Rotating Your Worm Tower Like a Pro! | Vermicompost Worm Farm

[@Vermicompost]

Below are some of the items I use for vermicomposting & my channel's videos. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases at no additional cost to you if you use these links. Thank you for supporting this 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 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/4bXN5XP 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 Wrigglebrew Worm Casting Tea amzn.to/46PhV2A Food Dehydrator amzn.to/3O5Uj2H Mosquito Dunks 6 pack amzn.to/3Oe4Sl0 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 2 camera amzn.to/3oxCc80 Insta360 One X2 camera amzn.to/3nqV6hp iPhone 13 Max Pro amzn.to/3nq52aU Canon EOS Rebel T8i amzn.to/3HcBuX6 4 Ocean bracelets I wear Multiple colors to chose from bracelets amzn.to/3HMbHEx 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

[@peggyhelblingsgardenwhatyo7920]

Great job Patrick, Your explanation is so thorough ❤ I hope you are enjoying our first "Cold" night! Only 54°F at 4a.m, November 22nd!

[@Vermicompost]

@@peggyhelblingsgardenwhatyo7920 I almost brought the plants in it felt so cold when we took the dog out last night!!🪱🪱🪱

[@teetwo56]

Watching your video reminds me it’s time to rotate my bins!

[@Vermicompost]

Yay!! That's my favorite part, getting to see what's in each level!! Glad I could be a little reminder to have fun with your worm tower!! Thanks so much for watching!!🪱🪱🪱

[@A-V]

I don't have one of these kinds of tower systems... but if I did then having an instructional video like this would be a godsend 👍🏻

[@Vermicompost]

Thanks AV!! You've mentioned in some of your videos about how the commenters pass on great ideas and this worm tower really got working well due to several tips from my commenters. Thanks for the kind words!!🪱🪱🪱

[@A-V]

I wonder how much longer before the manufacturers of these systems will adopt the method (?).... :)

[@Vermicompost]

They should!!! 😀

[@tigco1121]

So glad I'm finally caught up! I've watched each of your bins start to finish so I could see the evolution and learn along side you. For the first time after several restarts I've finally have had bins that made it a year.🎉 Thanks to your videos I run them more efficiently now. Thanks Autumn and Patrick!

[@Vermicompost]

Oh wow!!! Thank you so much for watching all our videos!!! We are so glad they have been helpful!! Those early ones are a little hard for me to watch...my editing has come a long way...and has a long way to go😂🤣😂 That's fantastic to hear you have run your worm bin successfully through all four seasons!! Thanks for the great positive feedback, we really appreciate hearing it!!🪱🪱🪱

[@PlantObsessed]

I like the precision of how many days to finish. Nice clean castings. Squirrels are a menace here too. 😃🪱👍🏼

[@Vermicompost]

I've got a squirrelpocalypse here!! Spring is even worse!! I love how a tray is done every 60 days (if you get to it😂) producing a conveyor belt of castings every 60 days!! Thanks so much for watching Ann!!🪱🪱🪱

[@tetianakolokolova1752]

OMG, this is the best explanation ever! I watched many others but couldn't get much from them, just a general idea of how to do it. Your charts helped me a lot! I like the idea with shredded paper at the bottom. Many thanks; you saved my day and inspired me! 😂

[@Vermicompost]

Thank you!! I'm so glad you found it helpful!! Thanks for letting me know you liked the charts, I'll make sure I keep using them when I do my future rotation videos. We really appreciate all the positive feedback, thanks so much for taking the time to comment and watch our video!!🪱🪱🪱

[@stephenb5757]

I bought my first vermihut tower earlier this year. It was my first time trying vermicomposting and it started off horribly. Instant fruit flies problems following the instructions that came with it.Then I came across your videos and I started using your method and the problems went away pretty quickly!!! I just got my first harvest about a month ago and I have a thriving tower.YOU ROCK! THANKS FOR ALL THE GREAT INFO! Appreciate your videos.

