How to Build My ALL-in-ONE Worm Bin Composting & Worm Casting Harvester, Part 2

[@teresaholland4790]

I’m going to make one this weekend for sure thanks for sharing your beautiful work

[@hughmcclanahan2048]

Organic this seems like the best worm care & casting removal system i have seen

[@iamorganicgardening]

THANK YOU, That is very kind of you...

[@philipmcdaddy5565]

Thanks! Love your ideas! Only thing to consider is taller sides so you can put a container under to catch the compost!

[@kingkongprimpinella774]

I would put this setup on the container and everything is fine. Keep it simpel and effective.

[@truderenken3248]

Mark, it is ALWAYS a joy just to watch and listen, you are someone who uses the gift given him, I believe, by God. Thank you :)

[@iamorganicgardening]

THANK YOU.. that would be nice. THANKS

[@georgepetre952]

Hi, Sir, after sifting through many videos on KZbin, your tutorial earned my vote. I'm going to build a sifter based on your design for my own casting. Thank you for sharing the idea.

[@iamorganicgardening]

Cool, thanks

[@harmonysalem9377]

Merci from Montreal, Canada.

[@KayWhite1]

Wow. Can't wait to try this. Thank you so much. An excellent instruction video.

[@iamorganicgardening]

THANK YOU for watching...

[@RBMom023]

Mark, you are brilliant! Thank you for sharing such a fabulous invention! I can't wait to build it to harvest castings from my compost tumbler. Yes, I said compost tumbler. Over a year ago I tossed in some compost that had a few worms and I thought the heat would kill the worms, but instead my compost tumbler has become a thriving "worm bin". They survive regular spins in my tumbler just fine!

[@iamorganicgardening]

Perfect.. Just let the worms do the worm. And you do not have worry about creating heat now.. THANK YOU for watching.

[@CJFarm]

Mark- When you finished making it you said, "Congratulations!" This made me laugh :))) Nice project. I have a bag of worms waiting in the garage for me to build this... thanks for your excellent videos!

[@iamorganicgardening]

I figure it is should be said. Because now you can make your own 100% organic fertilizer. THANKS

[@eugeniolopez8539]

Laughing is truly a thing of the pass. Laugh anytime you can. It's contagious : )

[@cassnot3710]

Wonderful instructions, I can't wait to build one. Thank you!!!!!

[@iamorganicgardening]

THANK YOU, Glad to hear..

[@robertcampbell999]

Thanks for sharing your invention! #IAmOrganicGardening

[@iamorganicgardening]

My Pleasure. THANK YOU.

[@dianelanderson5504]

Pretty cool. I have been looking at all ideas and this seems the best for me on a smaller scale. Thank you for sharing😎

[@iamorganicgardening]

Glad it was helpful! THANK YOU.

[@Xbandit27]

Like your idea!! Great creativity!!! Thanks for sharing!!!

[@iamorganicgardening]

THANK YOU for watching..

[@robinsouth8555]

You could find a metal basket at dollar tree for cheaper. Great video! Great idea! Thanks for sharing!

[@iamorganicgardening]

GREAT TIP...THANK YOU.

[@heatherjolly8389]

how am i just seeing this now. it's brilliant!

[@binhminh417]

Thank you!

[@kinderdm]

One question. Why do you need a two stage screening? Could you just put the smaller screen size directly onto the bucket to only get castings out to begin with? Yes it may take a bit longer spinning for the castings to get past the larger "small" pieces of organic matter, but the spinning seems very easy and fast anyway, so no less than a second screening step. This would have the added benefit of helping prevent the worms from escaping to the outer bucket even without the plastic blocker. Just wondering if I'm missing something that would necessitate a 2 stage screening vs an initial smaller screen size. I may just build one myself to try out, and worst case, I change the screen later. Thanks.

[@AlvinMcManus]

Hey you made a worm trommel! I can take this design as a basic template and build my compost sifter and a sifter for my worm castings. Really great Idea. I think I'll use my vibra-tool to do the cut out. You could also use a Dremel with a cutoff wheel if you have a Dremel. Thank you.

[@iamorganicgardening]

THANK YOU.

