By Fiona Gallagher · permaculture designer · food, animals and preservation on 12 acres in Tassie
“After losing my first batch of 50,000 worms to Tassie's freezing winter, I learned that scale without insulation is just expensive compost.”
— Fiona. If you can't eat it, it goes to the chooks.
ArticlesCalculatorsSite PlannerShopForget the $50 "starter kit" from Bunnings. If you're serious about scaling worm farming for off-grid living in Australia, you need to cut the fluff and get practical. Here's the raw deal.
By Fiona Gallagher · permaculture designer · food, animals and preservation on 12 acres in Tassie
“After losing my first batch of 50,000 worms to Tassie's freezing winter, I learned that scale without insulation is just expensive compost.”
Stacked bins? Yes. Single-tier plastic tubs? Waste of time. You need a system that handles 50kg+ of food scraps weekly without smelling like a dead rat.
Stop buying plastic bins. They leak, crack, and cost 3x more than a pallet system. If you're not doing 50+ worms, you're not scaling. Period.
Harvesting wrong = dead worms = wasted time. Do this:
Harvesting 10kg of castings per month? That's your baseline. Less = you're not doing it right.
Worm tea? Forget it. Castings only. Here's how to sell:
Australian suppliers (real pricing, 2023):
Worms Australia (NSW): 1000 worms $25. No markups. wormsaustralia.com.au (check local classifieds for worm suppliers)
Worm Farm (QLD): 500 worms $18. But their bins are overpriced. thewormfarm.com.au (check local nurseries for worm farms)
Worms for Life (VIC): 2000 worms $40. Best price. wormsforlife.com.au
Don't sell "worm tea". It's a scam. Castings only. If you're selling tea, you're getting scammed yourself.
While many off-grid projects are achievable as DIY, certain situations require licensed professionals:
Always check local regulations and obtain necessary permits before commencing work.
Worth a watch: Permaculture Farm Experience | Murrnong Farm | Victoria, Australia | By Abhay Sharma · Think with Abhay