How I Lure Worms to Harvest Rich Castings! | Vermicompost Worm Farm

[@Vermicompost]

Below are my go-to vermicomposting items featured in my videos. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you. Thanks for supporting my channel! www.youtube.com/@vermicompost?sub_confirmation=1 Worm Bins I use: Vermihut 5-Tray Worm Compost Bin amzn.to/3w15lQt Urban Worm Bag V2 amzn.to/3XE9QsT 20 Gallon Fabric Grow Pots amzn.to/3EBYhdr 3 gallon Rubbermaid Roughneck tote amzn.to/3eKDLhO Mortar Tray amzn.to/3V43KD2 Other Worm Bins: Worm Factory 360 3-Tray Version amzn.to/3AHnjqK Worm Factory 360 5-Tray Version amzn.to/3tYfWY4 Bus bins amzn.to/3fd8AvP Equipment I use: 12 Sheet Cross Cut Micro Shredder (I use it to shred cardboard) amzn.to/3xYZKYu Magic Bullet Small Blender (to pulverize egg shells) amzn.to/3gwEzb4 or amzn.to/42SQ4w9 (with extra coffee bean & nut blade) Worms Red Wiggler mixes amzn.to/3yGNhwl & amzn.to/3R5tKvD ENC's amzn.to/3OkxV51 Indoor Outdoor Wireless Thermometer for worm bin amzn.to/3wIdXbO Additional thermometer sensors 433 MHz amzn.to/41juD7v Please make sure Thermometer & sensor are the same MHz Additional thermometer sensors 915MHz amzn.to/3WTFgua Please make sure Thermometer & sensor are the same MHz Japanese Garden knife amzn.to/3VEzmiN Wrigglebrew Worm Casting Tea amzn.to/46PhV2A Food Dehydrator amzn.to/3O5Uj2H Mosquito Dunks 6 pack amzn.to/3OlCEUg granular amzn.to/42KDtM0 or 20 pack amzn.to/42Br4Kf Kitchen scale to weigh worms & food: amzn.to/3HnOQjg Blue gloves amzn.to/3XsBg5n Spray bottles to mist bedding amzn.to/3Fq23rN Digital handheld Thermometer amzn.to/3EWfC2j Compost Tea Bags amzn.to/3fCb5o1 Solar powered light amzn.to/3nOucAq Reusable Keurig Coffee K-cups amzn.to/3FNXvt6 Other useful equipment for worm farming: 5 stackable sifter with different sized mesh: amzn.to/3S2k184 Cameras & camera equipment I use: Insta 360 ace pro amzn.to/3vgdmR8 Flexible Tripod amzn.to/3CGTjcF Insta360 GO 3s camera amzn.to/3Z1CKVR Insta360 X3 360 camera amzn.to/494NOGl 4 Ocean bracelets I wear Multiple colors to chose from bracelets amzn.to/4eH5clM Books on worms & worm farming Worms Eat My Garbage amzn.to/3L4FXN2 Where to buy worms: www.TheGardenAndWormLady.com www.youtube.com/@vermicompost?sub_confirmation=1

[@Ryan92230]

@@Vermicompost you inspired me to start a tiny worm bin!😊. I’m using a wham storage container 16L just a slight bit bigger than yours i think, but I used moistened cardboard and I picked out a large bath of red wrigglers and ENCs and put them in. They all burrowed straight down

[@NanasWorms]

1000 worms per gallon of bedding was the worm density given with my Tumbleweed Worm Café stacking system, so I think you're onto something, Patrick. So cool to see your "tiny" migration working well! ~ Sandra

[@Vermicompost]

Perfect!! That's good validation!! Luckily these worms don't have far to migrate in this Tiny Bin 😂 Thanks so much for watching Sandra!!🪱🪱🪱

[@teetwo56]

Another informative video- you all do a great job teaching about running worm bins- thanks for sharing the benefit of your experience!

[@Vermicompost]

We're so glad you are enjoying the videos! We are always looking for ways to improve. Thanks so much for all your support & encouragement!!🪱🪱🪱

[@brianseybert192]

Good idea to slowly enlarge the feeding zone, that way you are starting a new bin and collecting the castings as you go. A lot of good info as usual Patrick, Stay Well!!!!

