Restarting worm farm

by Eunice
(Northern NSW)

I need to restart my worm farm because the maggots have killed them all and it's stinky. Where do I dispose of the current contents? I'm in NSW.

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Mar 06, 2022
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Restarting worm farm
by: Pauly

Hello Eunice,

Based on your info (not much), it sounds like you DO need to restart a worm farm all over.

Maggots are caused by too much nitrogen (kitchen scraps, manure, animal feed, etc).

There needs to be a balance of carbon to offset the high amounts of nitrogen, moisture, and sometimes overheating.

Adding small amounts of moist (not wet) bedding and then small pockets of kitchen scraps 1 week after the carbon is the best way to start all over.

The C:N ratio should always be 20:1 up to 40:1

When you see the nitrogen gone, it's time to add more pockets or two small handfuls of kitchen scraps per 1 pound of worms.

Cover the 4 inches of carbon bedding (which can also be mixed with castings) with moist sheets of news print, plastic bag, plastic cutting sheet, etc, to keep moisture in.

Always monitor your moisture and spritz it with a spray bottle of water to maintain moisture.

Try to read the free worm farming guide or

get my book The Worm Farming Revolution.

There's also plenty of info on this website. Just use the search link at the bottom of any page.

There is plenty of great quality info, unlike the many websites that are full of good and bad info you can't trust.

All the best with your new bin.
~Pauly

Mar 06, 2022
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Thank you
by: Eunice

Thanks Pauly for your advice!
I didn't add much detail because I got so much info on what happened to my worm farm already on your website and came to the conclusion that its dead.

Can you confirm then, that I don't need to dump out the current contents, but I just need to add more carbon bedding to it (and the kitchen scraps little by little once reset), then let nature take its course? I also don't need to remove the maggots correct? I've read either I need to remove them or that nature will take its course and they will leave/die etc so I want to make sure too. I'd rather not have to deal with them (eww) :)

Thanks again for getting back to me so soon. I really appreciate it.

I've also removed the worm farm from the elements and its now in the garage (we've had a combo of intense sun and rain the past few months so its been terrible).

Mar 07, 2022
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Restarting worm farm
by: Pauly

Yes, Eunice,

Pull out any pieces of kitchen scraps you can and add plenty more carbon.

If the bedding is wet then add the carbon dry with little spritzing on top.

I don't know if you have large brown Black Soldier Fly Larvae or regular "house" fly larvae.

You are correct in adding the extra carbon, but just remove any large practical pieces of nitrogen scraps.

Let the carbon break down by the microbes for about a week or two then add 1 to 2 pounds of worms again. This just depends on how fast you want to get your Worm Farm producing castings again.

Always monitor the worm bin and especially outside. If outside, a mosquito netting (among other ways) will keep out any insect you don't want in there competing with the food source.

Always keep the nitrogen amounts small and only feed when gone or almost gone.

Thanks,
~Pauly

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