After
becoming "disemployed" in 1996, Rouse Hill, NSW, resident and dog breeder
/ exhibitor / judge Lynn Butler decided to combine his carpentry abilities
with his knowledge and experience of compost worms to establish a small
business, Bookworm Farm, aimed at solving the problem of dog (and kitchen)
waste disposal.
For
almost twenty years the Butlers have been using compost worms to convert
their dog droppings to vermicompost, no mean task with up to ten large
dogs at times! Dog "poo", unlike farm animal manures, does not readily
break down or compost - it can take many months - and it also contains
many very unhealthy pathogens.
Getting
rid of it can be a nuisance at best, and a real problem in many cases.
The most common method at present would appear to be putting it in
the garbage, either directly or in plastic bags. This is not only
very unhygienic, it can also be extremely smelly, and its contribution
to our landfill problems can hardly benefit the environment. It is
estimated that in the Sydney Hills district alone, between 5 and 10
tonnes of dog faeces are put into the garbage system EACH WEEK! Whatever
the method, itšs the aspect of dog ownership we all like the least!
As
the Butlers discovered years ago, a simple solution to this dilemma
is the use of nature, in the form of the humble compost worm. Compost
worms consume half or more of their own weight per day in food (manure,
kitchen waste, etc) and moisture, converting it into worm castings
or vermicompost. At the same time, they are breeding, so the efficiency
of the system increases as it operates.
The
most practical and effective method of utilising worms to recycle
dog waste is by means of a timber bin made for the purpose. The worms
are installed at the bottom, and droppings are added daily from the
top. The widely-promoted multi-stage plastic "worm farms" are not
suitable for this process. Of course, almost all kitchen waste and
scraps can, and should, be fed to the worms. When the bin is almost
full, the castings are removed via the door in the front, and the
stack pushed down to fill the space.
Compost
worm dog and kitchen waste recycling systems are used and recommended
by well-known Veterinarian Dr Rob Zammit, who, like the increasing
number of people using them, considers this the most natural, cost-effective,
efficient, environmentally friendly and labour-saving solution to
the universal dog "poo" problem.
There
is virtually no smell, no health risk, no double handling, no garbage
bags or bins, no environmental damage, and the bonus of worm castings,
naturešs best soil improver and fertiliser. These treated pine bins
are available from Bookworm Farm in sizes to suit any situation. The
normal bin to suit a family with up to four large dogs stands about
one metre high, and is only 60cm square. They make the bins, grow
the worms and deliver and install them.
