Jessica Theriault, who with Stephen Tuitt operate Arukah Worm Farm in South Stormont, is seen in their booth at the Long Sault Farmers Market on June 13. Thompson Goddard Photo
NEWINGTON – For the home gardener or those working in agribusiness, the search for an environmentally friendly fertilizer takes a person on a voyage of discovery. According to Stephen Tuitt, who with Jessica Theriault operates Arukah Worm Farm in South Stormont, the castings produced by Red Wiggler worms are the best natural fertilizer.
The business is located at 14831 Sandtown Road in Newington “right on our small family property, where we raise and care for our worms and produce our castings on-site.”
Tuitt mentioned there are between 300,000 to 500,000 Red Wigglers living in large containers on the farm. The worms are fed organic materials such as leaf compost, a dry grain mix, and organic food waste, with the castings ready for harvest every three weeks.
The Red Wigglers are not your average run of the mill worm which are found in gardens and used on occasions as fishing lures. This worm is a composting worm which turns organic matter into worm castings which are packed with microbial life and nutrients. They are able to convert half of their body weight into castings which are granular in nature.
The castings are collected, bagged and sold at farmer’s markets such as the Long Sault Farmer’s Market in South Stormont or by contacting the company through their Instagram and Facebook pages.
When asked about how their business began, Tuitt explained how after relocating to a small farm in the Newington area, the couple “developed a passion for gardening and landscaping.” After planting a large garden in the summer of 2023 which didn’t produce as expected, they scaled down their garden in 2024. When planting season arrived, they were provided by a friend some granular worm castings which were spread at the base and the top of their seedlings.
“The results were incredible. The plants grew 1.5 to 2 times larger than the previous year, producing vibrant, flavorful vegetables. We were convinced that it had to be the worm castings.” explained Tuitt. He continued how the worm castings offered “a sustainable solution that could help restore and improve soil health while enhancing plant growth – something chemical fertilizers simply can’t do.”
Tuitt explained that professional horticulturalists already knew about the use of worm castings as fertilizer, but wanted to share their knowledge with farmers and home-gardeners so they “grow healthier, more vibrant plants using a natural alternative to chemical fertilizers.
A challenged faced as the business began was “finding the courage to leave” the security of regular employment and taking the risk of “starting our own home-based business right here in Newington” with the two of them building it together from the ground up. After spending a significant amount of time planning, preparing and building the containers which were to become home to their worms.
They are “still in the early stages and navigating the realities of launching a business” but are seeing good responses and interest in their products. This could be due, in part, because of “a growing desire – especially in our community and beyond – to move away from harsh chemicals and overprocessed products in favour of natural, sustainable solutions.”
“It’s essential to identify the “why” behind your business – its deeper purpose beyond just making a profit.” Said Tuitt when asked about advice for people thinking about starting a business. He noted the couple “we realized that our true purpose is to serve others – our customers – in a way that’s mutually beneficial. We aim to add real value to their lives by solving a problem they may not have even known they had.” He continued how new business owners have to consider the long-term goals as well as the shorter-term goals, describing this as aiming “to be a steward of your business, managing its resources with integrity, fairness, and excellence. Think long-term, and let your actions be guided by purpose, not just profit.”
More information Arukah Worm Farm can be found on their social media pages as well as their website located at www.arukahwormfarm.ca.
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Carolyn Thompson Goddard, grew up in Chesterville and attended North Dundas District High School. After completing her BA in Political Science at Carleton University she has worked as a medical secretary and library technician. In 2020 she graduated from Algonquin College with a diploma in Journalism and has been a reporter and column writer for The Chesterville Record for over 10 years.
