Arizona Worm Farm

01/10/2026

There may be a worldwide worm shortage of worms - but not at the Arizona Worm Farm. We are leading the efforts to "Use Worms, not Chemicals" to grow food.

01/04/2026

We use insects to turn food Waste into delicious eggs. Want to hear our story (and feed some chickens and learn how we breed four million worms a year)? VIP tour next Saturday morning.

Details are here: https://www.facebook.com/events/1810957256973410

01/02/2026

Do this one thing for a better garden: add worms!

If you ONLY do one thing: add an automatic watering system. But then add worms.

Here's why:

Worms create nutrient-rich fertilizer (castings), improve soil structure by aerating it with tunnels for roots, water, and air, and help decompose organic matter, leading to healthier plants and better drainage. They act like natural tillers, mixing nutrients and improving soil tilth, making it easier for plants to grow strong and deep.

Key benefits of worms in your garden:

Fertilize Soil: Worms eat dead organic matter and excrete nutrient-rich "castings," which are packed with nitrogen and essential nutrients for plants.

Improve Soil Structure: Their tunnels break up compacted soil, increasing aeration (oxygen) and improving water infiltration, preventing waterlogging.

Enhance Nutrient Cycling: They process organic debris (leaves, roots) and return nutrients to the soil in a form plants can readily use.

Promote Root Growth: Tunnels provide pathways for roots to grow deeper and access water and nutrients more easily.

Decompose Organic Matter: Worms break down thatch and dead plants, turning them into valuable soil amendments.

We have all you need available now!

Nervous about worms - add castings (ours are fresh!) or take a class https://www.facebook.com/events/2682716325416921

01/01/2026

If you are getting your Spring seed starts planted this weekend (and you should to be ready to have them in the ground outside on February 15!), consider coming in on Friday or Saturday for a gallon of Active Worm Casting Tea. In test after test, we have proven that the microbes in our Tea will drive higher germination and lower disease incidence in your seeds. You will have stronger root systems and healthier starts if you add tea early.

We brew Worm Casting Tea every Friday and Saturday at the farm. $9 per gallon, $1 off if you bring your own container.

12/28/2025

My wife likes decorating with Dried Pomegranates. Dried pomegranates are non-perishable and can be preserved indefinitely with proper care. But, not on your trees.

Do us all a favor (and yourself and all your neighbors). Remove any remaining fruit from your pomegranate trees today AND DON'T compost them. This applies equally to any fruit that has fallen and is still under the trees.

Fruit left on pomegranate trees become safe homes for next year's leaf footed bugs - the absolute scourge of pomegranate season.

I recommend this outstanding post about Integrated Pest Management (https://growinginthegarden.com/get-rid-of-leaf-footed-bugs/) - if you only do one thing, do what Growing in the Garden recommends in Step 4: Reduce overwintering sites and spring build-up.

A footnote for those of you that are truly expert composters: if your compost pile heats to over 140 degrees for at least three days, you will effectively eliminate these bugs and you are welcome to compost them. If you are not getting that heat - you really should treat these fruits as waste and dispose of them away from your garden.

12/24/2025

I am trying to eat healthier and in my research I learned a new word a couple of months ago. Anthocyanin.

Its a chemical found in plants (in the flavonoid family of phytochemicals). But, ignore that....

Said simply, its what that makes red, purple, blue, and black colors in fruits, vegetables, and flowers. And, when you eat it, it protects your cells from damage, supports heart and brain health, and may fight inflammation and cancer.

Turns out, certain tomatoes can be full of Anthocyanin. One more thing you should know about me - I only eat healthy if it also tastes good.

Good thing these guys are delicious. Especially these four:

Mochi - A tomato with an entirely new texture.
Unique cherry that does not burst in the mouth and evokes a gumdrop-like eating experience.

Indigo Kumquat
High-yielding plants produce orange fruits with dark indigo-colored shoulders. Very sweet flavor with a surprising, tart kick of acidity.

Bronze Torch
A delicious, small saladette in the Juliet size class. Fruits avg. 1 1/2 oz. and are a beautiful shade of brick red with bronze stripes.

Indigo Cherry Drops
Tasty Indigo type. Indigo Cherry Drops has the same striking dark blue anthocyanin coloration and red flesh, Indigo Cherry Drops is a vigorous indeterminate. Yield and flavor are much improved, with larger clusters of 1–2 oz. fruit.

We will have starts available for you in February. Want to taste them now? We will nibble a few on our VIP tour next Friday. We take a 90 minute stroll through the farm, learning about worms and Black Soldier Fly Larvae and gardening....and tasting stuff if its ripe. Right now, that is oranges and cherry tomatoes and super spicy peppers.

Details and signups are here: https://www.facebook.com/events/1993503897883125

12/23/2025

Problem, meet solution.

I have been more than a little surprised by how hard it is to keep all sorts of pests and rodents from eating our hard earned produce. Our farm dog, Guy, is not able to reach the upper areas of our barn - but the rats sure can. Each time we encounter a problem, we find a solution. This one is very cute! Luna should resolve this issue in a couple of days.

12/22/2025

17 Nutrients. That’s All! (you are going to want to turn the sound up for this one).....

We test regularly to ensure our Growing in the Garden Raised Bed Mix has an abundance of all the essential elements your plants need to grow.

I will be posting a more detailed, nerd version of why microbes are so important - and why you should add worms or worm castings to your garden. But for now, these 17 plus water and sun......that's it.

12/19/2025

Newsflash: the warm weather and Mistflowers have kept the butterflies hanging around. Come visit them - they want to show off for you.

Grow Gregg’s mistflower in the low desert. Planting, sun, water, frost care, pruning, and why Queens love it in fall.

12/19/2025

Tomorrow is going to be a beautiful day in the Valley - why don't you come down to the farm and learn to garden?

I love growing fresh herbs - rosemary may be one of my favorites. They are super easy to grow and add fresh taste to everything I cook. And, I never have to remember to buy herbs in the store - they are right out my back door.

Plus, these work great in containers on your patio or on your window sill.

We have a few openings in a class tomorrow morning. Your $25 class fee includes you and a guest, plus four seasonally correct starts, worm castings, and discounts on tea. Details are here: https://www.facebook.com/events/1551578272820925