Where to buy red worms in Wisconsin
Estimated reading time: 5 minutes
Wisconsin is home to many places to buy compost worms. Today, I aim to help you find small sellers and support your local worm community.
If you want to save yourself the search, you could purchase worms from our friends and Meme’s Worms (clicking this link helps support our website).
Wisconsin has a few different places to buy compost worms. Let’s jump in.
Where To Buy Worms In Wisconsin
Dig In Leaf Litter (The Free Method)
First, let’s jump into the free and natural method, digging in the dirt. This method allows you to collect local worms that you can release back in nature if you don’t care for vermicomposting. It’s also 100% free and can help anyone get started without any money.
My advice is to wait after prolonged soaking rainfall and then go to your local forest, wooded area, or park. Worms breathe through their skin, and if the ground is soaked, they can’t breathe. They will often wiggle to the surface under leaves or, sometimes, the sidewalk. You need to check these areas and collect the worms you find.
This is one of my favorite methods because
- You use native worms (releasable back in nature)
- It’s free
- Fun and kid-friendly
- Harms fewer worms in the process
- Includes beneficial bacteria to help your worms get established
Point five talks about beneficial bacteria. As a vermicomposter, you may think only worms exist in your worm bin. However, it is home to unknown numbers of fellow insects, microbes, and bacteria. There is no need to be alarmed. They are helpers.
Collecting your worms outdoors allows you to grab a small amount of soil. Just a note- do not fill your compost bin with dirt- use worm bedding. The soil and dirt crumbles can help your worm bin get a jump start on building its ecosystem.
Contact Bait Stores
Next, if you’re not interested in digging in the dirt, you can always contact your local fishing and bait shop. Many people overlook bait and tackle stores because they sell worms for fish to eat. However, finding great compost worms here is more common than you think.
Call ahead and ask for Eisenia fetida, also known as tiger worms or red worms. These are all names for the same worm, our friendly compost worm. Another variety that you can use is blue worms.
Some bait shops mix red and blue worms because they are relatively the same size. This is just fine for vermicomposting purposes. Both worms are great composters and prefer to live in colonies.
Check The Garden Nursery
Another typical local place that may carry worms is the farm and garden store. As chemical fertilizer prices rise and awareness about environmental issues, people turn to natural fertilizers. Worms have elegantly fit this need for many people, and garden stores carry them.
Worms break down, aerate the soil and feed plants. You can release worms into the ground. You could also put the worms in a bin, collect their compost, and make compost tea, adding beneficial bacteria to your garden.
Local Online Sellers
Buy Worms In WI On Craigslist, eBay, and Etsy Sellers
If you don’t want to call around and just want to find someone selling worms, you can always check online marketplaces. You would be surprised how many people sell compost worms on Craigslist, eBay, Etsy, or Social Media Marketplaces.
- Appleton-Oshkosh-FDL
- Duluth / Superior
- Eau Claire
- Green Bay
- Janesville
- Kenosha-Racine
- La Crosse
- Madison
- Milwaukee
- Northern WI
- sheboygan
- Wausau
If you want your worms mailed to you, you can always check outlets like eBay or Etsy. Both websites offer you the option to filter your results by location. You can enter your zip code and search for resources within 25 miles or less. If you can’t find any worms for sale near you, expand your search and try again.
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If you’re a social media user, you can also be sure to check your yard, garage, and trade-only pages. Put out on the boards that you are looking to buy worms and the total amount you want to spend. Many people will give you a pretty great deal on worms.
Worm Stores In Wisconsin
Here are a few stores that you can check out.
Carney’s Crawlers LLC
1008 Randolph Dr.
Appleton, WI 54913
Wisconsin Redworms
2155 E. Preston Drive
Richland Center, WI 53581
wiwormfarm@yahoo.com
608.647.2008
Curbside Composter
4113 Sunnyside Crescent
Madison, WI 53704
608-338-4798
Add a website
If you know of other websites to directly buy red worms in Wisconsin, please share them below. Our goal is to make it easier for vermicomposters to get started.
