Comments on: The Super Simple Ultra Basic Worm Harvesting Tube

By: Brian

Brian — Sun, 07 Jun 2009 23:47:16 +0000

GrowingPower.org uses a pretty simple concept for harvesting. They place a screen on top of the bin and then spread food on top of the screen. As the worms migrate up, they periodically empty the screens contents into a new bin. Although they readily admit that they lose 20% in this manner. Since they seem to have upwards of 50 bins with 50 – 80 lbs of worms in each, 20% to them is probably an o.k. margin of error. It would likely be impossible to separate 95-99% of the worms in those kinds of volumes.

By: Bentley

Bentley — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 14:55:15 +0000

Hi Wayne,
The onion bag method and my ‘garbage bag method’ (both very similar in principle) are good for getting most of the worms separated from the vermicompost – but not really great for actually harvesting worms. They are better for transferring worms to a new system. Unfortunately, the SSUBWHT seems to be similar in its abilities (ie not great for actually harvesting worms).
I think I’ll just make a rotating screen harvester with the rest of my tube and screening material.

By: Wayne

Wayne — Sat, 14 Feb 2009 01:28:06 +0000

In another post on my forum a link was posted to the University of Nebraska. Towards the bottome of the article was another link to a site talking about using the ‘Onion Bag Method of Harvesting’. This one is on cityfarmer.org.
The method sounded pretty interesting although I have doubts on how thoroghly it would harvest your worms.

By: Bentley

Bentley — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 17:43:25 +0000

Hi Wayne,
Thanks for stopping by. Your advice definitely has some merit. I’ve continued to test this method out, and unfortunately it’s just not producing the desired results. I still plan to try using aged manure to lure them down, but I think for the most part this isn’t going to be a viable harvesting method.
Live and learn, I guess!

By: Wayne

Wayne — Sun, 08 Feb 2009 12:21:51 +0000

The subject of vermicomposting came up on my gardening forum and someone posted a link to your website. I’ve been reading your articles and watching videos for a couple hours now. I’ve never done this before but I think I’d agree with your comment, this would work better if you were just starting a new bin.
You could just use the top half with the screen attached and support it in the bedding of a fresh bin. Shielding the bin from the light might help too.
I’m planning to start my first bin this year and try some of your other ideas also. I really like the trench idea.

By: Doug

Doug — Sun, 11 Jan 2009 18:45:57 +0000

Your system reminds me of the cat box for our Miss Kitty it has holes in the bottom about 1/2 inch square and two boxes below that are solid kinda the same theory but yours is cuter.

By: Bentley

Bentley — Sun, 11 Jan 2009 08:19:21 +0000

Thanks Kaye – that is an interesting notion. I have never seen evidence of this myself. As I’ve written on the blog, I find that a very diverse compost ecosystem has important benefits. That being said – it all depends on the type of system you are using. The closed plastic tub systems are a bit more unforgiving than open or enclosed wooden systems. Still, my argument is that it is the conditions that result in the abundance of certain organisms – not the organisms themselves – that is usually the issue for the worms.
I actually sell the 2nd edition “Worms Eat My Garbage” (via my Canadian worm business), so I do have the odd copy lying around.

Edward – I think you have hit the nail on the head – this is something my dad and I were discussing as well! My next test will definitely involve having material flush up against the screen.

Thanks for sharing your thoughts!

By: Edward

Edward — Sun, 11 Jan 2009 03:46:47 +0000

Hi Bentley,
I think the problem is that worms don’t like to ‘jump’. I mean leave to the place with no bedding.
Is it possible to make your cardboard touch the screen from below?

By: Kaye Swain

Kaye Swain — Sat, 10 Jan 2009 16:31:08 +0000

Worms don’t much like bedding that’s infested with a lot of mites and springtails. Some seem to be OK (and unavoidable) but a lot of them seem to “bug” them

I have some experience with vermicomposting but I got this information about mites, etc from the book “Worms Eat My Garbage” by Mary Appelhof (1982). Pages 62 – 63 Don’t know if Mary’s book is still available, but it makes for very interesting reading if you can get your hands on a copy.

By: Bentley

Bentley — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 16:38:28 +0000

One thing I forgot to mention…
This approach is intended as a means of completely separating the worms from the material. I suspect that if you simply wanted to move your worms to a new system it would be a lot easier, since the ’stuff’ down below the screen would be a lot more tempting than wet paper.

Speaking of wet paper, I’m also wondering if it would help to add enough so that it actually makes contact with the screen? Hmmm…

Don’t mind me – just thinking out loud here.