[@Vermicompost]

Thanks Brian!! We've been pumping out the videos and we appreciate you coming back to watch every time!!🪱🪱🪱

[@brianseybert192]

@@Vermicompost Your videos always puts a star on my day, like seeing an eagle or hawk while out in the garden.

[@Vermicompost]

🙏

[@nickthegardener.1120]

Your bins always look in great condition Patrick, hope they migrate over🤞🙏👌😁💪👍

[@Vermicompost]

Thank you Nick!! I hope I can keep them occupied on that feeding side long enough to get the castings out!! Thanks so much for watching!!🪱🪱🪱

[@A-V]

Good catch on that staple! Saved yourself from getting poked by it in the future 👍🏻

[@Vermicompost]

Absolutely!! Finding a staple in a worm bin is our version of finding a needle in a hay stack!! Thanks so much for taking the time to watch AV!!🪱🪱🪱

[@joesoutdoorplaces]

Great production from a small bin.

[@Vermicompost]

Thank you Joe! I've always been impressed with what this Tiny Worm Bin can do!! Thanks so much for dropping by to watch!!🪱🪱🪱

[@karlagriffiths454]

I do a similar method but in a much bigger bin using an IBC shuttle. I scrap off the top layer of castings and sift before mixing the castings.

[@Vermicompost]

I would love to have a worm bin that huge!! I can see how migrating would be a big help when harvesting castings in an IBC!! Glad to hear it can scale up to that size!! Thanks so much for watching & passing on your experience Karla!!🪱🪱🪱

[@PlantObsessed]

It is amazing what you can accomplish in such a small spot. I love how the executive producer Autumn is getting more curious. The extra volume will get them moving for sure. Good worms 👍🏼🪱😁

[@Vermicompost]

She's been mic'd up for about a year and is finally chiming in more!!😂🤣😂 I'm hoping to harvest some of these castings next check in! Thanks so much for watching Ann!!🪱🪱🪱

[@kayleighdrouin6378]

Love your videos. Thank you for being so informative!

[@Vermicompost]

I'm so glad you are enjoying our videos!! Thank you for the kind words & of course thanks so much for watching Kayleigh!!🪱🪱🪱

[@aussieallrounder6018]

Great video. Wow. That system is really working

[@Vermicompost]

Thank you!! It is Tiny but mighty!! Thanks so much for stopping by to watch!!!!🪱🪱🪱

[@matthewkenny4135]

Impressive migration!

[@Vermicompost]

Thank you Matthew! How is the worm tower holding up in the garage so far this winter? Thanks for stopping by to watch!!🪱🪱🪱

[@matthewkenny4135]

@@Vermicompost so I acquired a seed starter heat pad and have that nestled under the lid of the top tray and the temperature set to 65-75 to maintain above freezing. It’s been working great! We did fail to thaw their food enough on Friday’s feeding and it took a while to have the temperature climb back up. How active they are is impressive and I just need to remember to keep That top moistened as the heat pad can dry out the top tray a little. But that’s a good excuse to check on them. we are logging the feedings, distribution of the worms, left overs and a few other observations each time we feed and we are intentionally focusing on fast foods to allow for more frequent feedings. You did a feeding a few episodes back with lots of leaves and it got me thinking… are avocado shells more like a leaf than I had previously considered?

[@Vermicompost]

That's fantastic!! Any excuse to give them a check is a good excuse!! Sounds like you got the heat pad's timer shutting off worked out or perhaps it's another heat pad? That's some great data you're collecting! You might be right about the avocado shells ...I had a commenter recently say she thought the dinosaurs went extinct before the first avocado shell broke down😂🤣😂

[@davebanner8666]

Looking good. I just had a thought, I wonder if the worms would like peanut butter. I love your colorful feedings.

