The Urbalive Compact Worm Farm mirrors the natural processes of a forest floor.
Leaves fall, microbes begin to digest them, and surface-dwelling worms (called epigeic species) feed at the top, creating rich humus below.

The Tray System:

• Two stackable trays with drain holes sit above a liquid reservoir.
• Start with the coir bedding and worms in the bottom tray, covered by the moisture mat.
• Add food waste to the top tray – the worms migrate up through the holes to find fresh food.
• As they feed, older waste below breaks down into dark, crumbly vermicompost.
• When the upper tray is full, swap it to the bottom and harvest the mature compost.
• Drain leachate via the tap weekly; dilute 1 : 10 for ornamental plants.

Why It Works:
Worms need oxygen, moisture and surface food – not depth. The Urbalive’s design keeps conditions aerobic and humid without smells.

Your Composting Crew:

• Eisenia fetida (Tiger Worms) and Dendrobaena veneta (Dendro Worms) – UK surface-feeders that eat half their weight daily and double populations every two months.
• Native or naturalised species found in manure heaps and leaf litter – perfectly adapted for wormeries.
• Garden “lobworms” (Lumbricus terrestris) are deep-burrowers and don’t thrive in these conditions – that’s why Wiggly worms work so well.

Continuous Flow = Continuous Compost:
The worms move upward as they feed, leaving finished compost behind – so you harvest without disturbing them. Add extra trays to scale up output.

At Lower Blakemere Farm in Herefordshire, we farm regeneratively – building soil life, wildlife habitat and carbon in equal measure.
Our worms help pre-compost cattle manure and turn it into humus that feeds our grass and seed crops.
By buying from us, you’re supporting a real British farm committed to closing loops and sharing knowledge.

Your purchase supports:

• Pollinator corridors and hedgerow restoration.
• Soil-health innovation and Bokashi research.
• Educational projects with schools and community gardens.

We use the same Grey Urbalive worm farms in our own farm kitchen to deal with daily waste – proof that it works beautifully in real-life conditions.

Each year UK households produce millions of tonnes of food waste – much of it going to landfill where it releases methane (84 × more potent than CO₂).
A wormery eliminates that waste stream and turns it into fertility instead.

Environmental Gains:

• Cuts greenhouse gas emissions.
• Keeps nutrients in local circulation.
• Reduces fertiliser dependency and chemical run-off.

Soil Benefits:

• Vermicompost improves soil texture, water retention and microbial diversity.
• Adds stable humus that locks carbon into the ground.
• Feeds plants slowly and naturally with N-P-K and trace elements.

The Science Bit:
Each teaspoon of worm compost contains over a billion living micro-organisms – bacteria, fungi and enzymes that work with plant roots to boost growth and immunity.
This is what we mean by living compost.

Fun Fact: Charles Darwin called worms “nature’s ploughs” and proved they build soil faster than any other organism.

Getting Started:
1️⃣ Rehydrate the coir bedding.
2️⃣ Add your 500 g worms (or redeem voucher).
3️⃣ Cover with the moisture mat and lid.
4️⃣ Let them settle 2–3 days before feeding.
5️⃣ Feed small amounts regularly – they’ll speed up as they multiply.

What They Love: Fruit & veg scraps, banana skins, apple cores, tea bags (plastic-free), coffee grounds, crushed eggshells, paper & cardboard.
Avoid: Too much citrus, onion or garlic; meat, fish or dairy unless pre-Bokashied; oily foods in bulk.

Maintenance Tips:

• Keep moist (not wet). Mist lightly if dry.
• Add Lime Mix fortnightly to balance pH.
• Sprinkle Worm Treat monthly to absorb excess moisture.
• Fluff compost for airflow and drain liquid weekly.
• Harvest compost every 6–8 weeks – it’s ready when dark, crumbly and earthy.

Temperature & Placement: 15–25 °C is ideal. Keep indoors or sheltered; avoid direct sun or frost. Use Extra-Thick Moisture Mat in winter.

Educational & Community Use:
Schools use this kit to teach biology and eco-literacy – children love seeing waste turn to soil.
Workplaces use them for staff engagement and zero-waste credentials.

Wiggly Tips:

• Dilute worm leachate 1 : 10 for houseplants and ornamentals.
• Brew aerated worm tea from finished compost for vegetables – a living microbial tonic.
• Replace moisture mats every few months – they’re fully compostable.
• Pair with a Bokashi Kit to handle all food waste and feed fermented scraps to your worms.