Help your child to make their own worm farm
A worm farm is an excellent way for children to learn about caring for the environment. Read on to learn how to make one.
Even if you’re not a big worm fan, this simple eco-friendly activity is excellent for teaching your kids about recycling and environmental stewardship.
What’s the big deal about worms for kids?
Worms wriggle, squirm, and have a slimy appearance, so why should you allow your children to handle them? The humble earthworm is a good example of how something small and seemingly insignificant can play a significant role in protecting and sustaining our natural environment.
When worms tunnel through the earth, they provide greater access to water and air for plant roots, and the nutrient-rich waste they leave behind also aids plant growth. Worms are great natural recyclers that can turn food scraps from the kitchen, which would otherwise end up in a landfill, into compost for the garden or vegetable patch.
Making a worm farm
What better way to learn about earthworms than to watch them in action? Everything you need to make a worm farm can be found in your cupboards or garden. Worm farms can be of any size as long as the wrigglers have enough room to move around.
What you need
- At least ten earthworms
- A transparent container
- Garden soil
- Shredded newspaper
- Scraps of food (vegetable offcuts)
How to make it
- Give your garden a good watering. After an hour, get a spade and dig in shady areas to find earthworms.
- Find a clean glass jar, plastic water bottle, or a small aquarium to house your earthworms. They must always have air holes in the top, drainage holes in the bottom, and a cover to prevent escapees.
- Mix a little shredded newspaper into garden soil. Fill the container about two-thirds full with garden soil/ shredded newspaper mixture, and make sure it is moist but not soggy.
- Add in the worms.
- Provide the worms with regular scraps of food, such as veggie offcuts. Feed scraps once a day.
- Ensure you place your worm farm in a dark location.
- Worms dislike sunlight because it dries out their skin, through which they breathe. Keep small containers in cupboards to be kind to your worms, or cover them with black paper to keep light out.
