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Suitable Worm Food
Worms are omnivorous, eating both plants and meat tissue, so most organic waste can be composted. They will eat most kitchen vegetable/fruit scraps or peelings, shredded paper, e.g. handy towels, tea bags/leaves, coffee grounds/filters, bread scraps, leftover cereal, biscuit crumbs, even ice cream. Meat/fish scraps and dairy products may also be used but are not recommended as they can cause odours and also encourage flies.
Food to Avoid
Citric or acidic fruits such as oranges, lemons, grapefruit and kiwifruit are best avoided, or used sparingly, as these make the conditions too acidic for the worms.
Garden waste is generally unsuitable for these worms, also materials such as grass clippings may heat up quickly, which the worms will not appreciate, and it may even kill them. Garden waste is best dealt with by conventional composting methods.
Fats, cooking/salad oils and oily foods as these create slimy conditions, odour and fly problems. Worms breathe through their skin, and oily materials may prevent proper respiration.
Use of tough woody material is not recommended unless chopped into very small pieces.
Do not use onions, garlic or hot spicy food scraps.
Also don't add bones, glass, plastic, tin foil or other inert materials.
If adding aged (composted) manures to your wormery, avoid chicken manure as this tends to be too acidic for the worms.
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