Comments on: Worm Farming Business http://www.redwormcomposting.com/reader-questions/worm-farming-business/ Red Wiggler Worms, European Nightcrawlers and loads of helpful Worm Composting Information Fri, 10 Feb 2012 18:46:37 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Bentley http://www.redwormcomposting.com/reader-questions/worm-farming-business/comment-page-1/#comment-34092 Bentley Fri, 27 Jan 2012 19:55:42 +0000 http://www.redwormcomposting.com/reader-questions/worm-farming-business/#comment-34092 Hi Jay, Your initial investment will TOTALLY depend on the particular business model and approach-in-general you take. You could start up some form of worm business quite easily for $100's - but depending on how serious you want to get, you could easily end up spending 10's or even 100's of thousands of dollars. There definitely isn't any sort of "x dollars invested = vermicomposting business" formula to refer to. It's safe to say that you could get going for less than $10000 (assuming you have some land/space already). As I pointed out already, there isn't anyone who "requires" composting worms or worm castings - there are lots of people who want these products, but compared to a lot of markets that number is still fairly small (since plenty of people aren't familiar with vermicomposting). I don't have any vermicomposting product demand stats for you unfortunately. I highly recommend you learn as much about Worm Power as you can - there is certainly a LOT of demand for their products! Hi Jay,
Your initial investment will TOTALLY depend on the particular business model and approach-in-general you take. You could start up some form of worm business quite easily for $100′s – but depending on how serious you want to get, you could easily end up spending 10′s or even 100′s of thousands of dollars. There definitely isn’t any sort of “x dollars invested = vermicomposting business” formula to refer to.
It’s safe to say that you could get going for less than $10000 (assuming you have some land/space already).
As I pointed out already, there isn’t anyone who “requires” composting worms or worm castings – there are lots of people who want these products, but compared to a lot of markets that number is still fairly small (since plenty of people aren’t familiar with vermicomposting).
I don’t have any vermicomposting product demand stats for you unfortunately. I highly recommend you learn as much about Worm Power as you can – there is certainly a LOT of demand for their products!

]]> By: Jay http://www.redwormcomposting.com/reader-questions/worm-farming-business/comment-page-1/#comment-34083 Jay Fri, 27 Jan 2012 04:51:56 +0000 http://www.redwormcomposting.com/reader-questions/worm-farming-business/#comment-34083 Hi Bentley.. what will be the initial investment in vermicomposting and i want to know about demand of this product, who are the people who actually require this product,, Hi Bentley..

what will be the initial investment in vermicomposting and i want to know about demand of this product, who are the people who actually require this product,,

]]> By: Bentley http://www.redwormcomposting.com/reader-questions/worm-farming-business/comment-page-1/#comment-34058 Bentley Wed, 25 Jan 2012 14:54:36 +0000 http://www.redwormcomposting.com/reader-questions/worm-farming-business/#comment-34058 Hi Jay, Bit of a tough question to answer in a comment. It will, of course, be up to you to decide if the start-up of some form a vermicomposting business is a wise choice for you. Interestingly, your wording actually uncovered one of the potential limitations of this field - I'm not sure I would say there is ANYONE who really "requires" these products. That being said, there ARE plenty of people who are interested in starting their own vermicomposting systems and/or interested in using vermicompost (aka "worm castings") as an all-natural plant growth promoter and soil amendment. The market for the latter product likely offers the greatest potential for revenue generation, but it's certainly not without its challenges (much "easier" to get started with a small "worm business" in my humble opinion). If you are looking for a very successful vermicomposting business, be sure to check out "Worm Power" - they are castings specialists and own/operate what may very well be the largest vermicomposting facility in the world. Hope this helps a little. 8) Hi Jay,
Bit of a tough question to answer in a comment.
It will, of course, be up to you to decide if the start-up of some form a vermicomposting business is a wise choice for you.
Interestingly, your wording actually uncovered one of the potential limitations of this field – I’m not sure I would say there is ANYONE who really “requires” these products. That being said, there ARE plenty of people who are interested in starting their own vermicomposting systems and/or interested in using vermicompost (aka “worm castings”) as an all-natural plant growth promoter and soil amendment. The market for the latter product likely offers the greatest potential for revenue generation, but it’s certainly not without its challenges (much “easier” to get started with a small “worm business” in my humble opinion). If you are looking for a very successful vermicomposting business, be sure to check out “Worm Power” – they are castings specialists and own/operate what may very well be the largest vermicomposting facility in the world.
Hope this helps a little.
8)

]]> By: Jay http://www.redwormcomposting.com/reader-questions/worm-farming-business/comment-page-1/#comment-34056 Jay Wed, 25 Jan 2012 05:19:53 +0000 http://www.redwormcomposting.com/reader-questions/worm-farming-business/#comment-34056 i am a finance student completed my P.G in finance, i want to start a business like worm farming professionally, i want to know how pragmatic my decision is and who are the people which actually requires this product i mean i actually want to see the demand.. i am a finance student completed my P.G in finance, i want to start a business like worm farming professionally, i want to know how pragmatic my decision is and who are the people which actually requires this product i mean i actually want to see the demand..