[@nirmal6362]

very helpful, thanks, DIY and reduce use of artificial fertilisers.

[@iamorganicgardening]

I agree 100 %.. THANK YOU.

[@fluffyhellion]

A kitty litter pan would collect the castings nicely.

[@iamorganicgardening]

Good idea... THANKS

[@eugeniolopez8539]

I like your design. Simple. One question, I am starting my worm casting, which means I have never done this before. Simple question. About how many worms do you put in a 5 gallon pail?

[@iamorganicgardening]

500 red wigglers is good. THANKS

[@recoveringsoul755]

I have a Dremel tool, that might work for cutting the bucket. It's ....somewhere.... in storage.

[@paulmitchell4033]

Thanks for the how-to-video on making the harvester! Do you have a video on starting/growing the worms in the buckets?

[@iamorganicgardening]

Sorry, I do not. It is easy just fill bucket have way with food scrapes and coffee grounds. It should be moist in side but not wet. Then add your red wigglers.

[@niceandeasyday]

I think he meant fill half way with bedding, ( carbon- paper products like shredded cardboard coconut coir, leaves), and then had a handful of food scraps. Wait until it is almost gone before adding more, so that bin doesn’t become anaerobic. Worm will not eat food scraps from your veggies and fruit until it is rotten, so it will take some time depending on how many worms you have.

[@ImASurvivorNThriver]

This was great! Thanks for sharing.

[@iamorganicgardening]

THANKS... Free 100% organic fertilizer.

[@joesams7725]

Nice video. I'm getting ready to do some sifting now. Have a bathtub full of worm castings. Tried another way . But seen your other video. Found a old metal screen door. So going to use it for the screen. No material just makes castings.

[@iamorganicgardening]

Sound like a great plan.. THANKS for sharing

[@somebodiesma]

I’m just starting to make my own worm bin. I noticed that your dirt you spun was dry. But aren’t the worm composting more wet? Do I wait and let it dry out some?

[@iamorganicgardening]

Yes, worm casting are damp.. should not be wet. You can take the bucket outside and lay it on it side . Worms do not like lite and will do to the middle. The casting will dry up a little so you can spin. We are talking about do this for about 15 minutes at a time outside. THNK YOU for asking.

[@SuperLincoln31]

Could you keep the buckets nested during the spinning, and use the outer one to catch the castings?

[@iamorganicgardening]

You would need a hole in the other bucket, which in turn you want sealed for the water leaking from the main bucket. Plus there is very little room, they seal each other when sliding in. THANKS for asking.

[@teramartindale432]

I have grown worms in Rubbermaid tubs and old cooler is under my house they were great too but I love this idea for getting the worm castings out I'm not understanding what the wastebasket is for at the end do you replace the screen in your orange bucket with the trashcan on the inside

[@jeannejohnson7127]

Great video. So easy to follow except I’m unclear for what one would use the wire wastebasket you show at the end? You you mind giving a further explanation here about that? Thank you!

[@iamorganicgardening]

SURE, Thank You for asking... It is used a a much larger fine sifter for the work casting. Instead of the little screen on top of the bucket. The holes in the wire basket are the same size as the screen in the bucket top. But much easier to use. THANKS

[@chelleweatherspoon2226]

Love this!

[@iamorganicgardening]

THANK YOU..

[@itchyego]

Thanks for taking time to produce this and share it!

[@bobwebber8521]

This is a very simple system thank you. Being a real softy felt that there are a lot of sharp things inside which can harm the worms while tumbling. I wondered if the trash barrel idea suspended in an other bin with some light shinning on it for a few hours would drive worms down into the bottom container?

[@iamorganicgardening]

I have doing it for years now... And no hurt Worms. All Smiles.

[@niceandeasyday]

The screen mesh I got has little poky cuts and I just put masking tape on the edges. Plus, if a worm does get cut in half, the head grows a new body…

[@jeffsullivan3362]

I no longer make castings, mainly because of the separating of worms from the castings, but I watched many worm bin videos while I was doing it and yours is by far the best/most simple way to do it. Maybe I wouldn't have given up had I seen it before.

