Worms for Food and Silk at Carol's Worm Farm | Open Farm Week 2024

The worm farm will be raising a couple of hundred silkworms (Bombyx mori); they will be munching away on mulberry leaves and growing toward cocoon stage. Cocoons will be available for visitors to process and take home a bit of silk. There may even be a few moths that have emerged from the cocoons! In addition, mealworm (Tenebrio molitor) snacks will be available, and there will be an opportunity to observe all the life cycle stages of these beetles.

No cost or registration required!

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Being a person who is generally uncomfortable in wool clothing, but realizing that there should be local fiber as well as local food, Carol planted some mulberry trees in the early 2000s.  The trees provide leaves for silkworms and berries for the wildlife, and occasionally the resident humans!  Carol has raised several batches of silkworms over the years, and is learning the various ways of processing the cocoons.  This year she had a main ‘herd’ of 600 worms, and has another 200 in early stages which will be eating and growing well during Open Farm Week.

On the food side of things, Carol understands that in order to provide ourselves with local, sustainable protein, it is becoming prudent to consider adding insects to our diet.  While this is an ‘ewww’ concept for many, it is actually the normal way of eating in many parts of the world.  Carol raises mealworms, which generally people prefer to feed to their chickens, reptiles, and songbirds, but which are actually a great source of protein for people as well!  They require only some ‘meal’ (organic oats) and a source of hydration (organic carrots).  Because their skin, which they shed as they grow, contains chitin, their frass (poop) is an excellent fertilizer, helping plants trigger their natural defense mechanisms.  So they help grow the veggies that get eaten along with the protein they provide!