How To Store Worm Castings

Have you ever been buried under a pile of worm castings? I mean a pile of castings so big... that you can't use them right away?
I've been busy with my Worm Castings Screen Harvester and I've got a pile like that right here in front of me.
Iowa Worm Composting Blog Post:
www.iowawormco...
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"6 Things You Need To Know Before Ordering Worms":
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We are going to talk today about a long-term worm castings storage solution.
I am going to take a common cat litter bucket, modify it slightly, and turn it into a long-term castings storage solution.
Before we do that, let's talk a little bit about worm castings and what castings are.
Let's think about what we have to consider when planning a long-term storage solution for worm castings.
Think about worm castings as a living biological entity.
Castings are a collection of bacteria, some fungi, probably a few beneficial nematodes, amoebas, plant growth hormones, and humic acids.
We need to keep our worm castings "alive".
There are two things that castings need to survive. They are moisture and air.
So, any castings storage solution we consider has to maintain the moisture and allow air for the bacteria to breathe.
Keeping this in mind...what are our choices?
Put in a breathable sandbag. This allows for good airflow but dries out quickly.
Not easy to moisten castings without removing them from the bag. Do not recommend for long-term storage. A month or two max.
Use a plastic bucket with a tight-sealing lid and modify to limit air-flow. I use a common cat litter bucket that comes with the lid.
I modify it so there is some air supply. I put moist castings in it, cover with wet newspaper, and put the lid back on.
This will keep your castings moist and aerobic for over a year. You should check the moisture every six months.
This is how we store our worm castings at Iowa Worm Composting. We start with a common cat litter bucket.
This one's a Member's Mark so I'm assuming it came from Sam's Club. These cat litter buckets are all pretty similar.
They are basically constructed mostly the same.
This will apply to most plastic buckets that have a tight-fitting lid. That would include a regular 5-gallon bucket so long as it has a tight lid.
We use cat litter buckets because we have them. You should use what YOU have.
We are going to modify the plastic bucket by drilling some small holes. We use these holes to provide an air supply to the inside of the bucket.
The reason that we use small holes is to limit the amount of air.
This will keep the biological life of the castings intact while not letting too much moisture escape.
What we're going to do is use a drill. I have about 1/8 inch drill bit here. The exact size is not that important.
We're going to drill two holes in each corner so there will be a total of 8 holes in the upper-sides of the bucket.
We want to drill it as high as possible on the side of the bucket because we don't want the castings to come up over top of the holes.
We are going to drill some holes. This is not fancy... you don't need to measure or anything.
We drill the 8 holes and we now have a long-term worm castings storage solution.
I actually sell castings in these buckets. All I do is pull the cat litter labels off and put my own label on.
My label for the worm castings has the directions for use.
I sell most of my worm castings. I always measure how many worm castings are put in the bucket. If you are storing castings for your own use...
this is probably unnecessary. Just be sure that the top of the worm castings stays below the holes you have drilled. Do NOT pack them in.
We want to allow for air flow. Scoop the worm castings in and let them settle on their own.
Cover the castings with a section of a WET newspaper. A 4 sheet thickness is about right. We need to allow for air flow.
Be sure that the newspaper is BELOW the holes you have drilled.
Put the lid on the bucket and seal it up. You are almost done.
The last thing is to write the date on the bucket. I write the date on the side of the bucket.
The reason for this is for vertical stacking. I can stack the buckets up and still see the date.
This is the same reason that the holes are drilled on the side of the bucket.
You should check the moisture of your worm castings every six months at least. This is often enough for our operation.
However, your climate may be different. Starting out...check more frequently until you know your own unique time table.
If you check your worm castings and they are getting too dry...just add moisture to them.
There you have it. We drill a few holes in a common cat litter bucket and Voila! We have an easy, cheap solution for long-term worm castings storage.

[@TrapperBV]

The intro is an absolute gem! Just started my first worm bin with about 150 worms because I’m cheap and want to see how they replicate and learn from small inputs. Thanks for all the great info!

[@brookeonyx6271]

I bet you’ve at least tripled the number you started with by now. I started with the same in 2019, now in 2023 I have over 8lbs of those same worms and have added a couple other species so have over 20lbs total! I sell them and the casting to locals now. I started with 150 blue worms, added 500 Euros in another bin then bought 1lb of pure red wigglers. Just those few grew to more than I thought I’d ever want! Now I want to try some AFC’s but have to make room for them first!

