Worm Power

What types are they? Can I put them in the garden?

Compost worms are a mix of Reds (Eisenia Andrei), Tigers (Eisenia Fetida), Blues (Perionix Excavatus) which is very similar to the Australian species Spenceralia. Generally, none of them will do well in your garden unless it has a high level of organic materials. These 3 species prefer slightly different conditions ie temperature range, water content but generally co-exist very well and tend to complement each other as conditions change in your worm farm.

Will my bed smell? Can I keep it close to the house?

If cared for well, worm farms will not smell. Generally, any smell means the bed/food is too wet. If so add some shredded newspaper or cardboard to absorb excess moisture and then the worms will eat this too. A sprinkling of lime or dolomite will reduce acidity. Zeolite can be sprinkled also to absorb nitrogenous smells.

Where can I keep my worms?

There are several commercial bins available and they all have several redeeming features to make your worming experiences enjoyable. They are easy to move, easy to add food, generally easy to remove castings and keep vermin at bay. However, anywhere that you can contain worms while protecting them from the elements, keep tree roots out of the bed and keep vermin (rats and toads can be a problem) away is suitable. Many people use old bathtubs or boxes or construct box like containers.