Natural fiber substrate, carbon-rich material and startup

For simplicity and the quality of the results. With the natural fiber substrate, there's no more cutting up cardboard: each time you add food scraps, simply add the same volume of substrate as scraps. Developed by our farm, this mix is chemical-free, with a neutral pH of 7.

It holds water well (12.8 fl oz per quart, or 400 ml per liter), limits excess moisture, and gives you very light, airy finished vermicompost of high quality. Available in 2.6- and 6.6-gallon (10- and 25-liter) bags.

According to the product sheet, the natural fiber substrate is made of bark, leaves, and wood, with no chemicals. Its characteristics:

• dry matter: 20%;
• pH (water): 7;
• conductivity: 100 mS/m;
• water retention: 12.8 fl oz per quart (400 ml per liter).

Its neutral pH makes it a suitable environment for composting worms.

Yes. In the garden, the natural fiber substrate helps loosen heavy clay soils, enriches them with organic matter, and improves drainage, which encourages healthy root growth. It can also be used when seeding or sodding a lawn.

It also works well as bedding for reptiles or turtles, spread over the floor of the terrarium. For these uses, as for your worm composter, choose the 2.6-gallon (10 L) or 6.6-gallon (25 L) bag depending on the area you need to cover.

Each time you feed your worms, add the same volume of natural fiber substrate as food scraps to the active tray: for a bowl of peels, add a bowl of substrate. Stir gently to aerate.

This balance between carbon-rich and nitrogen-rich materials prevents fermentation, bad odors, and excess liquid. It's a convenient alternative if you don't always have cardboard on hand, or if you don't want to cut it into small pieces.

Moisten the natural fiber bedding before adding your worms: when you squeeze a handful, only one or two drops should come out. Add water gradually, using a spray bottle or just a little water at a time, so you don't waterlog the bedding.

Then fill the first tray halfway, add your worms along with the bedding they were shipped in, and wait a few days before feeding them.

All our tips: How to start your worm composter, step by step