[@Dee.C]

My husband calls my grand daughter and I worm-a-holics . We started with one bin and now have 12 plus 3 composting bags and a few other containers full of worms.

[@kj_H65f]

I started with one at the end of April, now I'm at 4. It's really fun.

[@bettyturley6735]

I’m a worm-a-holic.

[@sakuraamend]

This is the funnest and funniest worm tutorial I have watched. Thank you so much for the great worm composting tips and your wonderful sense of humor!

[@grantfitch8393]

These are the KZbin videos im here for. Authentic, not over-produced, perfect.

[@iowawormcomposting2565]

Worms need bedding (carbon source). This can be a combination of corrugated cardboard, newspaper, dried leaves, peat moss, coco coir, compost, etc. The food source is nitrogen ie. Vegetable scraps, Use bwdding materials that you have ready access to. Moisten the bedding until a handful with a hard squeeze only drips a few drops of water.

[@michaeldvorak8140]

I’m having the same thing happening to my worm indoor farm; too many for my living space, way too many castings, and no place to put them. So good show. You’ve shared practical advice for many folks. Thanks

[@hannesaltenfelder4302]

I really appreciate your down-to-earth attitude.

[@iowawormcomposting2565]

Thanks!

[@jackgreenstalk777]

great tip! thanks for the informative, straight forward info. don't need fancy video editing, or special effects. this is great 👍👏👏

[@jolynn563]

Your awesome! Never change, from one "Wormie" to another. Worming in Oregon, heading to Arizona, wish me luck. I have done my research, and there are a small hand full of other worm farmers in Arizona, but it is a bit more challenging. I am up for the challenge. Great tips! Thank you!

[@charlesborum8153]

African night crawlers love hot weather try those big guys

[@sandrarichardson2713]

Having always used my castings pretty quickly I guess I never thought of a long term storage for them. But as my little worm farm is expanding this is terrific information. Appreciate you sharing your experience and solutions. Jesus bless.

[@carlafawcett3851]

Wonderful!! I used to be normal too. One bin turned into 4! My poor hubby : )

[@channelclosingastrollshave9447]

Subbed as soon as saw u behind all that casting :)))😂😂

[@bluegreen4430]

I did as well. I'm a worm aholic and my wife still loves me

[@svelanikolova5776]

I used to be normal as well. Now I call the worms pinkie winkies ndsetup worm buffets all over my garden I love these guys.

[@Zavala-z9g]

I use coffee filter paper to cover my castings inside a bucket or plastic bag like potting soil bags with a few holes. I replace the coffee paper or just add some moisture every month and keep them in a cool area away from sunlight.

[@Journey4Vitality]

Thank you for keeping it simple.

[@JulieRohloff]

Well this IS exciting! So happy to see you here! Thanks for the great advice! I have not even harvested one batch yet, but I'm learning all I can about it!

[@KBorham]

Great ideas. Most city water supplies use chloramine (a chlorine substitute) to chlorinate water (check your municipal water report to confirm). Aerating will not reduce chloramine, however, a scant 1/8 teaspoon of common Ascorbic Acid (powdered Vitamin C from amazon, health food store or pharmacy) added to 5 gallons of city tap water will virtually eliminate chloramine and chlorine. It will also slightly reduce the pH (YMMV). Happy worming

[@abderazakbensmail7164]

Thanks from Algeria. I love ur explanation

[@iowawormcomposting2565]

Thank you

[@carolpettengill7690]

Total newbie gardener, I heard that worm castings were good so in anticipation of doing a garden beginning in May I purchased worm castings, totally not knowing they were alive. Thanks for the video tutorial. They came in a sealed plastic bag. Do I need to do anything to protect them?

[@clb50]

My question exactly. The bag from Home Depot doesnt have holes for air and says nothing about putting in a different container so I'm perplexed.

[@عمرالصالح-خ8و]

Yes

[@iowawormcomposting2565]

I do not put magnesium in my soil. There is usually enough that is naturally occurring.

[@newbiegardener3980]

another great informative video!! thank you

[@iowawormcomposting2565]

Thank you

[@PeggyLeeSebeni]

Thanks for sharing 👍

[@shitaldesai2005]

If the castings are too wet to harvest. What can I use to dry it.

[@mrfavela2010]

Where do you store it? Its safe to store outside? Like here in Michigan is it safe to leave outdoors in winter season? Or indoors? Shade or by the window?

