Hints for Worm Factory Teachers

This page has been developed to act as a resource for teachers who currently have a worm composting bin in their classroom.  Please feel free to visit this page often as updates will be made on a continuous basis.  If you have a story, experience, or tip you would like to share, please email it to Kerry Rickrode.  Make sure to let us know of any special projects or events occurring from the use of the worm bins too! 

Teachers Share Possible Worm Factory Activities:

• Conduct an experiment to compare regular soil versus compost and observe how it affects plant growth

• Use compost to start seeds in the school garden and in houseplants

• Feed worms scraps from school kitchen which will provide for continuous worm growth

• Create gifts for school administration and other teachers - Place vermicompost in small bags and include a plant in a hand-painted pot.  A great idea for a year-end appreciation gift!

• Feed worms with leftover snacks from classroom

• Use the compost to side-dress plants growing in HCCD's Gro-Lab!

• Create a Worm Diary

• Use liquid "worm tea" for flowers

Worm Factory Success Stories:

• Hands-on Science technique

• Student interest and curiosity increased

• Topics such as recycling and ecology became a focus in science unit

• Planted entire garden with plants started from seed and fed with worm compost!  In the past, only few seedlings have been strong enough to survive

• Cantaloupe seeds sprouted in the bin.  We removed the sprouts and planted them

• Blending food scraps real well increases worm reproduction

Tips for a Successful Worm Factory:

• Keeping the spigot open lets the bottom tray drain out and the worms that get to the bottom tray don't drown

• Avoid feeding worms strawberries - they smell!

• Fruit, vegetable peels, coffee grounds, bread, rolls and oatmeal all work well as food sources for the worms

Setting Up the Worm Factory