Comments on: Creepy Pants Update http://www.redwormcomposting.com/worm-bins/creepy-pants-update/ Worm composting (vermicomposting) guide | Information about setting up & maintaining a thriving worm bin or larger vermicomposting system Fri, 16 May 2008 08:24:57 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Bentley http://www.redwormcomposting.com/worm-bins/creepy-pants-update/#comment-7000 Bentley Wed, 07 May 2008 18:41:40 +0000 http://www.redwormcomposting.com/worm-bins/creepy-pants-update/#comment-7000 $50 for a cubic yard of worms? WOW! I wish I could find deals like that! Anything with holes in it should work fine - I've heard of people using window screen material, onion bags (or any other mesh bag) etc. Worms will squeeze through very small holes. You will still need to let the sieve sit for a day or two though. You can certainly store the worms/food in another bin temporarily - if you keep adding to that container you could just as easily start up a new worm bin with it for that matter. If you've got ridiculous numbers of worms, you could also simply harvest the upper layer (worms/food) then add the rest straight into your garden. You will basically lose the worms that are still in the material below, but it saves the hassle of having to separate anything. The ones left over (and the worms in your other systems) will be enough to continue building your population up. B $50 for a cubic yard of worms? WOW! I wish I could find deals like that!

Anything with holes in it should work fine - I’ve heard of people using window screen material, onion bags (or any other mesh bag) etc. Worms will squeeze through very small holes. You will still need to let the sieve sit for a day or two though.

You can certainly store the worms/food in another bin temporarily - if you keep adding to that container you could just as easily start up a new worm bin with it for that matter.

If you’ve got ridiculous numbers of worms, you could also simply harvest the upper layer (worms/food) then add the rest straight into your garden. You will basically lose the worms that are still in the material below, but it saves the hassle of having to separate anything. The ones left over (and the worms in your other systems) will be enough to continue building your population up.

B

]]> By: Patricia http://www.redwormcomposting.com/worm-bins/creepy-pants-update/#comment-6991 Patricia Wed, 07 May 2008 06:50:14 +0000 http://www.redwormcomposting.com/worm-bins/creepy-pants-update/#comment-6991 bentley, thanks for the input. But here are a few other related questions. Would using a colander work for the worms to go through as long as the holes are at least 1/8th of an inch? I was trying to think of something my kids could use to help and maybe be able to see the separation. What if I have to completely empty this concrete bin inorder to start a new heap? Can I temporarily store worms and food in a bin until done separating? I have to say that the reason I have to ask alot of questions is that I guess I have done something right and I have more worms than I know what to do with. I was lucky to find someone who gave me a half cubic yd of worms for $50 and I am very overwhelmed right now after all the new babies during the last 4 months. A good problem to have I guess! TIA Patricia bentley, thanks for the input. But here are a few other related questions. Would using a colander work for the worms to go through as long as the holes are at least 1/8th of an inch? I was trying to think of something my kids could use to help and maybe be able to see the separation. What if I have to completely empty this concrete bin inorder to start a new heap? Can I temporarily store worms and food in a bin until done separating? I have to say that the reason I have to ask alot of questions is that I guess I have done something right and I have more worms than I know what to do with. I was lucky to find someone who gave me a half cubic yd of worms for $50 and I am very overwhelmed right now after all the new babies during the last 4 months. A good problem to have I guess! TIA Patricia

]]> By: Bentley http://www.redwormcomposting.com/worm-bins/creepy-pants-update/#comment-6983 Bentley Wed, 07 May 2008 03:08:22 +0000 http://www.redwormcomposting.com/worm-bins/creepy-pants-update/#comment-6983 Hi Patricia, I would personally use the garbage bag method myself (as shown in one of my videos) since a fancy harvester is simply too expensive. I'd recommend starting up a new system/heap, letting it age for a period of time (maybe a week or so) - this is where you will be luring the worms. Next, remove the upper layers of the heap you want to harvest (where most of the food scraps and a lot of worms are) and put them off to one side so they can be used to start up a new system (can actually be put directly in the new system that has been aging). You can then simply move all the remaining material and put it on top of the bag harvester (which should be sitting on top of the new system) - preferably in a sunny location. The worms should start moving down in the the new material quite quickly and the vermicompost on top should start to dry out as well. After a day or two it should be worm-free (for the most part) and a fair bit drier Hope this helps. B Hi Patricia,
I would personally use the garbage bag method myself (as shown in one of my videos) since a fancy harvester is simply too expensive.

I’d recommend starting up a new system/heap, letting it age for a period of time (maybe a week or so) - this is where you will be luring the worms.
Next, remove the upper layers of the heap you want to harvest (where most of the food scraps and a lot of worms are) and put them off to one side so they can be used to start up a new system (can actually be put directly in the new system that has been aging).

You can then simply move all the remaining material and put it on top of the bag harvester (which should be sitting on top of the new system) - preferably in a sunny location. The worms should start moving down in the the new material quite quickly and the vermicompost on top should start to dry out as well. After a day or two it should be worm-free (for the most part) and a fair bit drier

Hope this helps.

B

]]> By: Patricia http://www.redwormcomposting.com/worm-bins/creepy-pants-update/#comment-6968 Patricia Tue, 06 May 2008 06:54:47 +0000 http://www.redwormcomposting.com/worm-bins/creepy-pants-update/#comment-6968 Bentley, thanks for the pants update. I have decided to hang mine from the frame of a 10x20ft shade shelter. It will keep it anchored when the winds pick up so my shelter doesn't end up in the neighbors yard like last time. It will also keep the chickens out of my worms. Oh, a quick question. I have my worms in 3 brick enclosures that are 100 inches squared and two levels of bricks so about 12 inches high. I water them every afternoon and was wondering how can I process the castings? When I have scooped out some of the castings to separate the worms it is always too wet and they don't separate. Read an idea on using the bag with holes poked in it letting the worms through but short of buying an expensive separator I think I am looking at alot of work. The problem I recently encountered was the worms were overfed by my kids wanting to help and they didn't feed from just one side so everything is all mixed on top also. Where do I start? Bentley, thanks for the pants update. I have decided to hang mine from the frame of a 10×20ft shade shelter. It will keep it anchored when the winds pick up so my shelter doesn’t end up in the neighbors yard like last time. It will also keep the chickens out of my worms. Oh, a quick question. I have my worms in 3 brick enclosures that are 100 inches squared and two levels of bricks so about 12 inches high. I water them every afternoon and was wondering how can I process the castings? When I have scooped out some of the castings to separate the worms it is always too wet and they don’t separate. Read an idea on using the bag with holes poked in it letting the worms through but short of buying an expensive separator I think I am looking at alot of work. The problem I recently encountered was the worms were overfed by my kids wanting to help and they didn’t feed from just one side so everything is all mixed on top also. Where do I start?

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