[@richardfenneman9925]

I store mine inside in the basement. It is best to keep them from freezing. The good news is that they do not smell bad :)

[@larryspinks5533]

Thank you very informative

[@alaxandersupertramp6955]

Rick has worms!!lol

[@thompsonje23]

Where do you get the cat litter buckets? 0:57

[@Recakillu]

Hey Rick, love your videos man! Can you do a video about bedding?? I live in a city and i cant use manure as bedding, so I want to use shredded paper and cardboard, do you think it can work?

[@iowawormcomposting2565]

That can absolutely work. I would recommend using peat moss or coconut coir as a base 50-60%. The reason for this is its moisture retention properties. The other 40-50% can be a mixture of shredded paper or corrugated cardboard. I will do a video on bedding. You are not the first to ask. It is on my to-do list. Thanks for the compliment and for watching.

[@XaYaZaZa]

LOL I love it!!

[@RichardBoone_RydwithRiq]

Hi and thanks for the very informative video. I just harvested my first batch of castings, about 4 gallons. Is there any concern about using the fresh castings for potting indoor plants? I know that there are baby worms and eggs in the castings, will these be a threat to the roots of my plants?

[@dennisseeker36]

no they will not hurt living plants. they only can eat the rotting stuff in fact they will help by making more castings toss in a few small pieces of old veggies or something to feed them

[@herlindeclark5488]

Thank you!

[@iowawormcomposting2565]

You are welcome. Thanks for watching.

[@sic-n-tiredtired4273]

Great video for long-term storage how much do you charge for your worm castings?

[@cherylgavette6888]

Do you offer instructions on how to harvest the castings?

[@GreenfieldsHomeplace]

This was the video he did on harvesting. ☺️ kzbin.info/www/bejne/nJO5gqloramXo80si=Lv6z0PTr8WeizyZ7

[@TiffanyPegoda]

Great Video

[@iowawormcomposting2565]

Thank you. It really is an easy solution to worm castings storage.

[@kathleenwest2381]

How much do you sell a bucket of castings for?

[@alesancoeduard8947]

100 dollars

[@rodyconcepcion1168]

I'm from the Philippines,

[@davidjames6379]

I'm useing Pure Life castings 2 cups and Crosbys fancy molasses 1 table spoon. In a 5 gallon pail and 13 hours latter no frothy bubbles?

[@davidisaacson9328]

Seems a little low on the molasses for 5 gallons. I aerate brew in a 10 gallon tub and use 1/3-1/2 cup molasses. Try 1/4 cup and brew for 24-36 hours.

[@ceang8659]

Hi. Are the microorganisms still alive in storage? And does the compost smell bad after being stored for months? Thanks.

[@sangv8427]

OMG! In the beginning of the video I got scared 🥺

[@alaskansourdoughwormsgarde4392]

I do the very same thing, including selling by the gallon.

[@richardfenneman9925]

Great minds think alike? It does work well.

[@kathleenwest2381]

How much do you sell a gallon for?

[@davidjames6379]

With water that has been bubbled

[@clb50]

When we get a bag of worm castings in a bag from the store, how are they staying "alive"?

[@iowawormcomposting2565]

The bag has to be "breathable" and the castings need to be moist.

[@jamesjohnson5542]

Wooormsss :D Great video :DD

[@budhanandham4156]

Thanks&nice

[@ronniebarbee6636]

How much for the casting

[@zzz8596]

Hi Rick , i think I have castings , but not 100% sure , they are very black , but when I put them through a sieve they just clump up like clay , maybe too wet I'm not sure , should I dry them , then put through a sieve , I want them to go fluffy like the ones you have in the video , thank you

[@iowawormcomposting2565]

They sound like they are too wet. Try to break them up and spread in a layer to airdry. You can also lay them on newspaper or cardboard. That will help absorb the moisture more quickly.

[@zzz8596]

Iowa Worm Composting thanks for the reply I'll try that

[@freddytwotimes5030]

Hi, recently sourced some local worm castings. Is there any way of checking the quality? Also has some very small worms and some larvae not sure if this is means anythig but is this normal? Thank you I appreciate the videos

[@iowawormcomposting2565]

Not really without some expensive testing. We spend over $400 testing every batch of Earthworm Naturals Worm Castings. However, since you have them...use them. Watch your plants for results. Having some worms and other compost bin bugs in castings is pretty normal. Nothing to worry about.

