Composting and worm farming
Information about composting and worm farming in Yarra, and which system is right for you.
Where can I order a compost bin or worm farm?
We have partnered with Compost Revolution to give you up to 70% off your composting products.
Why compost?
- Compost improves soil structure, adds nutrients and retains moisture.
- Mulch and compost are great for both gardens and pot plants.
- It prevents the breakdown of organic material in landfill, which contributes to climate change.
- Compost creates a valuable use for your food waste.
Which system should I use?
Composting is best suited to households with a garden, as it needs a mix of garden prunings and food waste. Some compost systems need to be seated on bare earth. A compost can typically process more food scraps each day than a worm farm or bokashi.
Worm farms are ideal for people with small gardens or without garden waste. Well maintained worm farms shouldn't smell and can be kept indoors or on your veranda or balcony. They produce on-tap concentrated liquid fertiliser, and nutrient-rich worm castings.
Bokashi can be useful for people living in small spaces that have access to a suitable location for burying the fermented food scraps. Bokashi systems can be kept inside or outside, and require the addition of an enzyme spray or grain.
How do I compost or worm farm?
Composting
A compost bin requires minimal upkeep to function well, provided that the added materials are balanced.
Some tips for composting include:
- Collect kitchen food scraps in a container indoors before adding them to your compost bin.
- Add food scraps and green garden waste (nitrogen rich material) in combination with dry grass, paper, unlaminated cardboard and dry leaves (carbon rich material).
- Keep meat and large quantities of dairy out of your compost bin.
- Turn your compost with a garden fork or aerator regularly.
- When the compost looks like rich, dark soil, it's ready to be dug into your garden.
Worm farming
Some tips for worm farming include:
- Find a location out of direct sun for your worm farm. Worms prefer temperatures of between 18°C and 24°C with good air flow. Worms can die if they overheat.
- Feed your worms fruit and vegetable scraps, coffee grinds and tea leaves.
- Don't feed your worms meat and keep dairy and citrus to a minimum.
- Worm farms produce two products for your garden or pot plants – castings (worm poo), which can be mixed in with soil or potting mix, and 'tea' (worm wee), which can be diluted one part worm tea to 10 parts water and poured onto your plants.
What if I don't have enough space?
If home composting, worm farming and bokashi is not for you, there are other options which also allow you to compost your food scraps.
You can use the Peels map to find someone near you happy to accept your food scraps for their compost or worm farm, or to receive food scraps. This is a free, non-commercial community project.
Growing your own food
Growing your own food can save you money and reduce waste, as the produce you grow is free from packaging and you can harvest it in small quantities, as you need it.
Learn more at one of our workshops
We run free online workshops via My Smart Garden throughout the year on a variety of topics, including:
- composting,
- worm farming,
- small space gardening,
- organic gardening, and
- keeping chickens.