You've heard that Old McDonald had a farm, and on his farm he had some pigs, cows and ducks — to name just a few of his critters. But this “Old McDonald” and his wife have a farm that is far from the ordinary nursery rhyme song. In fact, their herd may make some people wriggle and squirm in their shoes.

Mark and Arlita Purser are vermiculturists — they raise worms. A method of composting, raising and producing earthworms is a highly popular system among farmers and gardeners. The worms are used to break down waste, and their castings (or worm droppings) contain recovered nutrients that can be used as fertilizer or for soil conditioning, otherwise serving as an excellent natural plant food.

According to Arlita, she never thought she would pick up a worm. “They were always slimy creatures that were to be kicked aside,” she says. It was in 1995, while looking for an alternative venture to the poultry industry, the century-old family business, that the Pursers by chance came across a sign while driving down Highway 5 that read “Worm Growers Wanted.” It was an opportunity to put their existing resources of land and buildings to use, a business that would be less labor-intensive and a job that didn't require wearing a suit to work. Given that a license is not required to raise and sell worms, Mark and Arlita dug into a great deal of research prior to starting their farm, including visits to other farms and attending vermiculture seminars and conventions. But the true “schooling” required to make their venture a success came from hands-on trial and error.

How does one care for a worm? A vermiculturist's basic equipment should consist of a tractor, worm harvester, and a good irrigation and sprinkler system, as well as shelter from the sun and rain. Since neither extreme heat nor cold are conducive to a worm's preferred habitat, spring and early summer are the peak seasons for worm farmers, as spring season starts and gardeners rush to prepare their gardens. Mark and Arlita's advice on worms: “Give them a nice big pile of manure and they will turn it into worm castings, which are like gold for your plants. They tend to crawl away if there is too much rain, and if they get too hot, they die.” Otherwise “the worms just keep on doing their thing.”

Two sides of the business are covered on a typical day at The Worm Farm: the actual raising of the worms — which Mark does — and the administrative functions of selling, shipping and customer relations, headed by Arlita. Mark Purser's morning begins discussing the day's activity with his staff, and the rest of the time is used for feeding the worms, harvesting for shipping or just general care.

Just as Mark and Arlita have done, a worm farmer is able to make a living based on the size of the operation and the willingness to work and promote the worms. At the same time, vermiculturists must be able to manage the growth of their business according to the amount of time and energy they desire to invest, including the task of building clientele. The Pursers' source of income comes from several aspects of their farm, including the worms, the worm castings and a compost mix. The worms are shipped throughout the country for buyers who prefer to make their own compost at home, while the Pursers also make available the already-made castings or compost mix for farmers and gardeners.

Giving back to their community — not unlike their worms that give back to farmers and gardeners — Mark and Arlita also support organizations like the Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts and other local groups. The Worm Farm, located a few miles south of Chico, California, provides free tours to schools and youth groups to introduce the benefits of vermicomposting.

“The opportunity to help teach children and adults about the positive impact that worms have in a sound ecosystem is an important contribution that we can provide to the community, as well as offering schools an affordable and academically valid destination for field trips,” explains Arlita. “The tours provide the opportunity for young people to come close to nature and form new values and perspectives on the world around them.”

The Pursers plan to stick with the worm-farming profession as long as they are able. “It is an income stream that is not dependent on punching a time clock. We like worms, and we like the financial freedom they bring us!” says Arlita. This coming from the woman who refused to touch a worm.