After trying many other methods out there to harvest my worm castings over the past year, I threw my hands up in exasperation from the wasted time and inefficiency! I decided to ditch the worms, but I made one last check online for any other way to do this when I discovered Iowa Worm Composting and this handy screening tool. I ordered it and am very pleased with the results. I highly recommend this product. BTW I'm keeping my worms thanks to Rick.
I'm so happy for having found this video. I was thinking about this for my off-grid home, and I was wondering how could you separate worms from the compost. You're the first one that did this carefully, without being brutally harsh with the poor animals. The system is efficient, easy, and respectful. Thank you so much! I was also wondering... would it be okay to let some of those worms in my garden now and then when using the compost?
Thank you for the information. I like that screen. I'm new I just moved my bin into the pole barn for the winter. I wrapped it with some Styrofoam best I could hoping it won't freeze here in the Midwest it can get really cold sometimes. My bin is too wet so I put some new bedding to dry it up. A few weeks later it's just as wet or wetter? Seems it's from condensation literally dripping from the lid and sides of the bin. What can I do? I drilled holes all the way around it along the top but maybe too small? They were like 3/8"? I'm thinking of removing the lid and put a screen over the top. But cold below freezing temps coming this weekend. I haven't seen anyone talk about the bin creating so much moister out of thin air? What would be a better absorbent bedding option? Peat moss better than card board? This is a blast but the last thing I want to do is kill the worms
Great, straight forward instructions! I ordered your screen tray and am eagerly awaiting it. I started a huge red wiggler worm ranch several months ago in a 3' x 3' x 3' Greene's slatted cedar composting bin out in shady corner of my garden. I'm a beginner. It's hard to find info on how to manage it, since everyone seems to vermicompost in small bins. I'm going to start drying out a corner of it to harvest, now that I have your advice! Do you have links where I can find tips specifically geared towards large bin operations?
Thanks for the compliment. The rule of thumb for castings harvest is 90-120 days. After you have some experience...you can pretty well tell by looking at your bedding. Hope this helps and that was a good question.
Mine are a lil too moist to go thru the screen well. What is the best thing to dry out the castings some without hurting the worms. Just more coco coir?
That was really helpful Rick. I just purchased your screen, I haven't used it yet. But soon! But only for outdoors. I just wonder, how do the worms deal with all that shaking? I hope they aren't traumatized!
Bought your screen, with very fast shipping thank you. It's nice, but judging by the four little stick-on pads on the bottom these are just import office desk trays, am I incorrect?
I've been breeding worms ( well they breed themselves !!) for about a year now... am always too worried about not kinowing how dry they can handle... so I don't dry my castings at all , but am devising ways to make harvesting easier... but I am not a commercial breeder ( yet ) so can take a little time. But I appreciate this video a lot, it will help me , teach me more. Thank you .
I appreciate the time you took to make this video- my question is- how do you end up with castings that are dry like that?I have purchased castings in various stages of wetness- yours seems kinda dry for sure. thank you Sir.
You can open up your lid and leave the centre or around 1/3 of the container covered with a worm blanket or cardboard that keeps some moisture in. The outside air will begin to dry out the exposed 2/3 of the bin while retaining moisture where the worms will naturally migrate, you will find less worms in the dry uncovered area and more in the covered section.
I just saw your video on harvesting worm castings my original intent was to raise night-crawlers for fishing I am hoping that raising crawlers and harvesting castings can be a combined effort on of the things I have seen on other videos that put holes in the bottom of the trays to remove excess water I also wanted to ask about tissues as they cannot be recycled in out area but I am not sure about the lotion in them
Sure, you can combine growing European nightcrawlers for fishing, and also harvest the castings. I do not drill holes in my trays. I prefer to just control the moisture. This is easily done with single trays. I do not use tissues with lotion for bedding material. There are many other better choices. Thanks for the questions and hopefully this helps you out.
