Bio: Cole, Terry & Barbara – Raising Worms (1978)

Transcriber: Stan

Surnames: Cole

----Source: Owen Enterprise (Owen, Clark County, Wis.) 08 Mar 1978

Terry Cole and his wife Barbara of rural Withee have become involved in a new business, vermiculture or worm raising. They are joining the ranks of a slowly growing number of people throughout the nation who are raising worms, either part time occupation and for part time income, or in some cases a full time business.

The Cole’s became interested in vermiculture last fall after answering an ad in a newspaper. However, it took about four months before they finally made a decision to go into the business. First they studied about the possibilities and different companies that were seeking additional worm farmers. They went down to Berlin to Wisconsin Worm and Ecology and looked over the business.

In October they reserved their first 10 beds of worms, and set up the beds in a former turkey shed on the farm. There were about 100,000 worms in each bed, which is made up of a mixture of sawdust, straw, manure and some cardboard paper. Each bed is about three feet wide, about twelve long, and about ten to twelve inches deep. In about two months’ time each of the 10 beds were divided into two beds a piece, and the Coles now have 44 beds in all. In a year they hope to have expanded to about 120 beds, and then to about 240 beds when in full production.