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🪱 Soil Revival & Conditioning Program

By Big Falls Worm Farm

 

🌱 Program Overview

This program provides a step-by-step guide for home gardeners and farmers to reintroduce life into tired soilsusing composting worms and worm castings. By using living soil organisms, the program helps restore soil structure, improve water retention, increase organic matter, and boost microbial diversity.

 

📋 Program Components

1. Soil Assessment (Optional but Recommended)

  • Check for compaction, dryness, lack of organic matter, and poor plant growth.

  • Use simple tools: shovel test, soil moisture test, and visual inspection of soil life.

2. Recommended Worm Application Rates

Area SizeLight ApplicationStandard ApplicationIntensive Application

Small Garden Bed4 oz per 10 sq. ft.8 oz per 10 sq. ft.1 lb per 10 sq. ft.

Raised Bed1 lb per 15 sq. ft.1.5 lbs per 15 sq. ft.2 lbs per 15 sq. ft.

Backyard Garden1 lb per 100 sq. ft.1.5 lbs per 100 sq. ft.2 lbs per 100 sq. ft.

Farm Scale40 lbs per 2,000 sq. ft.60 lbs per 2,000 sq. ft.80 lbs per 2,000 sq. ft.

3. Worm Castings Application Rates

  • Top Dressing: 0.5–1 inch layer over garden beds or planting rows.

  • Soil Mixing: Mix 10–20% worm castings into the top 4–6 inches of soil.

  • Planting Holes: Add 1–2 handfuls per planting hole.

4. Step-by-Step Application Process

Home Gardeners:

  1. Lightly loosen the soil.

  2. Add moist carbon material (leaves, straw, mulch) to provide worm cover.

  3. Sprinkle pre-moistened worm castings as a top dressing.

  4. Gently release worms into shaded, covered areas.

  5. Water lightly to keep the soil damp, not soggy.

Small Farms:

  1. Disk or till lightly if compacted.

  2. Apply worm castings to planting rows or field areas.

  3. Release worms in rows, focusing on carbon-rich areas (mulch strips, compost piles, etc.).

  4. Maintain moisture and cover cropping to help worms establish.

  5. Avoid synthetic chemicals to protect the worm population.

5. Maintenance and Support

  • Moisture: Keep soil damp like a wrung-out sponge.

  • Food Source: Add organic matter regularly—mulch, leaves, compost.

  • Protection: Avoid tillage, pesticides, and synthetic fertilizers.

  • Monitoring: Check worm populations monthly.

 

🎁 Big Falls Worm Farm Starter Kits

You can package this into consumer-ready kits:

Kit TypeContentsTarget User

Small Garden Kit1 lb worms, 5 lbs castings, bedding mulchHome gardeners

Raised Bed Kit2 lbs worms, 10 lbs castings, carbon packRaised bed users

Backyard Kit5 lbs worms, 25 lbs castings, mulch bundleSmall yards

Farm Start Kit40 lbs worms, 200 lbs castings, carbon mulchSmall farms

Each kit can include:

  • Worm care guide

  • Soil conditioning instructions

  • Moisture management tips

  • Monthly maintenance checklist

 

📣 Educational Materials

  • Instructional Handouts
    "Soil Revival: A Home Gardener’s Guide to Worms & Castings"

  • Workshops & Demonstrations
    Partner with local garden clubs, nurseries, or farmers markets.

  • YouTube Series or QR Code Videos
    "How to Revive Your Soil: The Big Falls Method"

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