[@andrewpierce1588]

A cheap way is to buy a cheap microscope and look at a sample under the scope. You can then check to see the diversity of the microbes and fungi structures that are present. For learning how to interpret what you see follow Dr. Elain Ingham's work on the soil food web. That is the cheapest way I have found to evaluate my soil health...by checking the biodiversity of microbes and fungi present in the soil samples.

[@fkvtsxhk]

Why is my worm casting full of springtails inside?

[@iowawormcomposting2565]

Springtails are common in composting bins. They are friendly composters and do not hurt anything.

[@DeanWAnderson]

Rick, have you - or anyone else - checked the castings under a microscope after six months to see the level of microbial life and diversity as compared to same when you put the castings first into the bucket?

[@usnamom78]

Yes, Urban Worm Farm. life is good or better except for Nematodes.

[@kingmorgan4097]

do you ship your worm casting to sell do you have a website?

[@iowawormcomposting2565]

yes, we do ship worm castings. Our website is: iowawormcomposting.com

[@kingmorgan4097]

@@iowawormcomposting2565 nice thank you 😊 especially fast response im going to give your castings a try ill post review on your next vid

[@stephenedwardtaggart5735]

I think it's good good how the compost worms back down the waste I put some yeast in my compost bin it speeds it up

[@buckywilson5667]

👍👍

[@kianatom3]

What do you use as a base for your worm bin? I’ve started my first worm bins and I use compost from my compost pile and I add veggies scraps or watermelon rinds to feed. Do you recommend something else?

[@philpetersen4477]

I've used a hydrated block of coconut coir.

[@Dee.C]

You can use many things, coconut choir , peat , shredded paper , shredded cardboard, even hard wood pellets like organic stove pellets or horse and rabbit bedding type.

[@littlebittathisnthatfirear8048]

That bit looked so close to your fingers. Should think about not doing things like that as ppl will follow.

[@andrewpierce1588]

If a person cannot figure out how to use a drill without hurting themselves they have bigger problems. Life is harder than that. We need to stop accommodating the lowest common denominators in our society.

[@littlebittathisnthatfirear8048]

@@andrewpierce1588 some would say that the lowest common denominator are the one's constantly giving up on ppl.

[@littlebittathisnthatfirear8048]

@@andrewpierce1588 but yeah humanity is screwed.

[@CanadianBear47]

Hi there I portion of my worm bin has gone anaerobic is it possible to expose to o2 and can fix problem?

[@iowawormcomposting2565]

You can but it would probably be easier to just change the bedding out.

[@iowawormcomposting2565]

Thanks!

[@knoxurbanhomestead]

so if the wet newspaper is on the top of the castings, how does the air get in and especially to the bottom of it?

[@brooklyngiraffe]

Ha ha ha! “I used to be normal.” I feel the same way about my worms! I’m crazy about them, too!

[@kcb3rd]

Me too.

[@notbeefyproductions7109]

Thankyou for this informative video,Beautiful casting there :)

[@LittleCountryCabin]

Great video! Just the info I needed! Thank you. New sub🤗

[@freedomfighter1324]

Great video Sir, simple yet powerful, Nowadays they sell it dry in plastic bags.

[@KeithBingham-q6h]

Cost to bay casting

[@minnesotagardener282]

Can you tell me if adding lactobacillus culture to new worm beds is harmful or beneficial to worm production? Thanks

[@JulieRohloff]

yeah, I also want to know that. I ferment grain for my chickens, so I have a lot of it....

[@garyanderson283]

Hi just saw your post and I’d like to ask a question if I may. I have just come across a heap of five year old castings that are dry is it any good for anything. Your advice would be greatly appreciated. Regards Gary.

[@ftnwo7829]

You could cycle it back through a new bin .

[@Hoteod1965]

How much you sell your bucket casting

[@iowawormcomposting2565]

check out iowawormcomposting.com for pricing on worm castings

[@marjoriejohnson6535]

Confession. ....Once a worm farmer ,always a worm farmer,. I have done it since the 70 's. Even if I try to stop I don't seem To be able to.

[@georgejlindneriii5765]

How much are you worms and I'm assuming you sell them by the pound? And is there anything you do special and make them multiply even faster?

[@adamschneider5305]

Thank you for this information . It's nice to be able to get information like this on you tube . Who better than a Worm farmer to go to. Have a wonderful day .

