ON THE VINE

COMPOST WORM ONE OF THE PLANET’S KEY RECYCLERS

Worm farmers Martin Bratzel and Bodhi McSweeney of Meander in northern Tasmania now know that a pandemic can significantly boost business. Sales from their worm farm “more than doubled” last year, which the pair attribute to people spending more time at home.

“It was quite obviously connected with people . . . being drawn back into the garden,” Mr Bratzel said. “Many people decided to go into worm composting . . . and just discover what a great thing it is.”

Mr Bratzel and Ms McSweeney, who have been farming compost worms for more than 20 years, run the “biggest and only” commercial worm farm in Tasmania. Their worms live in ten beds measuring up to 30 metres, eat organic cow manure, and are harvested using their natural aversion to light.