978: Building the largest worm farm in the U.S. with Zach Brooks

In this Episode Zach Brooks shares how he transformed a barren cotton field into the thriving Arizona Worm Farm which is now one of the largest worm composting operations in the U.S. What began as a personal experiment in sustainability evolved into a regenerative, off-grid-inspired ecosystem that converts waste into soil, food, and community education. Zach explains how worms, compost, and black soldier flies work together to rebuild soil and produce nutrient-dense food. The conversation highlights practical, scalable solutions for local food systems using simple, accessible technologies.

Our Guest:  Zach semi-retired from healthcare management at the age of 42 when his consulting company went public, and when his first of three grandchildren were born, he went back to Arizona State University to get a second master's degree in sustainability. Frustrated that most causes of climate change were not only fixable, but fixable with off the shelf practices and technology, Zach set out to prove that an off-grid lifestyle could be every bit as comfortable as a wasteful lifestyle and have a positive impact on the environment. And the most exciting thing...Zach has now built Arizona Worm Farm into one of the largest most successful worm farms in the United States.

What is the Arizona Worm Farm?

A regenerative, working farm designed to turn food waste into compost, soil fertility, and food production while educating the community on sustainable gardening practices.

How did Zach Brooks get started in worm farming?

After a career in healthcare, Zach pursued a sustainability degree and became motivated to address climate challenges using practical, existing solutions. He started by rebuilding dead soil using worms.

How large has the operation become?

The farm produces over 4.5 million worms annually, supports thousands of customers, and manages millions more worms dedicated to compost production.

What role do worms play in soil regeneration?

Worms convert organic matter into nutrient-rich castings filled with beneficial microbes that improve soil health, fertility, and plant growth.

What do the worms eat at scale?

Primarily pre-composted organic waste, including horse manure, landscape waste, and pre-consumer food scraps from caterers and food processors.

Why is local composting important?

Fresh, local compost contains active microbial life and reduces landfill waste, creating a closed-loop system that supports local food production.

What are black soldier flies and why are they important?

They are composting insects whose larvae consume waste rapidly and convert it into high-quality protein for animals, offering a sustainable alternative feed source.

What makes Arizona Worm Farm a “one-stop shop” for gardeners?

It combines education, compost, worms, plant starts, and regenerative techniques to help people successfully grow food at home.

How does the farm generate revenue beyond worms?

Through classes, compost products, plant starts, and value-added inputs like worm tea and insect-based fertilizers.

What is the long-term vision behind the farm?

To demonstrate that regenerative, self-sustaining systems can support communities using simple inputs like sunlight, water, and organic waste.

Episode Highlights

• Built from a dead cotton field into a regenerative ecosystem
• Scaled from 400,000 to 4.5 million worms annually
• Produces 80,000 worms per week through controlled breeding
• Diverts large volumes of food waste from landfills
• Integrates composting, aquaponics, and food forests
• Hosts highly sought-after, sold-out educational classes
• Produces 400–800 lbs of insect protein weekly via black soldier flies
• Demonstrates year-round food production in a desert climate

Key Topics

• Arizona Worm Farm
• Zach Brooks
• Worm composting (vermiculture)
• Black soldier fly larvae systems
• Regenerative agriculture
• Soil microbiology & soil food web
• Composting systems (hot compost + worm compost)
• Food waste diversion
• Off-grid living systems
• Aquaponics integration
• Seasonal planting strategies
• Urban farming education programs
• Local food systems & backyard gardening
• Sustainable protein production (insects)

Resources

• Arizona Worm Farm — https://arizonawormfarm.com
• Show Notes — https://urbanfarm.org/azWormFarm
• Classes & Workshops — Available via website mailing list
• Self-Guided Farm Tours — Visit in South Phoenix

Visit www.urbanfarm.org/AZWormFarm for the show notes on this episode, and access to our full podcast library!

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