[@iamorganicgardening]

THANK YOU.. always trying to help..

[@Wafflecx]

Cool project, What type of worms are those?

[@iamorganicgardening]

Red Wigglers..THANKS

[@recoveringsoul755]

Green Gregs has a channel and sells worms if you are still looking.

[@rhodesianridgebackpuppies6085]

Mark, Thank you for explaining things so well. I particularly liked your video on Fungus to bacteria ratios. Very informative. My question is about the quality of what to feed worms. Since we want "organic", does this mean that what we feed the worms must also be organic? For example, egg shells that are not from organic eggs, old celery stalks that are not organic. Would these be wrong to use since we want the casings to be organic? This question also is fitting for making your own compost. Does the green matter have to be organic? What about cardboard and newspaper? You can use it for worms and you can also use it in lasagna gardens, to block weed growth. Is this still "organic"? Thanks!

[@iamorganicgardening]

Organic has a lot of meaning to lots of people. SO lets keep it simple. The items you list are fine.. But you do not want to add grass clipping from lawns that have been sprayed..

[@rhodesianridgebackpuppies6085]

OK, so if I feed my cows grains that are not certified organic, then use the manure on my garden, a garden in which all other processes are clean - no pesticides, herbicides, man made fertilizers and so forth - is the produce in my garden considered "organic"? Suppose I wish to become "certified" - would OMRI or someone like that be willing to certify my garden produce in the above scenario? What if I dont use certified organic seeds to plant, but I use pure organic methods? Am I "breaking the rules" for say USDA approval of an organic farm? Sorry to beat the topic, but it seems that it _might_ be an issue.

[@iamorganicgardening]

I have no experience to your question.. But in Certified organic their main concern is why are you feeding them grain of any kind ( grass feed only ) and what meds are you giving them.. THANKS

[@OgMandin0]

OH NO! You might be creating MUTANT strains of earthworm!!! (>>>insert sound effect from Psycho here...) Worm poop = worm poop. The worm filters out all the evil GMOs. (Now were the feed grain radioactive that would not be the case.) Even the most anal retentive inspector would not examine what you feed worms. FWIW, NEVER volunteer ANYTHING!

[@Cash8223]

What about the holes for the worm to get oxygen?

[@niceandeasyday]

I put some near the top, of both buckets. You could also put smaller holes all along the bottom and then place a sheet or two of newspaper on the bottom of the inside bin, so that water could run through.

[@Paratrooper23]

I am halfway into building one of these. I was thinking about putting a strip of wood (top to bottom) several inches from the screen so as it turns the strip would kind of "agitate" the castings so as to avoid clumping. Your thoughts ??

[@iamorganicgardening]

It is worth a try. You can always remove it later.. Let me now how it works. THANK YOU.

[@niceandeasyday]

If you let your castings get a little drier right before harvesting, you won’t have clumping or the bedding balling up.

[@joesams7725]

I have a question about the gray garbage can. Do you have a design for it? Like how you do your small castings through it? You showed us the garbage can but you didn't show about it.

[@iamorganicgardening]

Just fill it a 1/3 of the way with material from you worm bin. Cover the top and just shake it over a plastic sheet and then you will have your worm castings. THANK YOU so very much for asking.

[@ericdale298]

Do you have any problems with the worms going through your mesh and falling into the lower bucket?

[@iamorganicgardening]

If that is happening the outer bucket is to big.. The outer bucket seats the area where the mesh is, Also it might be the hole at the bottom for the rod placement. You can place a temp plug in that large hole and just drill a dozen 1/8 hole around the bottom. Hopes this helps.. THANK YOU for asking.

[@tammywest9300]

I have big black ants in my compost/worm farm. What do I do? and is it bad?

[@iamorganicgardening]

Ants are decomposers . If there is not a very large amount and right next to you home all OK. You can always keeping turning the pile every other day and make the move out. THANK YOU for asking.

[@quochoang7317]

How much worm tea are u able to collect with that drainage hole?

[@iamorganicgardening]

About 2 cups per month.

[@ninalm7023]

Mark, can't you put 2 pieces of screen on that bucket front and back instead of putting the other screen on the lid?

