The COVID-19 pandemic has created a boost in sales for items like flour, workout equipment and lumber in Newfoundland and Labrador, as people pick up new hobbies and take on household work.

But the demand for worms has also seen a spike — more specifically, composting worms — as people dig into gardening.

"Since COVID … our demand … has grown, I would say, well up over 80 per cent," said Christa Williams, who owns Trouter's Special Worm Farm in Bay Bulls.

The farm is the only commercial-scale worm farm in the province. Its business model centres around vermiculture, the process of rearing worms. 

The worms are sold to customers for vermicomposting — composting food waste with the help of worms. The compost can then be used as fertilizer for plants and vegetables.

The method of using worm feces, also called castings, instead of other types of manure to fertilize plants isn't new, but it has taken off during the pandemic.

Especially on social media, worms have gained a large following, with several local groups on Facebook dedicated to the topic of vermiculture.

"People are getting more involved in their gardens, more interested in nutritional soil and growing good vegetables and food," said Williams, who has been in the worm business for 13 years.

"A lot of people come to us in the spring time of the year to look for alternative methods as opposed to … synthetic fertilizer to add to their gardens," she said.

Williams sells everything worm-related, like castings, soil mix, vermicomposting kits and, of course, worms by the pound. She even occasionally ships worms to other provinces.