Question 1

How many Subpods do I need?

Accepted Answer

The average family generates 7kg (15lbs) of food waste a week, just for reference.

We have designed the Subpod to be used for a family of up to four people, processing around 15kg (33lbs) of organic waste per week.

It will take from six weeks to three months to get your Subpod working at this capacity, depending on the season and how much you feed it. The worms need to settle in and build up their numbers.

Subpod is modular, so If you have more than 30L/15kg of waste per week, you can choose to connect two or more Subpods and create a bench seat, or install in separate garden beds.

Question 2

What is a worm blanket? What is it used for?

Accepted Answer

Worm blankets are made of a water-absorbing, air-permeable and light blocking fabric.
They are placed on top of the worm bedding and have multiple functions:
The blanket minimises light reaching the worms, allowing them to feed right up to the top of the compost day and night.
Moist blankets prevent the upper layer from drying out, which can attract ants into the system Moist blankets help maintain the proper moisture levels for the worms. Worm blankets maintain warmth within the Subpod during winter months.

Question 3

What can be composted in Subpod?

Accepted Answer

You can compost a lot more in Subpod than in other worm farm systems. You can compost food scraps, including citrus, onions, and after four months of active use, even small quantities of meat, fish, dairy, and spicy foods.

Carbon items such as paper and cardboard, lawn and garden clippings, and a whole lot more can be composted in Subpod. You CANNOT compost non-organics such as plastic, tin cans, cigarettes, and such.

Question 4

Does Subpod attract pests and rodents?

Accepted Answer

No it shouldn’t. Subpod’s built-in ventilation panels have small holes that keep out bugs, pests and rodents, whilst allowing air to flow in. Just make sure the ‘worm holes’ in the sides of the Subpod are covered with soil so nothing can sneak in.

Some pests are attracted to the smell of rotting food. By keeping a healthy Subpod, your food won't rot, it will instead be composted by your worms and microbes.

Keep your food scraps in a sealed container/caddy to make sure bugs don’t lay eggs in your waste before you transfer it to the Subpod.

Question 5

How do I keep ants out of the Subpod?

Accepted Answer

Ants are attracted to dry conditions, so this is usually an indicator that your Subpod is too dry. Try wetting your worm blankets or slightly wetting your compost down. Aim for compost moisture levels similar to a sponge - only a few drops should come out when squeezed

Question 6

Can we leave the Subpod if we go away on holidays?

Accepted Answer

To keep the worms happy while you’re away, buy a pumpkin (or use one that is starting to rot), cut it in half and lay the open sides face down on the top of the bedding of the Subpod.

Then add a generous layer of dry carbon, either shredded newspaper, coir (coconut husk), wood shavings, crushed dried leaves or dried (brown) grass clippings on top of the pumpkin, and place the worm blankets over everything.

Question 7

What should I do once I have filled one tray in my worm composting kit?

Accepted Answer

Once you have filled one tray in your worm composting kit, there are a few things you can do to continue the composting process:

Add another tray: If your worm composting kit has multiple trays, you can add another tray on top of the filled one. The worms will eventually migrate up to the new tray and begin processing the new food. NB: Check for gaps between the trays as sometimes as the worms work on the waste it reduces in volume and sinks so that it’s more difficult for the worms to move up. If this happens just add more waste into the gap. Wait: Give the worms some time to migrate up to the new tray. This can take a few days to a week, depending on the temperature and moisture levels in the bin. Harvest the compost: Once the worms have migrated up to the new tray and have finished processing the food in the lower tray, you can harvest the compost. The compost will be dark, crumbly, and have a rich, earthy smell. Add the compost to your garden: The compost can be added to your garden to improve soil structure and fertility, or used as a soil amendment. Repeat the process: Continue to add food scraps to the top tray and repeat the process. Remember to check the moisture levels and add water if necessary. It's important to note that a worm composting kit is not a "set it and forget it" process, it requires monitoring and maintenance to ensure a healthy environment for the worms and good quality compost.

For more help with your wormery and frequently asked questions pop on over to https://www.wigglywigglers.co.uk/pages/wormery-faqs. Or if you’re keen to get started or order a wormery please visit https://www.wigglywigglers.co.uk/collections/worm-composting

Question 8

Why have I got Fruit Flies in my Subpod?

Accepted Answer

Fruit flies can enter Subpod when you are adding your food waste. They can also get into the system before your food scraps are added to Subpod if there’s a loose lid.

The more thoroughly you stir your food waste into the bedding, the less likely you will have a problem with fruit flies and other insects. If you add more moist bedding (carbon), it’s easier to bury the food waste thoroughly. Make sure that the larger holes on the sides of your Subpod are below the soil line in your garden bed.

Any fruit fly larvae that finds its way into the Subpod will slowly diminish over time if the above techniques are used.

Question 9

What do I do about waste shrinkage in the lower trays of the wormery?

Accepted Answer

It is important to maintain the level of waste in the lower trays of the wormery as the waste is reducing. If the level drops too much then it makes if difficult for the worms to access the levels above.

Question 10

Should I add cardboard to the sump tray of my wormery?

Accepted Answer

This is not needed. If the worms are congregating in the sump tray then this is an indication that there is an issue with the contents of the upper trays.