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Field Notes from Arizona Worm Farm 🌱
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A behind the scenes look at the conference, plus practical notes you can use at home.
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"Start small, but start, way before you think you are ready. Don't be afraid to make mistakes, just make little ones until you are confident you can go big."
— Zach Brooks, founder of Arizona Worm Farm
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Hello worm friend!
I am sharing my Field Notes from the Arizona Worm Farm Conference 2026, and the biggest message I heard (and needed) was simple:
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A calm bin beats a fast bin.
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The welcome and the vibe
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Me with Nancy Brooks. The warm welcome and the goodies.
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When I arrived, Nancy greeted me right away and walked me to a welcome table with a beanie, a notebook, and a reusable coffee cup that I am now using as my daily coffee mug.
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Then we stepped into the outdoor classroom area. I felt like I was entering worm Comic Con: a bunch of worm people hyped to learn, trading stories, swapping tips, and cheering each other on. I found my people.
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The farm tour
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Me with Julia and Miguel geeking out about worms inside the breeding area.
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We toured the farm and saw the wedge system, sifting, the breeder section, and the brewing process. I met Julia and Miguel from the breeding team, and I loved how excited they were to talk worm care with me.
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The whole tour reinforced the same theme: steady systems win.
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A quick reminder from Taylor's story
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Me with Taylor in front of the Arizona Worm Farm welcome sign.
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Taylor (Worm Lady Recycles) reminded me of something beginners need to hear: you do not need a perfect setup to start. You need consistency and a clear purpose.
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Steve Churchill, founder of Urban Worm Company.
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Steve was mid-presentation when we got interrupted by hail. Freezing, unexpected, now a core memory. The team kept us warm and ended the day with pizza because apparently worms come with weather adventures.
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Zach’s dad joke of the weekend: “What do you call a Mexican inch worm?… an Inch-a-lota.” 😄
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My biggest takeaways
- Start with what you have. Stability first, not volume.
- Feed small, observe, adjust.
- The “right way” is the one you can maintain.
One simple next step
If you are new, choose a small setup and commit to a steady pace this week. That is how you build a worm bin that feels calm instead of stressful.
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Watch the setup session
Quick question
What would help you most right now? Reply with one word:
SETUP / FEEDING / SMELL / PESTS / HARVEST
Talk soon,
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Ivette Zamora Cruz
Happy Worm
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P.S. Zach, Nancy, and the entire Arizona Worm Farm team, thank you for the warmth and care you showed us. I look forward to coming back next year.
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