]]> By: Pete http://www.redwormcomposting.com/reader-questions/worm-farming-business/comment-page-1/#comment-25690 Pete Wed, 02 Jun 2010 15:20:42 +0000 http://www.redwormcomposting.com/reader-questions/worm-farming-business/#comment-25690 Hi Bentley, Have you heard or know about worms used for cosmetic testing? I live in the UK and I'm very interested in opening a worming farm using Vermic equipments and suppliers. I've also heard about football ground are always in need of worms and fertislising compose "is this true"? Hope you could have some answers for me as I've been doing alot of research but can't find nothing! Best Regards, Pete Hi Bentley,

Have you heard or know about worms used for cosmetic testing?

I live in the UK and I’m very interested in opening a worming farm using Vermic equipments and suppliers.

I’ve also heard about football ground are always in need of worms and fertislising compose “is this true”?

Hope you could have some answers for me as I’ve been doing alot of research but can’t find nothing!

Best Regards,

Pete

]]> By: Bentley http://www.redwormcomposting.com/reader-questions/worm-farming-business/comment-page-1/#comment-21136 Bentley Fri, 27 Mar 2009 15:25:41 +0000 http://www.redwormcomposting.com/reader-questions/worm-farming-business/#comment-21136 Hi Linda - really sorry for the delay responding to this. The first few days (sometimes as much as a week or more), the worms will most likely not be consuming wastes at their normal rate. They need time to adjust to their new surroundings. Clear containers aren't the best ones to use for worm bins since worms really don't like light - it can actually harm them (especially outdoor light). I haven't used the "egg laying crumble" myself so I'm not sure what it contains, but I would definitely be cautious with a material like that in a normal (enclosed plastic) worm bin. All in all, it doesn't sound like you are having major issues. I would leave them be for a few days and see if they settle down a bit. Hi Linda – really sorry for the delay responding to this.
The first few days (sometimes as much as a week or more), the worms will most likely not be consuming wastes at their normal rate. They need time to adjust to their new surroundings.

Clear containers aren’t the best ones to use for worm bins since worms really don’t like light – it can actually harm them (especially outdoor light).
I haven’t used the “egg laying crumble” myself so I’m not sure what it contains, but I would definitely be cautious with a material like that in a normal (enclosed plastic) worm bin.

All in all, it doesn’t sound like you are having major issues. I would leave them be for a few days and see if they settle down a bit.

]]> By: Linda http://www.redwormcomposting.com/reader-questions/worm-farming-business/comment-page-1/#comment-21094 Linda Tue, 24 Mar 2009 14:09:02 +0000 http://www.redwormcomposting.com/reader-questions/worm-farming-business/#comment-21094 I received 4 lbs of European night crawlers four days ago. I placed them in mostiened Canadian Surphan peat moss. I moistened egg laying crumble down the center of the plastic tote on top of the dirt. The tote I have them in until my 5 tray worm farm arrives is just a plastic tote with air holes. It has been 4 days since I received my worms and they don't seem to be eating much. If I touch the top of the soil its like a tidal wave of movement. My concern is if I sniff about 6 inches from the dirt I smell a sour smell but I have to stick my nose this close to smell anything. My ph level says 7. However, I do see worms balled up in places plastered to the outside of the plastic clear tote. I investigated and all were alive. I have only found approximatelly 10 dead since arrival. Am I doing anything wrong? Should I be concerned about them not eating much? trying to escape rate on the 4 lbs. is maybe 4 worms everymorning on the sides. I keep the lights on and lid off during the day and put the lid on and turn lights off at night. Any advice is welcome. I received 4 lbs of European night crawlers four days ago. I placed them in mostiened Canadian Surphan peat moss. I moistened egg laying crumble down the center of the plastic tote on top of the dirt. The tote I have them in until my 5 tray worm farm arrives is just a plastic tote with air holes. It has been 4 days since I received my worms and they don’t seem to be eating much. If I touch the top of the soil its like a tidal wave of movement. My concern is if I sniff about 6 inches from the dirt I smell a sour smell but I have to stick my nose this close to smell anything. My ph level says 7. However, I do see worms balled up in places plastered to the outside of the plastic clear tote. I investigated and all were alive. I have only found approximatelly 10 dead since arrival. Am I doing anything wrong? Should I be concerned about them not eating much? trying to escape rate on the 4 lbs. is maybe 4 worms everymorning on the sides. I keep the lights on and lid off during the day and put the lid on and turn lights off at night. Any advice is welcome.