Did you ever try a canadian night crawler bin?Everything I saw was saying it wouldn't work. I had one for over a year. They never did great, but they did live and reproduce a small amount.
That’s a $3 stationary bin from the office supply store. Please don’t rip people off. Plus your castings are much dryer than they would be in a real world application.
After trying many other methods out there to harvest my worm castings over the past year, I threw my hands up in exasperation from the wasted time and inefficiency! I decided to ditch the worms, but I made one last check online for any other way to do this when I discovered Iowa Worm Composting and this handy screening tool. I ordered it and am very pleased with the results. I highly recommend this product. BTW I'm keeping my worms thanks to Rick.
I'm so happy for having found this video. I was thinking about this for my off-grid home, and I was wondering how could you separate worms from the compost. You're the first one that did this carefully, without being brutally harsh with the poor animals. The system is efficient, easy, and respectful. Thank you so much!
I was also wondering... would it be okay to let some of those worms in my garden now and then when using the compost?
Thank you for the information. I like that screen. I'm new I just moved my bin into the pole barn for the winter. I wrapped it with some Styrofoam best I could hoping it won't freeze here in the Midwest it can get really cold sometimes. My bin is too wet so I put some new bedding to dry it up. A few weeks later it's just as wet or wetter? Seems it's from condensation literally dripping from the lid and sides of the bin. What can I do? I drilled holes all the way around it along the top but maybe too small? They were like 3/8"? I'm thinking of removing the lid and put a screen over the top. But cold below freezing temps coming this weekend. I haven't seen anyone talk about the bin creating so much moister out of thin air? What would be a better absorbent bedding option? Peat moss better than card board? This is a blast but the last thing I want to do is kill the worms
Great, straight forward instructions! I ordered your screen tray and am eagerly awaiting it. I started a huge red wiggler worm ranch several months ago in a 3' x 3' x 3' Greene's slatted cedar composting bin out in shady corner of my garden. I'm a beginner. It's hard to find info on how to manage it, since everyone seems to vermicompost in small bins. I'm going to start drying out a corner of it to harvest, now that I have your advice! Do you have links where I can find tips specifically geared towards large bin operations?
Thanks for the compliment. The rule of thumb for castings harvest is 90-120 days. After you have some experience...you can pretty well tell by looking at your bedding. Hope this helps and that was a good question.
I need to separate mine out. I have so many cocoons .I made my worm casting bin out of two large rubbermaids..I could literally divide into ten
Really nice video. Thanks for the help. Gonna check out the sifter and the pdf. Thanks so much and Jesus bless.
Mine are a lil too moist to go thru the screen well. What is the best thing to dry out the castings some without hurting the worms. Just more coco coir?
Will the eggs go through the mesh basket?
Great info, thank you!
How do I get rid of Larvae from my worm bin ?
That was really helpful Rick. I just purchased your screen, I haven't used it yet. But soon! But only for outdoors. I just wonder, how do the worms deal with all that shaking? I hope they aren't traumatized!
They seem to do fine. Don't find dead ones after.
Ty Rick for including your channel and biz card with the tray. Julia Lane (this is hubby's channel I'm using )
I cannot get your sight to open.
Just found your channel. Signed up to you emails. I look forward to becoming a hobby wormaholic!
Welcome aboard. Worming is fun!
What size holes are in your shaker? Excellent video. Thank you sir.
They are about 1/8 inch diamond shaped.
Hi from Northern Germany. Am already breeding my own worms Eisenia fetida here. Is that small harvester available in Germany?
Bought your screen, with very fast shipping thank you. It's nice, but judging by the four little stick-on pads on the bottom these are just import office desk trays, am I incorrect?
I've been breeding worms ( well they breed themselves !!) for about a year now... am always too worried about not kinowing how dry they can handle... so I don't dry my castings at all , but am devising ways to make harvesting easier... but I am not a commercial breeder ( yet ) so can take a little time. But I appreciate this video a lot, it will help me , teach me more. Thank you .
