“My worms seem to think that the hessian sacking that covers them is also food! Is this suitable for them to eat?” ~ Jennifer Dolan
Hi Jennifer,
Good news is that you don’t need to worry at all!
Hessian (AKA burlap) is a woven material made from Jute. Jute is a fibrous material made from the cellulose and lignin found in plants and vegetables. If Hessian didn’t cost more than the waste paper and cardboard that I usually use, I would probably opt for the Hessian material!
Hessian is great for a few reasons:
- It provides a great carbon source.
- It is made from natural plant material and so it is safely biodegradable.
- It is fibrous, which aids easier break down compared to say, a solid piece of wood.
- Its woven structure allows it to absorb water making it a great damp material. The structure also allow for good diffusion of oxygen (compared to paper which gets matted down).
You will most probably find the worms all embedded within the Hessian material all tangled up with the woven structure or just hanging from the bottom when you take the cover off my sources.
The only problem you will need to worry about is where to get your next source of Hessian to provide the covering!