[@Vermicompost]

Oh wow!! That is so awesome!! I'm so glad our videos have helped you get your VermiHut running smoothly without those pesky fruit flies!! Sorry it took so long for me to respond, for some reason KZbin flagged this comment and I just saw it waiting for me to approve it??!!? Anyway thanks for the kind words and thanks so much for watching Stephen!!🪱🪱🪱

[@brianseybert192]

Five years ago when I started raising worms, I looked at all the different systems out their to raise worms at home, including the towers. I ended up starting a single tote system, later finding out, did not need to drill all those stupid holes, lol. Had this video been out their at the time, I probably would have gone with a tower system. The main reason I did not choose a tower was it seemed way to complicated, just to raise worms. None of the videos like yours or Rick from "Garden with Barchuckin" explained it in the succinct manner you guys do. I would highly recommend a tower system to anyone starting to raise worms, small footprint, easily managed plus a regular supply of castings. Excellent video Patrick! Stay Well!!!!

[@Vermicompost]

You nailed it right there Brian; small footprint, easily managed and a regular supply of worm castings!! I actually waited for my neighbor to buy a VermiHut before I committed and I started what became my Outdoor Worm Bin , but when I saw how easy it was I bought one and the rest is history!! Thanks for sharing your knowledge & experience with us!!🪱🪱🪱

[@madhat127]

Hi Patrick and Autumn, great informational video as usual. I use the same method for my worm towers. I have found it to be very easy to keep the system healthy and less disruptive over all. Keep up the good work. Have fun, Mark : )

[@Vermicompost]

Hello Mark!! Thank you for the kind words!! Although it is sometimes hard for me to explain without confusing things in my videos, like you said, it is very easy to run this rotation method to maximize the health & efficiency of this system! Thanks so much for watching!!🪱🪱🪱

[@joesoutdoorplaces]

This is by far the best explanation of your system of rotation.

[@Vermicompost]

Thanks Joe!! I always wonder if what I'm saying makes sense!! I appreciate your positive feedback and long time support!!🪱🪱🪱

[@eq4175]

your system is by far the easiest method I have tried. I get cleaner castings and its pretty easy to do.

[@Vermicompost]

That's awesome!! I'm happy to hear it's working so good for you as well!! After trying different techniques, this is the one that works the best for me!! Thanks so much for the great feedback & of course thanks so much for watching!!🪱🪱🪱

[@oldionecanobi9183]

Thanks for the update! I miss your videos and enjoy your presentation.

[@Vermicompost]

Thank you!! I should be back to a regular schedule now. I have a couple more videos filmed waiting for me to edit. Thanks so much for the kind words and for taking the time to watch!!🪱🪱🪱

[@ausfoodgarden]

Nice video Patrick. I only have a 3-level bin so I do an inoculating tray, preharvest, and feeding on the top. My preharvest is moved to a separate tote to finish off and give me time to bait out any leftover worms. Any big bits after harvest go into the feeding tray. It seems to be working pretty well. Cheers!

[@Vermicompost]

That's great to hear your three tray system is working so well with this method!! That is a great idea to finish off the castings in a separate tote. That is kind of the same thing that happens in my storage container with the harvests of my other worm bins. Thanks so much for watching & passing on how you manage your 3-level bin!!🪱🪱🪱

[@dnawormcastings]

Great video 🇳🇿🪱

[@Vermicompost]

Thank you!! I appreciate you taking the time to watch from halfway across the globe!!🪱🪱🪱

[@peggyhelblingsgardenwhatyo7920]

Hi Patrick and Autumn, Happy Thanksgiving to you and your families ❤

[@Vermicompost]

Thank you Peggy!! The family is growing and so is the turkey!! Happy Thanksgiving to you and Rick!!!🪱🪱🪱

[@jamesmanton8569]

Love watching your videos! I started my worm tower a couple weeks ago with my boys and it’s been a blast seeing them eat all our old food scraps. How do you store all your castings and how do you incorporate it into your garden?

[@Vermicompost]

That's so cool you and your boys are enjoying your worm tower!! I got one for my oldest son and one for my brother and they love them as well!! It is fascinating to watch the worms devour the food scraps like in this time lapse video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/iqqWd4Gemq95pcU Here is another video about how I store my worm castings: kzbin.info/www/bejne/jXTIp42IhdqMq8k and some ideas on how I use them: kzbin.info/www/bejne/jX65f3ihapyCiNU I also made a video on how I make seed starting mixes with them: kzbin.info/www/bejne/oITFlZttmsR3ZpY I need to make a consolidated video on how I use them, but there are 4 main ways...a handful when I plant a seedling. 10% by volume added to my potting soil to refresh it each year. 20% by volume with a bunch of other ingredients to make potting soil or seed starting mixes. And finally I put a bunch in a mesh bag and put it in a 5 gallon bucket with a bubbler to make worm casting tea which I drench over my plants as a liquid fertilizer. I hope this helps!! Thanks so much for watching James!!🪱🪱🪱

