The Big Kumara

"Hurry up and take the foto"

This big kumara (aka 'sweet potato') was one of several dug up from a garden in Tauranga which uses liquid vermicast last weekend. We can't be sure how much credit to give the worm juice but this giant of the Convolvulaceae family has some impressive statistics:

• Circumference 45cm
• Length 27cm
• Width 15cm
• Weight 2.4kg

By the way, a recent carbon-dating study indicates that of the ancient middens found so far which contain varieties of kumara, those from Papua New Guinea appear to be significantly older than those from Central or South America - no real surprise there

Anybody got a good recipe?

The big kumara with fruit


The big kumara with bottle of wine


Waiting for dinner

Scion Vermi-Research Trial at Onepu

Worms mating on Michael's hand

The research site at Onepu (near Kawerau) was established last year by Dr. agr. Michael Quintern of Scion. It contains 18 plots that are being used to trial combinations of different biosolids toward optimisation of the vermicomposting process around primary sector 'waste-streams'

I'm loving it - worms getting into a trial plot containing mulched tomato plants

This used to be lake weed now its premium fertiliser

Don't mess with WormPower!

Large adult worms and their egg capsules

Hera holding some biosolid waste from the pulp & paper industry

Covering for the 18 trial plots

Michael explaining to Helen and Ben about the different trial plots

Wormtech NZ Ltd

Ben Banks of EBOP contemplating the specially designed worm harvester

Wormtech began in 1999 following the desire by Greg Walker - one of the founders of the innovative company - for a career change from farming. Located near Te Teko in the eastern Bay of Plenty, Wormtech now have more than 2km of vermicomposting windrows which are fed around 10 tonnes of tutae from local piggeries each week

Initially the focus was on producing worms for sale rather than liquid fertiliser or vermicast. Wormtech have since established a partner company that offers liquid fertiliser services for orchard and pasture throughout the Bay of Plenty via soil aeration technology

A point of interest was that the early windrows contained a mixture of both red and tiger worms but over time the red worms have nearly all disappeared whereas the tiger worm population continues to thrive

Thanks Greg for your excellent korero and cheers Michael for organising the trip - WormPower!

Greg Walker of Wormtech showing us around the vermicomposting windrows


Wormtech have established more than 2km of vermicomposting windrows


Worms feasting on fresh tutae-poaka laid out every Monday and Thursday on the windrows


After being processed by the worms the vermicast is left in the windrow until required


Greg with some of the packaged worms ready for their trip to new homes in Auckland

Thankyou letters from Rotokawa School

Whenua.biz recently helped sponsor a worm digestor as an environmental education resource for Rotokawa School. We received these cool thankyou letter from the kids...