Homeowner Counters High Taxes with Suburban Worm Farm

A New Jersey suburban homeowner is taking on high property taxes and a bearish economy with an unusual agricultural product. Like millions of homeowners nationwide, the taxes on Ken Chiarella's Middlesex County suburban home were outrunning his ability to pay. Chiarella's creative solution was to make his  home pay the high taxes – and more. This year, he estimates Internet sales of his squirming product will top $800,000.

Chiarella, President of Worm Man's Worm Farm, says that he started his farm to make a little extra money to pay his New Jersey property taxes. New Jersey hosts some of the highest property tax rates in the nation.

He began with $150 by growing small amounts of live crickets, mealworms and red worms for resale on the internet, and quickly grew as his order volume swelled. "We made $1500 the first year, $40,000 the second year, $150,000 the third year and we've been growing ever since. Last year we made $800,000 in sales." Chiarella stated.

Chiarella's farm is located in Monroe Township, NJ which is a suburb of New York City and not exactly farm country. "We run a low key operation and all of our business is through online sales through Wormman.com so that we don't attract much attention." Chiarella said.

Chiarella estimated that his farm sells millions of crickets and mealworms every year to gardeners, fisherman, reptile owners and bird enthusiasts. "We serve four major groups: People who need bait, reptile food, bird food and red worms to compost food scraps into worm poop," Chiarella noted.

"Worm poop, also known as Worm Castings happens to be the best natural fertilizer the world has ever known. People are going green and we are able to show them how to do it with a tiny investment." His worm prices start as low as $9.95 for a couple hundred worms and breeding information. He refuses to charge shipping. "People like free shipping so I provide it." Chiarella quipped.

Chiarella says that he plans to expand and would like to break the million dollar sales mark next year. He has a number of new products coming online that will help. He recently trademarked the name Soldier Grubs which is the name he has given to the larvae of the Black Soldier Fly which he says contains more calcium than any feeder insect currently available. "Reptiles need calcium to survive in captivity and reptile owners usually have to add calcium to the diet of the reptiles to provide their calcium needs. Soldier Grubs eliminate the need for adding calcium to the reptile's diet," Chiarella offered.

Chiarella says that he has helped many people start small bait, worm, and worm poop businesses throughout the country for free by offering free advice via email and through his free newsletters. "I believe that Americans are hurting right now and we have a need to go green. We have a business that can be duplicated in a basement, garage or small back yard and can offer a good supplemental income while also helping to reduce household waste. Soldier Grubs and Red worms eat food scraps, newspaper and cardboard and turn it into fertilizer. That fertilizer is big business. We could make another million dollars per year just selling the worm poop. We are going to look at doing that regionally next year."

Chiarella says that he is more than happy with helping people for free. “It takes some time to answer all of those emails, forum and blog questions but I like the idea of helping people out of this economic and environmental issue. I get to kill two birds with one stone and make some money too. They should be able to do the same thing. The demand for worms is huge and I can't fill it all. That's why I offer so much free information on my site. If I can help change the world with worms and crickets that's pretty cool," said the 40 year-old father of five children.

Get the newsletter