Victoria can face 40 °C degree temperatures on hot summer days. Given that compost worms can die in over 35°C temperatures, you might worry about the welfare of your wriggly friends, as well as the health of your compost, on hot days.
Here are some tips to help you prepare your worm farm for hot days.
Location:
·Keep your worm farm in the shade. Place your worm farm under a shady tree or in another dark place in your garden throughout summer.
·As worm farms tend not to smell too much (compared with other compost options) you could even bring a mobile worm farm indoors on hot days.
Temperature:
·If you have warning of the heat, place your veggie scraps in the freezer then pop them in the worm farm at the peak of the day’s heat.
·Place a frozen water bottle on top of your worm blanket at the top of the farm. It will help keep them cool. Alternatively, place esky coolant packs in the farm. If possible, monitor the farm throughout the day and replace the frozen water bottles and coolant packs as needed.
Insulation:
·Drape an old, wet towel or hessian material over the worm farm on hot days. Re-moisten the material as needed throughout the day. As dark colours attract heat, use a lighter coloured towel.
·Ensure you’re using a jute worm farm blanket, to provide insulation, year round. If you can’t access one, soak cardboard or an old cotton t-shirt in water and use that instead.
Considering these three things; location, temperature, and insulation, will help to keep your worm farm cool this summer.
-Alexis (FFH Team) 🌱
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