Where to buy red worms in California
Need to buy red worms in California?
Not sure where to buy worms in California? Thankfully, you live in one of the few states in the US that has several places to purchase worms. You have a rich network of worm sellers and can search in your backyard for worms. Of course, you could always buy worms from our friends over at Meme's Worms who sells high quality composting worms.(clicking this link helps support the website, thanks in advance!).
Today I will cover some familiar places to purchase worms, some free options, buy local opportunities, and online sellers.
Let’s get started.
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California Red Worm Sellers
Contact Fishing And Tackle Stores
A fishing supply store is the most common place to buy worms in California. Many people forget about checking out the local bait and tackle store because they sell worms as food to attract fish.
When contacting the fishing shop, you can ask which types of worms they sell. Sometimes they carry red worms and earthworms.
I’ve heard many stories where people have called the shop before arriving. They show up at the store ready to purchase their worms. Buy a box and open it at home to find that it looks like a mix of worms.
This is understandably frustrating. The good news is that, generally, all worms make good vermicomposters. People prefer red wigglers because they can eat a lot for their relatively small size.
Thankfully, all types of worms compost your food but are not as efficient as our friend, the red wiggler.
Check Farm And Garden Supply Businesses
You may be surprised to hear you can buy worms in California at farm and garden stores.
As people look for natural alternatives to synthetic fertilizers, more people consider composting. Gardeners use worms to speed up the composting process and make the final compost more biologically diverse. Many farm and garden stores carry worms for release in outdoor piles. Often these are worms that are regionally specific and native to your region.
Contact your local farm, garden, or nursery to see if they are selling compost worms. Unlike the bait and tackle shops, it is more likely that the farm and garden will better sort the worms. You can often purchase worms by the hundreds or thousands.
Dig in the Dirt
Finally, one of the easiest ways to get worms today is to go outside and dig in the dirt. This tip may not be helpful for those living in southern California during the summer. However, grabbing a shovel and a bucket can help you start today.
One of the reasons I love this method is:
- It’s free
- You use native worms (releasable back in nature)
- Harms fewer worms in the process
- Includes beneficial bacteria to help your worms get established
You will also likely grab some dirt and the worms as you dig. The soil can help establish some beneficial bacteria and insects in your bin. This will help your bin’s ecosystem and help items decompose faster.
If you happen to live near a farm, it is common for piles of animal manure to be rich with compost worms. Contact your local farmer if you don’t have dirt or land to dig. Ask them if they have a manure or compost pile where you could grab a shovel full of worms.
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Local Online Sellers
Social Media Marketplaces
Social media platforms and sites like Craigslist, eBay, and Etsy all offer opportunities to buy worms from people in your town or within California. If you can’t dig, walk, bike or take a short drive to get some worms – buying online is the next best option.
Let’s start by talking about social media marketplaces. Websites like Facebook contain hundreds of online marketplaces, yardsale, and freecycle pages. You could even search for local composting and vermicomposting pages. These are excellent places to get worms and advice along your journey.
A Facebook marketplace is the way I started my vermicomposting bin. I wrote that I would trade a bag of coffee for a bucket of worms. A local woman had a vibrant outdoor compost pile and gave me a shovel full of worms and compost for free. It was lovely to meet another person passionate about worm composting and helping others get started.
Buy Worms In CA On Craigslist, eBay, and Etsy Sellers
Here are some quick links to your local Craigslist pages for different regions in California. Simply find the location closest to you and search for: ‘red worms’, ‘composting worms’, ‘red wigglers’, or ‘Eisenia fetida.’
Plus, sellers on eBay and Etsy have a list of reviews to help you make your decision on where to buy your worms.
You can read everyone’s reviews and make sure that you are
Worm Stores In California
Support A Local Business
Good news if you want to start composting at home in California. If you prefer picking up your worms in person, you have a few options. I bet there are a handful of other formal businesses selling worms, but I could not find their website.
If you sell worms or know a place that sells worms, please submit it below.
The Worm Farm
9033 Esquon Road
Durham, CA 95928
(530) 894-1276
McCrawls
6029 Orange Ave
Cypress, CA 90630
(714) 220-9282
Massive Wiggle
6155 Lakeville Highway
Petaluma, CA 94954
(707) 685-3554
Fig Earth Supplies
3577 N. Figueroa St.
Los Angeles, CA 90065
(323) 224-3938
Are you a worm seller located in California?
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