Indoor Vermiculture

To raise earthworms cheaply and easily :

1. Build a box out of wood. Any size will do, but a bigger box equals more worms (appartment dwellers can make do with a 1' x 1' x 8" box).
   1. Attach a lid to the box with two cheap hinges.
   2. Drill/cut two 2-inch holes in the front of the box in such a way as to line up the bottom of the hole with the bottom of the inside of the box.
   3. Paint the box with any outdoor rated, oil based paint.
   4. Place a small piece of fine plastic screen against the holes that were drilled/cut. Make sure that you place the screen on the inside of the box. Firmly nail the screen into place. The screen will allow the box to drain, but will not allow the worms to escape.

   The box is now complete.

2. Prepare the box for worms
   1. Buy enough peat moss from a garden supply store or nursery to fill up the box. Remember the peat moss will compact after it gets soaking wet.
   2. Place the peat moss in the box and completely soak the peat moss and stir it up until you are sure it is uniformly wet.
   3. Get 6 bricks.
   4. Place one brick at each front corner and two bricks at each rear corner so that the box slopes forward and can drain from the holes.
   5. Place a pan under the holes to catch the future runoff - unless you place the box outside. After worms are growing, the runoff is great for plants.

3. Now, for the worms
   1. Go buy three or four boxes of the smallest worms that you can find at a fish and tackle shop.
   2. Put the worms in the box
   3. Buy some corn meal (a small bag will last practically forever !!) This is all the worms need for addequate nutrition.
   4. Every three or four days, sprinkle a LIGHT layer of corn meal on top of the peat moss. Note : Before you apply each new layer, use a small, tined garden hand tool to stir up the peat moss and to mix the corn meal left over from the previous feeding into the peat moss.
   5. Wait about a month, and you will discover that you have literally millions of worms ranging in size from tiny little young worms to fully adult worms. The baby worms can be used for small fish and very young fish, while the larger worms will easily satify the live food requirements of even the most ravenous large fish.
   6. This is an infinitely renewable resource !!! You can not possibly feed your fish enough worms to reduce or even dent the supply. The author has been keeping worms for fishing and for fish food for 17 years.
   7. The peat moss must be kept damp by periodic watering. Don't over water !! Do not allow it to dry out !! The worms will die QUICKLY if the peat moss dries out. Fortunately, peat moss retains water very well, and watering is rarely needed.
   8. The worms must not be allowed to freeze. The worms and the worm box will not smell and can be kept in garages or closets during the winter. The worms do not like being baked in the full evening sun in the summer (you will kill them). Place them in a shady location if they are left outside.
   9. Keep the lid closed, worms like it dark.

4. Uses for Earthworms
   1. Many birds love earthworms !!
   2. Potted plants love earthworms !!
   3. Gardens love earthworms !!
   4. Lawns love earthworms !!
   5. Fish love earthworms !!