Wanna see my worms?!

by Marie Simon
(Kansas City, MO, USA)

I'm 54 but feel like a kid when I get to "play" with my worms!

So I have finally worked my way up to bin 3 vertically and think that it is time to 'harvest' the dirt from bin 1. I don't want to harm the earth worms or take any out of the system. So how exactly are you supposed to 'harvest the dirt and...do you take this special dirt and mix it with a baf of topsoil/planting dirt, or do you use it straight up?

I hope to plant my first vegetable garden in my backyard this spring and want to take advantage of all the hard work my worms have been doing. There is no where near enough dirt in bin 1 for a whole vegetable garden. Or do I harvest bin 1 and move bin 2 down and hope for enough dirt by spring from 1 and 2 to plant a small garden? enfp7@juno.com
Thanks,
Marie Simon

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Feb 19, 2012
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When to Harvest Castings
by: Pauly

Hello Marie,

Yes I would indeed like to see your worms. You can upload pics into the website next time you comment on the site.

Okay, So you want to know when to harvest castings in a flow through system.

This is pretty simple as you only need to do a visual and maybe a little touch to determine if the castings are mature for using in your garden.

Typically, (if you don't want to mess with picking out worms or cocoons from the castings) you can wait around 3 months from the beginning of the first tray (on bottom) to be 90% empty of worms and hatched cocoons.

It takes about 3 months from the time you start your first tray of compost to become fully composted into worm castings and for any cocoons to hatch and climb up to the second tray.

The time can vary depending on what you are feeding your worms. You will always have some worms in the castings as they are migratory and always search out other means of food even when conditions are right.

Your castings will look like moist coffee grounds but very fine and soft and there will be almost no compost left in the worm bin.

You can always keep checking if you are needing your castings sooner but you will have to pick out your worms and cocoons unless you want to use them in your garden. Best to keep them in your Worm Farm though. The more worms you have, the more castings they will make for your vegetable garden.

If you want to know how to use your castings then go here:
Worm Castings Usage

You can always mix it up a bit but try to keep the castings around + or - 25% A little goes a long way

P.S. go to the Worm Tea section. You will be amazed at the results the tea can do.

See ya Marie. Send those pics to us. we all want to see them,

Pauly

Feb 19, 2012
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Shy worms...hide from the paparazzi and flash!
by: Anonymous

Thanks Pauly for your feedback. I did harvest the bottom tray last week. It had been well over 3 months from the start of the tray. I didn't see any worms or cocoons...so I don't think that I killed any of my buddies. I will mix it as you suggest. I am so looking forward to a vegetable garden this spring!

I'll try to take a picture and post it next time...but you know how they dislike light!

Thanks again! Marie

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