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#1
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Harvesting worms from compost.......
I have two big compost bins to which I added some worms; they did a
great job but now I want to separate the worms from the cast material and compost in the bins so that I can start again. Any ideas how this can be done? No, I don't want to pick them out by hand! Toby |
#2
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Harvesting worms from compost.......
With mine (four large half corrugated iron tanks), they are mostly
working in the surface layer. I just take it off the top and put that in the bottom of the next one I am starting. If you want really concentrated worms, spread the top on a tarpaulin and just keep taking a little off the top at a time, in daylight (maybe not full sun) and they will keep burrowing down to get into the dark. If you work it into a little depression at the bottom - bingo - worm concentrate. That is assuming they are composting worms (not earthworms). Composting worms = top layer . Earth worms = all through. Toby wrote: I have two big compost bins to which I added some worms; they did a great job but now I want to separate the worms from the cast material and compost in the bins so that I can start again. Any ideas how this can be done? No, I don't want to pick them out by hand! |
#3
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Harvesting worms from compost.......
Hi Tony,
I bought my worms from an old guy who told me to put something delicious on the top of the pile in one spot, leave it for a couple of hours then scoop en masse. Delicious = watermelon, soft tomato. A Gardening Australia book on composting suggested protein eg break an egg or two on top and let them eat it. Sandra "Toby" wrote in message ... I have two big compost bins to which I added some worms; they did a great job but now I want to separate the worms from the cast material and compost in the bins so that I can start again. Any ideas how this can be done? No, I don't want to pick them out by hand! Toby |
#4
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Harvesting worms from compost.......
If you don't have a 'layer' system going on with your worm bin its a bit of
a pain to remove the castings from. You have to do it by 'hand', which you said you dont want to do. If you do decide to do it by hand pull the castings out and make little pyramid piles and shine a torch on the pile. The worms will head to the bottom of the pile and you scrap off the top of the pyramid. Otherwise buy yourself or make a bin that allows for a 'layer' system to occurr. ie bottom layer which you can remove 'fallen castings' under the bottom layer holes to collect the worm juice (This in reality is the best product your worms will produce, it is liquid fertaliser you cant OVERFEED your plants on) and the top layer for the vegetable matter. I have seen several designs that work like this the best was 3 plastic bins that sit on top of one another and you 'rotate' them. There was a tap at the bottom where the worm juice dripped out from. I had my partner make me a box on legs with holes in the bottom to collect the juice. I keep a tray under the box to collect the juice and their is a flap at the bottom of the box. When I can no longer see 'vegetable matter' through the flap i scoop out the castings and transfer them to my potting mix or the garden. here is a good site for worm info. He has the worm bins design I am trying to explain also, so go check it out http://www.squirmy-worms.com/index.html "Sandra" swatkins@internode wrote in message ... Hi Tony, I bought my worms from an old guy who told me to put something delicious on the top of the pile in one spot, leave it for a couple of hours then scoop en masse. Delicious = watermelon, soft tomato. A Gardening Australia book on composting suggested protein eg break an egg or two on top and let them eat it. Sandra "Toby" wrote in message ... I have two big compost bins to which I added some worms; they did a great job but now I want to separate the worms from the cast material and compost in the bins so that I can start again. Any ideas how this can be done? No, I don't want to pick them out by hand! Toby |
#5
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Harvesting worms from compost.......
"Sandra" swatkins@internode wrote in message
... Hi Tony, I bought my worms from an old guy who told me to put something delicious on the top of the pile in one spot, leave it for a couple of hours then scoop en masse. Delicious = watermelon, soft tomato. A Gardening Australia book on composting suggested protein eg break an egg or two on top and let them eat it. LUcky you....... my worm farm's a shadow of it's former self. I was told that the kits you buy don't come with enough worms. Anyway...... take the lid off, the worms will scoot to the bottom then you pick off the top layer. Don't know how your system's set up so I don't know how you'll get your worm wee. Raelene ccc |
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