Michael Barton-Harborne MBICSc

A few words from me I think.  Well, im not a tree hugger or eco warrior and not one for shouting out the reasons why we should be recycling more.  Though I will admit that I will take every opportunity I can to tell others just what an impact a few small changes can make when others are doing the same.  Thats pretty much what this business is about.  Encouraging as many households as possible to adopt a simple change in waste disposal practces - that collectivily - with many households, carries a major reduction in landfill requirements and needs.  Thats why it is our policy to pay households to do so!

We are a bit slow on the uptake in the UK.  Canada for instance has a very robust policy of households recycling - just about everything! The same goes for the States and some parts of Europe.  I've no doubts that the practices we promote would be seen as the norm in years to come.

A four year old boy came up with the name Wonder Wigglers and being super horoes mad, we had to adopt the garish colours - Always gets a laugh when I explian that to others. Yet, looking past the name and logo, the science of recycling using worms is nothing new and trusted as an ethical practice for many a year - We just made is more availabable to mainstream.

I am the one who is more than happy to jump into a worm bed and check on the little critters, and keen to see them safely installed at their new homes. Yes, I have been in the beds with a full suit on before now - you'd be amased in how many times a day I change from one outfit to another! Very tiring!

I stumbled into farming worms purely by accident - Then being a manager of a free range egg farm In Northamptonshire,  I noticed that there were alot of worms near the sheds after a downpour and amased at thier numbers.  A little (LOT) of research and found out about the worms and their value to the landscape.  A lot more reasearch later, I found the perfect worm to breed, with the hope of supplying them to fisherman and exotic live feed.  Now, none of our worms go to such ventures, too valuable to see them go on a hook!

I have been to many a landfill site and they are certainly well managed and they do carry a policy to repair, replenish and encourage the landscape around them.  All complianed at the amount of food waste that was being thrown away, this growing more in recent years and the hazard it posed to the environment - Then entered a solution. Worms!  Not for the landfill sites, too hostile for worms - but to the source - Homes.

After many hours researching - talking to farmers, breeders and suppliers, it was clear that the market was there.  More late nights and the plans were already beginning to bear fruit.  Started very small then worked up.  Invested £1,000.00 in buying worms and started the first worm bed. My first 100kilo of worms were soon growing and needed more space and experimented with food types and mixes - Some lessons were very hard to learn and after a serious flood at the farm, I thought much of my stock and breeding beds were destroyed - no! - Worms are very hardy and will move away from water - they can even live in it for hours if need be! No noticable loss of worms, but the worm beds had to be redesigned.

Whilst others were encouraging me to sell my excess stocks - i kept them and set to a robust breeding programme.  The worm beds grew and soon moved on to other farms wre land was rented to house outside beds.  Every single spare penny I had, went straight back in to build new, more structured beds - continuinly breeding aged stocks and seperated eggs and young as far as possible for indoor rearing.

PAGE STILL UNDER CONSTRUCTION _ HAVE FUN WITH THE SPELLING MISTAKES!!