Using worm farms to reduce your food and garden waste (FOGO)

Using worm farms to reduce your food and garden waste (FOGO) can be easy and you don't need an expensive set up to start.

Using worm farms to reduce your waste can also save you money. As the organic matter is digested by the worms, as slow release biologically based fertilizer is produced. This can be in the form of solid worm castings or liquid worm tea.

The worms in worm farms are not the same as garden worms, they are usually reddish and sometimes called tiger worms or red wigglers. Worms break down organic matter faster than cold composting and is easier to manage than hot composting.

Worms can be kept in any container as long as it is well drained, aerated and covered. This can include old fridges, plastic or polystyrene vegetable boxes, bath tubs and repurposing of old council bins.

Some residential areas have FOGO bin pick up systems, though a lot of areas do not. Worm farming is good for the environment as it reduces your carbon footprint by diverting your households organic waste from landfill. By diverting your waste from landfill you are also reducing methane gas from being emitted, this is a greenhouse gas that is causing climate change.

The photo is from Waste Authority WA who runs the WasteSorted program, their website is full of educational material that can also be used in schools or community groups: https://www.wasteauthority.wa.gov.au/wss/curriculum-materials/detail/worms-curriculum-guide.