By the end of this lesson: you will distinguish healthy moisture from excess liquid.

A well-balanced wormery should not continuously produce large volumes of liquid. Food contains plenty of water, but bedding should hold most of it. A full sump often signals overwatering, wet feeds, compaction or blocked drainage.

Check sumps regularly. Remove trapped worms and improve conditions above rather than accepting losses as normal. Keep taps clear but do not leave them permanently open where pests can enter.

Leachate is not the same as deliberately brewed, aerated worm tea. Its contents vary depending on what has passed through the bin. Do not market or use it casually. At Farmer Level, the safest approach is to prevent excess liquid and treat any collected leachate cautiously.

Top Tip – Complete a four-zone environmental check: top, feeding pocket, centre/lower layer and sump. Record moisture, structure, smell and corrective action.