[@iamorganicgardening]

I try that , but you need then large screen first with the large holes because the worm casting are wet/damp. They need to flow easily. THANK YOU.

[@kk294Darlene]

Very niffty idea Mark!! lol I think it's brilliant, just a note of thanks! also the link you left at the end of your first video, didnt work for me, not sure bout others, maybe check it out once more God bless you :D

[@thatguyonabicycleofconsurv3908]

I really like your videos... how so can you explain where we might find on Highway my market the castings did just a common people what are the selling points you know a pitch if you will because this would make a nice little weekend hobby cash flow

[@iamorganicgardening]

Big selling point is it will not burn the roots by using to much. You can plant into it using nothing but worm casting. Or you can use a 50 / 50 blend.... 100 % organic with no smell...

[@gisealdunn8]

So ingenious. Can't wait till my husband wakes up😀😀. But I have a couple questions. How much work food do i put into the bucket? Is there any benefit to adding kitchen scraps to leaves? Can the bin stay outside in my zone 6b New Jersey garden? Thank you again for sharing your wealth of knowledge with us.

[@iamorganicgardening]

Hi . at least half full .. no more. Yes. kitchen scraps is full of water and stick together to much. And might smell. The bin says inside only. In temps 60 to 70 degrees. THANK YOU for watching.

[@pabrici7236]

Hi, where can i get this orange buckets? Can i use the ones they used as oil bucket (as in the oil use in vehicles like trucks)? I'm aiming for free ones just saying. Thanks

[@iamorganicgardening]

You can get free ones from a bakery that held icing in it... Better than the oil buckets. THANK YOU.

[@pabrici7236]

I AM ORGANIC GARDENING thank you. I'm here in the Philippines bytheway but that's a good tip (*bakery).

[@joesams7725]

Why you put the screen inside the buck rather then the outside of the bucket?

[@iamorganicgardening]

So you can side the other bucket on to it. Thanks

[@rubycarpenterrub9471]

How many worms to start?

[@iamorganicgardening]

500 red wigglers, I started with. THANK YOU.

[@pincheguarito591]

Don't the worms get dizzy? ;-)

[@iamorganicgardening]

Yes, that is why they pooh more..LOL. THANK YOU for watching.

[@mspat8195]

Pinche Guarito 😂😂😂😂😂

[@samstewart4444]

It just occurred to me that removing castings from a worm bin is the equivalent of shoveling manure out of a horse's stall. Only much easier.

[@iamorganicgardening]

Thanks , Have a great gardening year ahead,

[@thatguyonabicycleofconsurv3908]

Yep

[@thatguyonabicycleofconsurv3908]

Just drill each 4 corners for a neet corner cut

[@iamorganicgardening]

That would look much better .. YES.. THANKS.

[@hashhandzourdoororganic6387]

sweet

[@iamorganicgardening]

THANK YOU...

[@Losbitiboys4441]

Homedepot has that basket for $14.00

[@thatguyonabicycleofconsurv3908]

Sure thing

[@iamorganicgardening]

THANKS.

[@TomCrosman]

This is not the same unit as part 1, Part one shows no bolts holding the screen on.

[@iamorganicgardening]

TRUE. Part 2 I improved it making it more easy to build. Plus the round bolts head make it easier to slide the buckets apart due to a small air gap. THANKS for asking. Enjoy.

[@ronyerke9250]

I like your trash basket sifter better than the bucket lid one. Office supply stores also sell them as well as other items nade from the same mesh, so whatever is on sale or fits your space can be acommodated. 👍 I wish those baskets had mesh bottoms, they'd be good for some cleanout chore I do. Water would drain right out. I had to cut the bottoms out of 2 buckets and cut 1 down to make a retaining ring for window screen.

[@iamorganicgardening]

I enjoy the basket much better also.. THANKS

[@thatguyonabicycleofconsurv3908]

Why not rivit screen

[@iamorganicgardening]

You can if you wish... THANKS

[@PortlandOregonHomes]

I have a garbage can from IKEA that was $5, but I don't see it anymore. Here's a similar one. www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/80153254/