[@petrah.1679]

Vielen, vielen Dank. Ich habe mir fast alle Videos angeschaut mit dem Übersetzer, da ich nicht sehr viel in englisch verstehe. Der Übersetzer ist nicht immer korrekt 😂, doch habe ich sehr viel gelernt. Dein Rotationssystem bei Deinem Wurm Tower ist perfekt, ich habe es endlich verstanden.💡 habe 2 Worm Cafe. Ich interessiere mich auch sehr für Urban worm bag. Ich starte in ein paar Tagen damit. Das hilft mir als Anfängerin sehr. Danke. 😊

[@Vermicompost]

Vielen Dank, dass Sie sich unsere Videos angesehen haben!! Ich bin so froh, dass dieses Video geholfen hat, zu erklären, wie ich mein System rotiere! Es ist nicht immer einfach, es in einem Video zu erklären. Ich bin sicher, der Übersetzer lässt mich ein paar lustige Dinge sagen, da ich manchmal durch das, was ich sagen will, stolpere 😂 Das ist großartig, dass Sie 2 Wurmcafés haben! Ich bin sicher, dass sie eine Menge toller Wurmkot produzieren. Sie werden den Urban Worm Bag absolut lieben!! Es dauert eine Weile, ihn mit Material zu füllen, wenn Sie von vorne beginnen, aber vielleicht können Sie etwas vom Inhalt Ihres Wurmcafés hinzufügen, um einen Vorsprung zu haben!! Nochmals vielen Dank fürs Anschauen!!🪱🪱🪱

[@jbc0831]

I love this system but I have not had good luck with it. The struggle continues- I know I am doing something the worms don't like. It isn't the system nor my worms; I'm sure it is me! Anyways- I wanted to share something: I thought I would do my worms a favor and grind up my unsalted, unroasted peanut shells. I ground them to a powder but when I poured the dust on top of my worm bin , all the exposed worms reacted as if I had poured fire on them. I don't know if there is something very irritating in the shells, but they really reacted badly. I didn't notice a die-off so I doubt there is something toxic in the shells, but there is something irritating. I don't add peanut shells to my worm bin as a result now. Thanks for your videos. They are really helpful.

[@Vermicompost]

I'm so glad you are enjoying our videos!! I bet if we looked under a microscope those ground up peanut shells would have lots of spikes that irritate the worms. I imagine after they get moist, any pointy parts bend and the worms are able to eat them up. Having no eyes to see or ears to hear, I bet their sense of touch is pretty powerful!! Hit me up with any questions or specific issues with your VermiHut and maybe we can find out what's been going on!!?! Thanks so much for watching and taking the time to warn us about the ground peanut shells!!🪱🪱🪱

[@TerpyTen]

And sometimes you look into your bottom 2 inoculating trays and realize they've been turned to castings too 😂. Great video as always. Thanks for the solid info 👍

[@Vermicompost]

Yes!! 😂 When I go past 60 days or If give them a lot of juicy feedings I get some extra bonus castings in the inoculating trays! I'm so glad you are enjoying our videos!! Thanks for the kind words and of course thanks for all your support!!🪱🪱🪱

[@annsalty5615]

Those pesky squirrels 😂. All mine are outside now and so far no chipmunk attacks. I am also testing how much those Vermihut materials can withstand the outside. So far so good! Even with heavy rocks holding down the top from the wind storms. We only had 12 hour power outage here. We major lucked out.

[@Vermicompost]

Oh wow that sounds like quite the storm!! I have been pretty impressed with how sturdy my VermiHut is...especially with how much I bang them around and use them to sift! Only squirrel teeth have been able to do any damage so far😂🤣😂 That's good to hear the chipmunks haven't taken any interest! I don't imagine they will, my tray was empty and sitting in one of their major paths they take between the trees. Thanks so much for dropping by to watch Ann!!🪱🪱🪱

[@nickthegardener.1120]

Great video as usual Patrick.👌👍😁

[@Vermicompost]

Thank you Nick!! We planted bare root strawberries a couple of weeks ago and I was thinking of you and your strawberry patch with the worm bin in the center while I was planting! Thanks for watching and for all your great videos as well!🪱🪱🪱

[@LindaFee-l4o]

