation options

Use all channels to attract potential buyers. People need to learn as much as possible about your products.

How to sell:

• direct sales method. Go with the goods and offer them to “everything for fishing” stores, pet stores, familiar fishermen, country neighbors, and farmers. Vermichay is willingly taken by amateur flower growers and avid summer residents.
• Placement of advertising on the Internet: on free bulletin boards like Avito, in social networks, on a farming or fishing site. Perhaps you have your own website? Use this site too.

Estimated estimated business profitability

Breeding worms as a business is a profitable investment. From 2 cubic meters of nursery for a year of successful work, you can get up to 15-20 thousand individuals for sale and about a ton of biohumus. Only 2 rubles for 1 unit - and you already have 40 thousand rubles. Add the cost of biohumus and vermicai.

Given the small initial investment, the break-even point will be passed quickly -

For those who decide to grow worms for sale, it would be wise to start with a small home farm in an old refrigerator or wooden box.

Having fully mastered the technology, having studied the nuances of the case in practice, having “recruited” clients, you will be able to expand and organize a vermifarm on an industrial scale. More substantial investments are required. At this stage, you can prepare a business plan for breeding worms in order to optimize processes and attract additional funds for development.

A home mini-farm will allow you to make enough capital to open a serious production.

Now you know that worm farming as a business is profitable for you and good for the environment. Learn the technology, establish distribution channels - and your business will flourish.

Discussion (20 )

Hello, I am going to start this business with minimal costs (One mother seed) and further development. I have been studying this issue for a long time, and your article is very good, but I can’t find anywhere information about how much manure (cattle) should lie down in time before urea comes out and how to speed up this process. I would be very grateful if you help or tell me the necessary literature on which you can prepare in more detail and correctly !!!

I didn't know that worms could hibernate in sub-zero temperatures. In our city, many people sell worms right along the highway when we go to visit another city. And not only in summer. It can be seen that this is very profitable, and the hassle is minimal, especially in summer. My husband sometimes buys from me, mostly in autumn and winter. And in the summer he digs.

It's a good thing. First of all, the restoration of ecology, the restoration of the humus layer of the soil. Mother Earth will be healthy and grace to humanity. In a good scenario and a competent alignment of forces, the sweat of labor will shed like a golden rain.

Subject to the availability of a personal subsidiary plot, it is enough to invest no more than 50 thousand rubles in a home business for breeding worms. The main costs will be spent on the purchase of breeding stock and the manufacture of boxes with substance for the winter maintenance of worms. Also, depending on the scale of production, it is necessary to have an appropriate forage base. Otherwise, the business will not be profitable.

I'm on retirement. Tired of traveling on shifts! Maybe also start breeding worms? My son came up with an idea today. How can I not know! Maybe try?

I breed worms in the basement of my house. Started with a small volume. First, a tray near a paid lake - not far from my village. Now there is already a circle of its customers. It's a good addition to your pension. Many fishermen come to the house for bait. Especially in winter and early spring, the demand is good.

By the way, I have also been doing this business for 5 years already, breeding worms for fishing, in my summer cottage. The business is excellent, there are no investments, only time is naturally needed. I also keep a tent in the market to sell worms, they sell very well! We already have our own clientele.

Yes, business is specific. It’s good if there is a steady demand for such products, and you need to live at least in a private house. This is definitely an amateur, although there will certainly be a demand for such exotics.

I could not get past this topic, because I remember a real example from the late 90s, when our friend was able to unwind in this business and rise from scratch. Now he is already a seasoned businessman. And then it was an ordinary teacher of labor at a vocational school, then state employees were not paid salaries for several months, and even then, if they were waiting for payments, then these were pennies. On which you can't feed your family. And he decided to engage in the cultivation of worms, and right in our vocational school, in the back room. The director was aware, but turned a blind eye to it, then everyone survived as best they could.
I remember how we all walked and looked at these worms, if I'm not mistaken, they were red Californian (I remember exactly that they were not the usual earthworms). The men teased our businessman, the women farted and turned up their noses. But nevertheless, everything was borrowed from him until paycheck to paycheck, since the profit from this business was obvious, he sold it to pet stores, gardeners, fishermen, he didn’t break the price, and they willingly took it from him.
And he was busy with them, as with small children. And he constantly monitored the temperature, set the boxes with the material at different levels, observed the ventilation modes. There was once a tragedy that derailed his business - they told him that it was necessary to add eggshells to the ground for food. Only they didn’t specify that it should be finely ground, just into flour. And he threw it into the ground just mashed, the worms simply cut themselves when they moved in the soil. This is now a lot of information on the Internet, and such mistakes can be avoided, but then our businessman collected information bit by bit from the same amateur businessmen in magazines and calling them up around the country.
What I am leading to is that this business is really profitable, the sales market is huge and wide, there would be a desire. But you should not rank it as one of the easy and fast payback, there are risks, as in any business.
But, something that does not require a huge start-up capital and is even a pensioner's strength is obvious.

Even the idea of ​​earning money by breeding worms would not have crossed my mind. I read the whole article, everything turned out to be more than real. But I don’t think that there will be a constant stable income from this occupation, so you can do it as a hobby, in your free time or for pensioners in order to earn extra money and not sit idle. By the way, I think it’s better to breed worms in the city, because in order to sell “finished” products it’s better to have regular customers who are unlikely to go to your village for a jar of worms. But still, the income from this may well be, and if you wish, you can carefully study all the points and nuances and try to make money on it.

A very interesting business.
Low cost, simple and cost effective.
The pitfall of this business, I think, will be the sale of products in Russia.
I understood from the article that everything is happening in Latvia.
But what about our 35 degree frosts (I live in the northwest)?
Thank you very much for your valuable information.

It seemed to me that in our small town there was already nothing to do, all the ideas had already been sorted out, but what unexpected ways there are, and you really need to think of such a simple solution! We need to think carefully about this, of course, some pitfalls will come up, but I think everything is completely solvable. The main thing is that no one is doing such a thing with us yet, so we need to hurry. As they say, everything ingenious is simple!