[@Vermicompost]

Thank you!! That is a great question!! I don't think I've ever fed them peanut butter or anything with peanut butter on it! I may give it a try in one of my bigger worm bins. Thanks so much for stopping by Dave!!🪱🪱🪱

[@annsalty5615]

I think the moisture from the feeding side is seeping to the other side, keeping the stragglers there. You might try lining the bottom of the feeding side with dry cardboard/paper towel to wick it up? Just an idea. Me, am too impatient so would just pick the stragglers out and call it good 😂🪱🪱🪱🪱.

[@Vermicompost]

That is a good idea Ann!! If I needed these castings right now, I would definitely pull the few stragglers out!! In such a small bin I think the worms have the ability to dine and dash if they like it on the castings side😂 Thanks so much for watching!!🪱🪱🪱

[@veronicacampbell5163]

Thank you for another great video. I have learnt quite a lot from whilst using my new 4 tier bin. Can I ask do or have you fed your worms with shredded photocopy paper?

[@Vermicompost]

Awesome!! I'm so glad you have found our videos helpful!! I have used shredded photocopy paper in this bin in the past. In fact this bin got started with that kind of paper...here is the 1st video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/nmS7oaWCgN16bKs But I recommend if you want to use paper you mix it with some shredded cardboard or shredded leaves or some other bedding that has a little more structure when it gets wet. Paper tends to mat down when it gets wet and makes it difficult for the worms and air to get through. I hope this helps!! Thanks so much for watching Veronica!!🪱🪱🪱

[@ChuanfaBuddha]

What could be used instead of egg shells for grit? Sand maybe? Thought please, thank you

[@Dragonapz]

Since I don’t eat a lot of eggs, I use ground oyster shells for my worms for grit and calcium. A bag of powdered oyster shells that will last you a long while can be bought quite cheaply online!

[@ChuanfaBuddha]

@ thanks, I appreciate the information.

[@Vermicompost]

I totally agree with @Dragonapz oyster shell is a great alternative. Some folks also use rock dust or Azomite which also adds nutrients to your soil. We have sandy soil here in Florida so I don't use sand in my worm bins, but you could use a little in your bins if you wanted to. The worms don't need much...you see me putting a lot of egg shell grit in my bins because it helps me to get rid of my egg shells and it helps to buffer the pH in the bin. I hope this helps! Thanks so much for watching!!🪱🪱🪱

[@Vermicompost]

Awesome!! Thank you for passing your tip/experience on!! And of course thanks so much for watching!!🪱🪱🪱

[@joesoutdoorplaces]

I used oyster shell made for chickens.

[@bonho8913]

Just wondering if the worms will migrate faster if you leave the side uncovered completely.

[@Vermicompost]

I bet if I left the lid off and just covered the feeding side, the migration would go faster! I'll give it a try if they have not all migrated next time I check in!! Thanks so much for watching!!🪱🪱🪱

[@Whipporwhill]

What do you do with the castings that you harvest?

[@Vermicompost]

That is a great question!! I am working on a video that shows all the different ways I use my worm castings!! The first thing I do is throw them into a storage bucket with holes. From there I will use them to make worm casting tea (a liquid fertilizer), refresh my potting soil, make new garden soil, add it directly when I plant, and scratch some into the dirt above existing plants and small fruit trees. I hope to be getting the video out by the end of the month! Thanks so much for watching!!🪱🪱🪱

[@Ryan92230]

How many worms do you roughly have now in your tiny worm bin?

[@Vermicompost]

I think I probably have about 1,000 red wigglers in here. I haven't counted them in over a year but the last three times I counted them they seemed to have hit their carrying capacity because each count was around 1,000 to 1,100. Here is the last video where we counted them: kzbin.info/www/bejne/q3mWqYOpbrloqZI and the time before that: kzbin.info/www/bejne/f57KY4ipoq1_aaM Thanks so much for watching Ryan!!🪱🪱🪱

[@GardeningwithBarchuckin]

Definitely the horizontal migration method is a great method (if you build it they will come 😂). It’s nice because if there is still good moisture or food they still hang out in the castings but as the worms are searching for food and moisture they move into the new area. 😁👍🪱

[@Vermicompost]

Yes!! I love when the worms do all the work!! I just have to make sure I get back in here in time when there is still food left!! Thanks so much for watching Rick!!🪱🪱🪱