I bought the same worm tower you are using because your system and your videos are so well done! My one frustration is that my pre harvest tray castings have too high of a moisture content because of the moisture in the food that the top feeding tray gets soooooo I’m changing the order of the trays to see if the moisture problem is minimized. So my tray order will be…. Feeding tray Old inoculating tray Pre harvest tray New inoculating tray This way the excess moisture can be more fully absorbed into the second level by the drips from the top feeding tray. The worms in the pre harvest tray will make their way up to the old inoculating tray, making the worm population lower by the time that pre harvest tray gets sifted. Then the very bottom tray does stay dryer but it will still get moisture from the pre harvest tray. I’m trying that rotation to see if the moisture level in the pre harvest tray is much less when I harvest the castings. Your thoughts?

[@Vermicompost]

This is a fantastic idea to try!! I think that will surely help get out some of the excess moisture you are experiencing! You might also want to try leaving the pre harvest tray right below the feeding tray for a week or two to help the worms move up a tray them move it down between the inoculating trays like you mentioned. Definitely let us know how your new method works out for you, I would love to know!! I have found that my castings dry out a little while I'm doing the agitation method of harvesting in my VermiHut and further dry a bit in storage but I think you may be on to something here!! Thanks so much for watching and passing on your tip Linda!!!🪱🪱🪱

[@LindaFee-l4o]

Thanks for your reply!! Great idea on your end too! I will keep the pre harvest tray below the feeding tray for 30 days and then move it down one so it’s between the old inoculating tray and the new inoculating tray for the remaining 30 days before I harvest the castings and see how that works. I will report my results by the new year. Thanks for the suggestion!

[@Vermicompost]

Can't wait for the results!!

[@biogumustajikistankhujand8529]

Hi in Tajikistan 🇹🇯 very good information

[@Vermicompost]

Hello from the other side of the world!! I just updated my Tajik translations for my Title and Description as well as adding Tajik Subtitles. Hopefully the translation is understandable!! Thanks so much for the kind words and thank you for taking the time to watch our video!!🪱🪱🪱 Салом аз он тарафи дунё!! Ман танҳо тарҷумаҳои тоҷикии худро барои Сарлавҳа ва Тавсифи худ навсозӣ кардам ва инчунин субтитрҳои тоҷикиро илова кардам. Умедворам тарҷума фаҳмо аст!! Ташаккури зиёд барои суханони нек ва ташаккур барои тамошои видеои мо вақт ҷудо кардаед!!🪱🪱🪱

[@peggyhelblingsgardenwhatyo7920]

Watched twice, with ads❤💪❤️

[@Vermicompost]

Thank you Peggy!! We really appreciate your long time support of us and our humble worm channel!!🪱🪱🪱

[@NanasWorms]

Hey Patrick, you are the maestro when it comes to tiered worm tray management! I got a kick out of you using your ungloved hand to place all the mushy food scraps while your gloved hand stayed clean! By the way, why does your shredded cardboard often contain little blue bits? ~ Sandra

[@Vermicompost]

Thanks Sandra!! Yep, I usually grab the food containers with my ungloved hand and dish things out with my gloved hand to keep my hand clean, but I did a good job of getting my peanut butter mixed with my jelly this time around😂🤣😂 The blue bits are some dull colored cardboard I recently shredded, not tape or other nefarious things! Thanks so much for all your support despite some long absences on my part!!🪱🪱🪱

[@WD-41469]

I’m thinking Amazon logo

[@NanasWorms]

@@WD-41469 Good guess! The prime swoosh is that colour blue. Once I shredded an Amazon box with the Aladdin logo printed on it and bright colour bits never composted. I picked thousands of them out of the vermicompost. I usually trust Amazon boxes, but that time they had a promotion going for the Aladdin movie and I think they must have changed things up a bit. ~ Sandra

[@Vermicompost]

Yes, there might be some of that in there if it was printed on the box! But I also shredded a cardboard box that was blue on one side, I think from Costco. Thanks so much for dropping by to watch!!🪱🪱🪱

[@GardeningwithBarchuckin]

Great explanation of how you do your Vermihut Patrick. This is a great tower system. Squirrels 🐿️ 🤬😂

[@Vermicompost]

Thanks Rick!! There is a lot of video left on the chopping block as I did my best to confuse my rotation method as I was filming😂🤣😂 Hopefully the graphics & editing got things back on track for folks!! Squirrels are so cute, but man I wish they would leave my garden and VermiHut trays alone!! I'm envious of your intact VermiHut trays on your videos!! Thanks for dropping by to watch!!🪱🪱🪱

