A first look at this title can make you go ‘gosh, Worm farming? Well, indeed, worms can be raised on farms like snail farming, pig farming and other kinds of breeding you may know. Worm farming has come to stay because it has gone from its primitive stage, when it was just an activity and a hobby, to what it is today: a line of business.
In every business, there are rules and guidelines one must follow to be successful. The same principles apply when one wants to start working in worm farming. So if you are concerned about getting into this type of business, then equip yourself with the right things, such as a business plan for worm farming. These fundamentals must be put in place to start the worm farming business and to succeed in it.
What are the things you need to do to get your worm farming business started? Here are the best tips to follow.
Starting a Worm Farm Plan Template
1. Knowledge is key
There are different types of worms that you can start to breed. For example, there are red worms, European night spiders, among others. Having a broad knowledge of the different types of worms and their characteristics will help you decide which type or class to adopt for your worm business. You would benefit from researching, reading books, and searching the Internet for relevant information about worms.
2. Obtain a suitable location
Not all environments are conducive to worms. Just as in normal business life, quoting a business in the wrong place can mean the end of the world for that business. Therefore, it is imperative that you get a wet spot. This could be the basement of your house or an artificially constructed breeding facility that is moist enough for the worms.
This does not mean that these worms will not do well in adverse weather conditions, but it does mean that they can still withstand temperatures in the range of 40-80 F (4-27 C). In addition, you should make sure you keep them out of the rain. The reason you see worms when it rains is because they look for warm weather conditions, and also because they are all in the rain looking for a warm place to hide.
3. Building a suitable container
You would definitely need a good number of containers to place the worms in. This depends on the scale you have decided to start. These containers will help house the worms, and they don’t necessarily have to be expensive. They can be made of plastic, fiberglass or even wood.
However, wood is probably the best because it has the ability to keep the soil moist. Note, it is important to drill drainage holes in the containers.
4. Place the container with the beds
Different materials can be used for this purpose – shredded papers are probably the most convenient to get and also provide enough comfort for your worms. However, you can also use shredded cardboard, leaves and other garden waste.
Mix them with a few tablespoons of soil because worms need some dirt. Desist from using any toxic bedding material, as the worms could be injured or killed in the process. Be sure to keep the container filled to about three-quarters, as well as to keep it moist and free of drips.
5. Choose your type of worm
As mentioned above, there are different types of worms. However, you have to decide which type you want to place in your worm farm. Try to understand these questions; where will you get them? How much would you need to start with?
Also, keep in mind that the type you choose automatically determines the type of customers you might attract for profit. Red worms are excellent for making the compost that green gardeners use for fertilization. You could go the extra mile of searching the Internet to find hybrid vendors who can pay more.
6. Fill containers with the right amount of worms for bedding and food
Here’s another area you should make sure you do well; the standard rule that is acceptable is a 2:1 worm to food ratio. This is equivalent to approximately 2000 night crawlers. Therefore, your container should be large enough to accommodate this number to avoid a stampede of worms into these containers.
7. Feed your worms daily
After you have taken the step mentioned above to research the type of breed you want to breed, you should also have armed yourself with the information about how often you should feed them. Therefore, as a general rule, avoid feeding them meat, dairy products, overly fatty foods and grains.
If you do, it will become malodorous and may attract flies. Coffee beans and granulated eggshells are also a good source of food for worms. They are also very cheap to get, especially because you may want to save some money. Make sure you put the food in one place and don’t spread it around.
8. Go to the local market
As your worms begin to grow and multiply, it becomes imperative that you go to market to make some profit. Tell the people you think might need the worms how advantageous it might be for them when they buy your worms. Contact your potential customers and clients to let them know that the supply is ready.
As with any other business, you should start from the beginning of your business to think about your future, the purpose of getting into the business is to grow it in the years to come. Start brainstorming and planning what the projected growth of your worm business might be.
In addition, you can begin to chart how you might stay on top of your game when that growth actually comes. How you achieve all these goals depends largely on the first step you take to start this business.