How to protect worms from cold weather, snow and ice?

by S.
(Germany)

Winter protection box for worms in a worm bin

Winter protection box for worms in a worm bin

Hello I really enjoy running my worm farm and believe that recycling and composting kitchen- animal- and pet waste with the help of worms is a great way to protect the environment and increase the fertility of our soil. I am just concerned about the winter approaching and bringing freezing temperatures with it which might harm or even kill all my compost worms. What can I do to protect my worms from the cold weather, snow and ice?

I am looking forward to hear from you.

Kind regards

S.
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ANSWER:

Hello S.

it's great to hear that you are taking good care of your compost worms.They are indeed very important creatures and contribute a lot to keep the soil of the earth fertile and convert organic materials that are beginning to decompose back into nutrient rich natural soil conditioner and plant food. Compost worms of the variety "Eisenia fetida" which are the most commonly used worms are actually pretty hardy and can tolerate temperatures to about 5 degrees Celsius / 41 Fahrenheit but if the conditions in their worm bin drop below that they will either have to find a way into a warmer environment or will most likely die.

So it is important that you prepare your worm farm for the cold weather and get them safely through winter.

There are quite a few ways to go about this.

The easiest is usually to just bring them inside into a heated room in the house, cellar or a garage where the temperature never drops close to freezing point. If that is not possible you might consider building a shelter for the worm farm that insulates it against the cold weather. We found it quite easy to build such a box out of polystyrene sheets that we purchased in a builders warehouse. The picture shows you what it looks like.

For more information about protection of worms in winter have a look at my article that I published about the subject some time ago. You will find it at the following Url:

https://www.worm-composting-help.com/worm-farm-preparation-for-winter.html

I hope this information will help you to get your worms safely through the cold season.

Kind regards and blessings to you and your family

Stephan Kloppert

Author of "How to start a profitable worm business on a shoestring budget"

Editor of "www.worm-composting-help.com

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