World’s first worm hotel in South Africa

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It’s a well known fact that us Brits are obsessed with our pets – and the Americans aren’t far behind, with doggy day care and even doga (dog yoga) becoming increasingly common sights – so when we go away on holiday of course we want our four legged friends to be looked after by the kennels or cattery well – but here’s a brand new idea- the world’s first worm hotel has opened its doors…

Apparently, the trend for keeping worms at home for composting reasons is a fast growing trend. I seem to have missed out on this one. It’s got something to do with us all desperately trying to lead a greener existence – and the worms can contribute towards that.

But these slithery little mites aren’t exactly what spring to mind when I hear the word ‘pet.’

Who knew that worms were on the rise as ‘eco-pets,’ and that owners worry about them so much when they go away on holiday that one woman has seized upon this gap in the market and opened the world’s first worm hotel in South Africa, to cater for worms left home alone.

Michelle Hattingh welcomes holidaying worms to her organic nursery in her hometown of East London on South Africa’s Eastern Cape.

She said, “Cats have catteries and dogs have kennels, but there was nowhere for people to leave their worms when they went on holiday.

“Owning worm farms is a trend that has grown really quickly. It may sound odd, but you do get to know your worms over time.

“For some people, the thought of leaving them by themselves is too much to bear - especially if they were going away for an extended holiday,” she added.

Worms eat food waste including leftover vegetable scraps, dust and even old clothes, making them the perfect alternative to a clothes recycling bank.

And the best bit? The worm hotel is free, with the only ‘payment’ Michelle takes is draining their urine, which is an organic plant hormone. I don’t want to delve any deeper into how that works.

I have just one question – how on earth do the owners identify their own worms when it’s time to go and collect them?

For more information on property in South Africa and the market in general, please visit http://south-africa.themovechannel.com/

-ENDS-

Notes to editors:

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