Is mold normal in my bin .
Nevermind ))) 1/8In
Looks like a cel phone from the 1960s xD, thx for the vid
Hi Rick! Thanks, I love worms! They can save the world…👍🏼😊
Sir how many days stay without feeding worms for casting ❤️❤️❤️❤️🇱🇰
I def got to get ours drier ....I will wait a few weeks. The tray works great when it's dry enough ❤
Awesome
Thanks for sharing.
Great video with a little bit of straight forward humour. Subscribed..
Got the screener. Does not feeding or watering them for 2 weeks as you dry the castings the bother them much?
What a great tool!!! I am going to order one this week! Thank you for sharing it!
My worm casting are black but not as dry as yours.
I appreciate the time you took to make this video- my question is- how do you end up with castings that are dry like that?I have purchased castings in various stages of wetness- yours seems kinda dry for sure. thank you Sir.
he must put his tray somewhere hot and dry for a while... not sure worms like that for too long
You can open up your lid and leave the centre or around 1/3 of the container covered with a worm blanket or cardboard that keeps some moisture in. The outside air will begin to dry out the exposed 2/3 of the bin while retaining moisture where the worms will naturally migrate, you will find less worms in the dry uncovered area and more in the covered section.
I like your video clips , as they are simple and up to point
This is an excellent video! Straight shooter and very helpful to us
your vermicompost is a lit dryer than mine
Where do you buy your screen. And what's it called. Thanks You
iowawormcomposting.com It is called a Worm Castings Screen Harvester.
I Enjoyed That 👏👏👏♥️♥️
very nice explanation. Thank you
Love the tray !
Do you ship to Western Australia and cost please? Thank you
Please email me rick@iowawormcomposting.com
Approximatley how many worms (weight or count) do you usually have in those sized bins? I'm growing African Nightcrawlers.
That depends. If I am growing out ENC bait worms...no more that half pound per sq ft. For composting 1# per sq ft and the worms will fill it up.
Thanks. How many square feet are your compost bins?
Does it hurt the worms to let the bin dry out for two weeks? I was thinking they had to stay moist??
Worms can live in a pretty dry environment for reasonably short times. We have never lost any worms by drying out a bin to harvest.
Thanks for sharing nice and simple
Thanks 😊
I just saw your video on harvesting worm castings my original intent was to raise night-crawlers for fishing I am hoping that raising crawlers and harvesting castings can be a combined effort on of the things I have seen on other videos that put holes in the bottom of the trays to remove excess water I also wanted to ask about tissues as they cannot be recycled in out area but I am not sure about the lotion in them
Sure, you can combine growing European nightcrawlers for fishing, and also harvest the castings. I do not drill holes in my trays. I prefer to just control the moisture. This is easily done with single trays. I do not use tissues with lotion for bedding material. There are many other better choices. Thanks for the questions and hopefully this helps you out.
Did you ever try a canadian night crawler bin?Everything I saw was saying it wouldn't work. I had one for over a year. They never did great, but they did live and reproduce a small amount.
Where is the worms how do you take them out
The worms stay in the screener with the cocoons and unprocessed material. You can pick them out if you want.
Can I buy a large number of worms
contact me through my website...iowawormcomposting.com
Do you ship this product to Australia
Please email me. rick@iowawormcomposting.com
Looks a lot better than what I've been using.
The Worm Castings Screen Harvester really works well!
Where are the worms
They are in the tray with the cocoons and unprocessed material.
IKEA 3 dollar
Yeah it looks very similar to some baskets I've seen for sale at the dollar store here. They might be adequate for this job.
$6 on Amazon
That’s a $3 stationary bin from the office supply store. Please don’t rip people off. Plus your castings are much dryer than they would be in a real world application.
Hi! Very instructive vídeos! Thank youbfirvsharongbuourvrcoerience! My question is: boa long does it take beteeen harvests?