Vermicomposting, or worm farming, is a fantastic way to reduce household waste and create nutrient-rich garden food in New Zealand. It utilises worms, nature's recyclers, to process kitchen scraps and turn them into valuable "black gold" called castings and "worm wee" - a fantastic liquid feed. Setting up a worm farm is easy and rewarding.

Firstly, choose a suitable location for your worm farm, preferably a shaded spot outside. Consider a tiered system where worm castings collect at the bottom, making harvesting easy. You'll need to add bedding such as shredded newspaper or coconut coir. Introduce your composting worms, usually red wigglers or tiger worms. These worms thrive in a dark, damp environment.

Now you're ready to begin feeding your worms. Add food scraps like fruit and vegetable peels, coffee grounds, and tea bags. Avoid citrus, onions, garlic, meat, and dairy. Chop larger pieces into smaller bits to help the worms process them faster. Maintain moisture levels and cover the food scraps with bedding. Regularly harvest the worm castings and liquid feed by simply moving the worms and bedding to a new section of the farm and collecting the castings from the old section.

With a little practice, you’ll find that worm farming is a simple, natural, and economical way to reduce waste, produce a natural fertilizer, and enrich your garden. It aligns with New Zealand’s commitment to sustainability by diverting organic waste from landfills and creating a closed-loop system in your backyard.