]]> By: Bentley http://www.redwormcomposting.com/reader-questions/worm-farming-business/comment-page-1/#comment-4082 Bentley Fri, 01 Feb 2008 21:05:13 +0000 http://www.redwormcomposting.com/reader-questions/worm-farming-business/#comment-4082 Wow Kami - sounds rough! You are absolutely right about trying to do something drastic to help save the situation (often ends up backfiring) - this is often a mistake that newcomers make whenever they see something going wrong with the bin. Really sorry to hear about the worms - it would definitely be tough to see them dying and know there isn't all that much you can do to help! Anyway, hopefully the remaining population (of tough worms) bounces back in a big way and you get back on track before too long! B Wow Kami – sounds rough!
You are absolutely right about trying to do something drastic to help save the situation (often ends up backfiring) – this is often a mistake that newcomers make whenever they see something going wrong with the bin.
Really sorry to hear about the worms – it would definitely be tough to see them dying and know there isn’t all that much you can do to help!

Anyway, hopefully the remaining population (of tough worms) bounces back in a big way and you get back on track before too long!

B

]]> By: Kami http://www.redwormcomposting.com/reader-questions/worm-farming-business/comment-page-1/#comment-4077 Kami Fri, 01 Feb 2008 17:27:19 +0000 http://www.redwormcomposting.com/reader-questions/worm-farming-business/#comment-4077 No, not your fault at all. I am not really sure what happened. It could have been too much food or too much heat. I lost some worms, but still have many strong, happy worms. I could not bear to pull all of the worms out of the bedding and start over, so many worms were doing fine and I did not want to stress them. Also, I could not imagine throwing the old bedding away. As a result, I am still losing a couple of worms, but I think the loss would have been greater if I had tried to pull the worms out (also, I would have lost a large number of cocoons). It is really stressful to see some of the worms die. I want to do something huge to save their lives, but a huge change would probably kill more worms. No, not your fault at all. I am not really sure what happened. It could have been too much food or too much heat. I lost some worms, but still have many strong, happy worms. I could not bear to pull all of the worms out of the bedding and start over, so many worms were doing fine and I did not want to stress them. Also, I could not imagine throwing the old bedding away. As a result, I am still losing a couple of worms, but I think the loss would have been greater if I had tried to pull the worms out (also, I would have lost a large number of cocoons).

It is really stressful to see some of the worms die. I want to do something huge to save their lives, but a huge change would probably kill more worms.

]]> By: Bentley http://www.redwormcomposting.com/reader-questions/worm-farming-business/comment-page-1/#comment-4074 Bentley Fri, 01 Feb 2008 15:27:29 +0000 http://www.redwormcomposting.com/reader-questions/worm-farming-business/#comment-4074 Hi Kami, You are right, starting a worm business IS definitely a gamble (although the same can be said for starting any business really). There seem to be two main schools of thought when it comes to improving your chances of success with a worm business. As I suggest, you can start small and take your time, thus limiting your risk and providing you with plenty of time to learn the ropes. OR, as some others might suggest, you can throw a ton of money into the endeavour, do all the necessary research and planning etc, and get started quickly and effectively. There are certainly arguments to be made for both sides. I'm really sorry to hear about your worms, Kami!! What happened? Hopefully it wasn't due to advice I've provided on the site! :shock: Hi Kami,
You are right, starting a worm business IS definitely a gamble (although the same can be said for starting any business really).
There seem to be two main schools of thought when it comes to improving your chances of success with a worm business. As I suggest, you can start small and take your time, thus limiting your risk and providing you with plenty of time to learn the ropes. OR, as some others might suggest, you can throw a ton of money into the endeavour, do all the necessary research and planning etc, and get started quickly and effectively. There are certainly arguments to be made for both sides.

I’m really sorry to hear about your worms, Kami!! What happened? Hopefully it wasn’t due to advice I’ve provided on the site!
:shock:

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