Worm Farm FAQ•
on December 10th, 2009•
We are often asked about whether worms can tolerate temperature extremes.
Composting worms will tolerate a vast array of temperatures from approximately 10-35 degrees Celsius. Once the temperature reaches above 35 degrees some worm
farmers choose to hose down the farm (making sure the tap is turned on to allow the liquid to drain out). this will decrease the core temperature of the worm farm. I
wouldnt do this too often as you dont want to create a “soggy” worm farm.
In very cold temperatures, cover the system with some old underfelt or blankets to keep warmth in. Feed the worms more nitrogen rich food, which will create more
warmth as it decomposes.
Worm Anatomy•
on December 7th, 2009•
Worms eat their food (organic matter which is mixed with the soil) by:
Tunnelling through the soil taking food into their mouth as they go. The prostomium (a fleshy pad) contracts over the mouth.
The food then gets pulled down into the alimentary canal (a tubular passage located between the mouth and the anus.) for digestion and the elimination of wastes.
There are different sections of this tube: buccal cavity, pharynx, esophagus, crop, gizzard and intestine. The buccal cavity – as its name suggests, is a cavity just behind the mouth.
The pharynx – think of this as the suction pump.
The esophagus – a tube leading to the crop and gizzard.
The crop is a storage facility (pouch) for the food.
The gizzard is a thick walled “grinder” that breaks the food down by muscular action and small stones.
The intestine digests the food and extracts the nutrients.
The last step in the process is the excretion of wastes in the form of castings (food and soil which was not digested).
Worm Anatomy•
on December 6th, 2009•
Muscles and the setae are the worms most important anatomy parts for moving. There are muscles that go both circularly around the body and length ways down the body.
To make this really simple; worms move along by extending the anterior (front end), taking hold using their front setae (bristles) then retracting the setae at the prosterior (back end) and pulling their prosterior to their anterior.