[@thefly7123]

Thank you for your fastantic video. I have a question for you sir, if you could answer please., can you sterlise the castings or would you kill all the goodness? how i can get rid of seeds from tomatoes, cucumber.. and other fruits and veg waste? Thank you very much

[@jamesjohnson5542]

Do you put magnesium in your soil in order to clog the pores? Please get back to me time sensitive matter love james johnson

[@annenauman693]

Can you store them outside in the winter when it freezes Hugh From Grand Bend

[@johnhuong7039]

Sir, how much do you sell for 3 gallons,of worm castings

[@ronniebarbee6636]

How much is your worms and do you ship

[@keithtomlian4066]

How much do you sell your castings for

[@patElfpat]

Alright, I have about 20 gallons of castings and I don’t think they have been damp enough. Can I rejuvenate them by dampening them and mixing them with new castings? Will they do well with a wet newspaper covering under the container lid or should I use dried leaves? When I put leaves in my worm containers I ended up with pinch bugs and many spiders. I don’t mind spiders at all but in doors didn’t seem like the best environment for the spiders. Thanks. I crowded a bunch of questions in.

[@iowawormcomposting2565]

You certainly can add water to your worm castings. Just be sure to use water that has been sitting for 24 hours or has been treated with Vitamin C powder. We don't want to introduce chlorine or chloramines to the castings. I add wet newspaper to the top of the worm castings and close the lid. This will usually keep the castings moist for 6 months or longer. If your castings dry out over time...dump the castings in a large tray, add water, remix, and put back in the bucket. Hope this answers your questions. Thanks for watching.

[@mikeschulze909]

How do you ensure there are no worms left in your castings? I am assuming when I harvest I may not get all the cocoons.

[@iowawormcomposting2565]

You can screen your bedding which lets your castings fall through. The screen will catch the worms, cocoons, and unprocessed material.

[@ctmiddz]

Hi Rick, a great video, thank you! My castings are too wet and won’t sift in your basket. How can I get them dry when I have worms that haven’t migrated out of the bin? I have a bin system and have a feeding bin on top of this tray but the worms have not all migrated although I’ve been feeding in the top bin for several months. How do you get the worms out so you can harvest? Update: Your recommendations worked, thanks!!

[@richardfenneman9925]

Hi Carol, Moisture control is always a problem in stackable bins. All of the worms NEVER migrate to the upper tray and your castings are very wet. One trick is to line a heavy cardboard box with dry newspaper and dump the entire tray contents (worms and all) into the box. Cover with more dry newspaper and close the box. Check it in a week and fluff the contents. If it is still too wet... close it back up and give them another week. You can screen the worms castings with the worms still in them. The Screener will catch the worms, cocoons, and unprocessed materials. You can add this to another tray. This sounds like a good idea for a video. Hope this helps you out.

[@campdavidsonfunctionaltrai8583]

you did not say how long you can keep it alive and if Temperature (cold weather) affects it.

[@iowawormcomposting2565]

You can keep worm castings for at least a couple of years if the moisture is maintained. Good practice is to check the moisture every 6 months or so in the buckets. Add water if they are getting dry. Freezing temps will reduce the microbe counts but not destroy the castings. Store them above freezing for best results.

[@campdavidsonfunctionaltrai8583]

thanks for getting back. I put them into a greenhouse and add some rain water. This is my first year with the worms so I did not know how long the bacteria would last.

[@glokell3852]

Thanks for the helpful video. Question: How did you get your castings to be dry and crumbly? I separated my worms from castings yesterday but they are still wet and clayish. I thought about leaving the castings to dry out a little but the flies kept landing in it.

[@iowawormcomposting2565]

You can dry them out by mixing them every few days. It may take a week or two to get them ready to sift.

[@glokell3852]

@@iowawormcomposting2565 Leaving them open to the air or covered in a worm bin? Are flies laying eggs in it a concern?

[@iowawormcomposting2565]

You leave them open to the air. I have never had any problem with flies. However, if there is a lot of uneaten food in the castings, that could be a problem.

[@marilyn4888]

Good video 💕✌️

[@richardfenneman9925]

Thank you.

[@ambersamusements5257]

Thank you!

[@iowawormcomposting2565]

You are most welcome. Thanks for watching.

[@chewee2k]

Nice video - nothing fancy, just good info. Keep up the good work.