Earthworms are also essential on a Homa farm. Vermiculture is the culture of the earthworm usually associated with agriculture. Installation and management of vermiculture with the methods of Homa organic farming promotes the reproductive activity of red earthworms in summer and winter.
- Vermicompost means compost created by the biological activity of earthworms.
- Earthworms are biological indicators of soil fertility.
- Soils with earthworms support healthy populations of micro- and macro-organisms such as bacteria, fungi, insects, and host of others that are essential for sustaining healthy soil.
Advantages of Earthworms
- Earthworms are burrowing organisms which improve soil structure.
- Earthworms increase the population of beneficial microbes.
- Improve soil pH.
- Decompose organic matter.
- Promote soil formation.
- Increase soil fertility.
- Increase water holding capacity of the soil.
Within Homa atmosphere, all creatures become more efficient and help maintain the balance of the eco-system. A favorable micro-climate is created for the development of earth worms.
- In less than one month the number of earth worms may double in Homa atmosphere. Normally this takes from 3 to 4 months.
- With Homa technology we obtain minimum 12 harvests per year. Some Homa farms have reported from 17 to 18 harvests in a year. With conventional method, maximum harvests are 8 per year.
- Food requirement for a productive nucleus of earthworms of 5,000 to 7,000 specimens, contained in a bed of 1m x10m, is about one ton of raw material per 3 weeks. This amount may vary according to location, temperature, etc.
- We need to be careful about what we feed them: no citrus, onion, animal droppings other than cow dung; and no dairy products.
- To ensure that the bed does not become anaerobic, regularly turn the bed so worms can breathe.
- Moisture is important too; the beds should be damp all the time, but not flooded.
- The correct temperature is also important for worms. In climates with cold winters it is recommended to create a protective environment to house the worms preventing frost problems and in wet winters a roof structure is needed. Similarly in climates with hot summers, a simple roof structure can be created to prevent overheating. Worms can survive up to 40 degrees C, however in such high temperatures they do not function properly. The ideal temperature is between 20-30 degrees C.
Homa Therapy Treatment for worms and vermicompost
- Regularly sprinkle ash in the compost.
- Perform Agnihotra near the worm beds facility.