Westfalia 93 23 54 Original Instructions Manual page 5

Suitable Position in the Garden
 Worms need to be protected from direct sun light, rain, flooding and wind, so the location of your worm composter is
important. The composter needs a sheltered location.
 If the soil is very compact and not draining, dig a little deeper (approx. 60 cm) and make a suitable drainage of 10 – 15 cm of
gravel, so that the water can drain off in heavy rain.
Correct Bedding
 The suitable betting in the composter should consist of a mixture of shredded and wet newspaper, coconut coir, egg cartons
or cardboard, as well as dry leaves, hay and topsoil. Approximately 20 – 25 cm of bedding is required.
Suitable Composter Worms
 Tiger worms "Eisenia foetida" and "Eisenia Andrei" are the most common worms used for composting in Europe. Composting
worms are the only species that live, work and breed well in the rich, moist, organic environment of the composter.
 When purchasing your worms, be sure to get at least 1000 composting worms. Less than 1000 worms to start the composter
will retard the operation of your system.
 Common garden worms (Lumbiricus terrestris) are not suitable for the worm composter and will not survive.
Suitable Scraps for Composting
 Fruit and vegetable scraps, such as carrots, potatoes, pumpkin, beans, zucchini, corncob, avocado skin, celery, broccoli, etc.
Also stale bread, cooked noodles, rice, vacuum cleaner dust, cotton, wool, animal and human hair, shredded and soaked
newspaper or cardboard, cheese, cakes, biscuits, fruit rinds and peelings, such as watermelons, banana, mango, peach,
nectarine, pear, grapes, etc.
 Only feed small amounts of old paper towels, crushed eggshells, tea bags, coffee grounds and filter bags, cooked vegetables
and stewed fruit leftovers, seaweed, sawdust, oranges, grapefruit, tomatoes, onions.
 Grasses, leaves, wood ash, pet poo from rabbits, cats, dogs and birds, as well as wild herbs are suitable in small amounts.
„Preparation" and Feeding
 Cut the food scraps very small (if desired, blend the food scraps in the food processor). The smaller the pieces, the faster the
worms will eat them. Keep in mind that worms have no teeth.
 Microwaving the scraps for approx. 30 seconds (in a bowl, filled with water) before feeding is also suitable. This method
breaks the cell walls and speed up the decomposition process.
 For the beginning, feed the worms with a small amount until they adapt to their new food source (about a week). Then, place
approx. 3 – 4 cm of food.
 Do not overfeed.
 To stimulate the appetite of the compost worms, especially in the initial phase, and to accelerate reproduction and growth, an
"appetite stimulant" can be added. Appetite stimulators stimulate composting and provide stronger, thicker compost worms.
Appetite stimulants are well suited as a substitute food during the holiday season. You will find further information in specialist
trades or Internet.
Unsuitable Wastes
 Toxic materials, such as treated wood shavings, plants that are severely diseased or herbicide-treated.
 Large amounts of onions, oranges, lemons, mandarins or pineapples, garlic, peppers, leek, beans, etc.
 Meat, bones, fish, tofu or dairy products, as they attract flies and vermin. Also very salted food leftovers.
 Garden waste, such as fresh lawn cuttings, due to the strong heat generation and released ammonia. Oak and beech leaves,
waste from conifers, etc. are not suitable as well.
 Dog poo, if the dog has been dewormed beforehand. If your pets have been dewormed, their poo will contain Vermicides that
remain active in fresh poo and can kill the worms. Allow poo to age before using it in the composter.
 Glossy newspapers or colour prints.
General Hints for the Worm Composter
 The worm composter cannot process as much material as a compost bin.
 The worm composter is designed to "service" a small household with the disposal of organic waste. If you want to compost all
your waste, buy several worm composters.
 The lid must always be closed. If necessary, place a stone on the lid of the worm composter, e.g, if there are problems with
strong wind and to make sure that animals cannot lift up the lid.
General Hints for Compost Worms
 The compost worms need a comfortable temperature, food, darkness, protection from direct sunlight and moisture, but not a
wet location.
 Compost worms eat their body weight in food each day.
 Compost worms (Eisenia foetida and Eisenia Andrei) can live between 1° C and 33° C. The optimal temperature is between
15° and 25° C.
 The size of the adult compost worms is about 50 – 70 mm.
 Worms will double approximately every 10 weeks provided they are fed regularly. Baby worms are very little and take about
three months to mature.
 The worms in the worm composter regulate their population themselves and breed only within the limits of space and food you
give them.
 Compost worms need rich organic waste and constant humidity to survive. Therefore, they can only be exposed on well-
mulched garden areas or in an existing compost heap.
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