[@AJsGreenTopics]

It's great to see you. 😎

[@Vermicompost]

Thank you AJ!! It's great to be back...lots of goodness going on lately with travel and our son & future daughter in law's engagement party so now time to get back to worm business!! Thanks so much for watching!!🪱🪱🪱

[@jackieadams5458]

I just got my first Vermi Hut for Christmas and I’m so excited to get started! Thank you for all of your videos. They are going to help tremendously! How many worms do you recommend starting with? I ordered 500 because I truly have no idea but can always get more.

[@Vermicompost]

That's awesome Jackie!!!! You are gonna love it!! I'm so glad you are enjoying our videos!! I started my VermiHut with 2,000 worms but 500 will work...it is all in how much patience you have 😂 They double in population about every 2 months. You can always order more worms if you discover you want to speed things up!! Just be sure to feed small feedings at first...that is actually the hardest thing to do...we always want to feed them more than they need at first!! Rest assured they won't go hungry since they eat their bedding too!! I am so excited for you!! Keep us updated on your progress and feel free to ask any questions you may have!! Happy New Year, thanks so much for watching!!🪱🪱🪱

[@jackieadams5458]

@ your channel is by far the best, especially for us newbies in the VermiHut community! Thank you for your time and content!

[@Vermicompost]

Thank you!! That means a lot to us!!

[@shaunnichols8170]

Ever since I bought my Hungry Bin I quit using my Vermihut but I think I may need to get it going again.

[@Vermicompost]

That Hungry Bin is a Beast!! I think it's even bigger than my Urban Worm Bag. The only thing better than one worm bin...is two worm bins!! My wife has to keep throwing away every empty container for fear of me creating a new worm bin out of it!! I say restart that VermHut!! Thanks so much for watching Shaun!!🪱🪱🪱

[@shaunnichols8170]

@@Vermicompost, LOL. I have so much shredded cardboard and dried food scraps (Vitamix food cycler) that it's insane. Hopefully a new bin will reduce that a bit.

[@Vermicompost]

Haha!! My mom has given me so much shredded cardboard that we've started storing it in the garage...I keep begging Autumn to let me start another worm bin...again!!

[@tahmidhussain4795]

Can i feed tender coconut shell

[@Vermicompost]

Yes, depending on if it is finely shredded or if the coconut shell is in whole pieces, it can act as bedding or just be a piece of food that the worms and microbes slowly eat over time. Eventually it will be totally consumed, it may just take a long time the bigger the pieces are. I hope this helps!! Thanks so much for watching!!🪱🪱🪱

[@officialyumishin]

I started my worm bin 4 months ago. I’ve just been using 1 tray for feeding this whole time and would like to eventually collect the castings. My tray doesn’t look like your pre-harvest tray, there are still a good amount of shredded cardboard and food scraps in it. How do I prep this so that I can harvest them? Do I just have to wait another 1-2 months for the worms to eat up everything before adding a New top feeding tray?

[@officialyumishin]

And another question- do you ever find worm cocoons in your harvest? They’re so little and scattered so I feel like they must be in the castings somehow

[@Vermicompost]

Great question!! My suggestion when starting is to feed your very first top feeding tray for 90 days, then put it down to the pre harvest tray for an additional 60 days while feeding the tray above it. This should give you some decent castings when it is time to rotate again and take this tray off. And if it doesn't, just sift out some castings with another tray like in this video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/e6ano3irZ9qWfrc You can dump the bits and pieces left in the tray back into your new top feeding tray. I started this VermiHut with 2000 worms, if you start with a little less it may take a little longer to get going but eventually every 60 days you will be rotating and harvesting castings! I hope this helps!! Thanks so much for watching!!🪱🪱🪱

[@Vermicompost]

Yes!! But while the castings are in storage, the hatch and I just bait them out with some food scraps. It is next to impossible to fish all the cocoons out!

[@officialyumishin]

@@Vermicompost That totally makes sense, thank you for your answer! I think the amount of worms definitely plays into how long it’ll take to break down. I started with 1,000 worms so I may need to get more now if I want to harvest quicker

[@Vermicompost]

1,000 is a good amount as well. That is what my son started with and he is now harvesting every 60 days like clock work!!