Profile: Swanepoel worms his way ahead
October 1, 2009
By SAMANTHA ENSLIN-PAYNE
FAILURE is simply the opportunity to begin again, this time more intelligently, said Henry Ford.
Pieter Swanepoel, a self-taught earthworm expert from Craighall in Johannesburg, kept this in mind when he turned his knowledge into a small enterprise selling wormeries to households for the recycling of organic kitchen waste to produce garden fertiliser.
Earthworm Buddies was born two years ago after Swanepoel's business of growing orchids and selling the blooms to a florist failed when his customer sold the business and the new owner found an alternative supplier.
As a quadriplegic Swanepoel had found it difficult to find work that did not require him to do regular office hours. He was assisted in setting up the business by Moffat Dube and Roy Moyo, who made the wormeries and fed and maintained all the breeding bins.
At the time that he was researching this venture, Swanepoel said, few people were doing wormeries at the time. He said there were now dozens of companies offering similar products, but he advised consumers to be aware of those people who were in it to make a quick buck and gave no back-up service.
Swanepoel's initial attempts were not that successful. After buying a bin from a supplier in Greytown he "accidentally killed the worms after two weeks". But he rectified his mistakes after doing internet courses and research on vermicomposting (making compost through worm waste) and vermiculture (growing of worms).
The kits are sold for between R550 to R850, depending on the size, which ranges from a 56 litre bin to a 120 litre bin.
Each bin sold included the appropriate amount of worms and was set up for the buyer, Swanepoel said. Also available were rectangular units, a multi-bin system and a bulk composter (all including worms). The bins were provided with full detailed instructions and telephonic support was available.
The worms could be fed a combination of crushed egg shells, torn used teabags, used coffee grounds, raw vegetable cuttings and any cooked vegetables, all mixed with some newspaper. But no garlic, onions or citrus fruit.
"If the bin is run properly the worms will multiply quickly," Swanepoel said. Within four to six months vermicompost (earthworm casts) would be produced.
Swanepoel said he planned to expand his business by showcasing the wormeries at trade shows and markets.
|
|
