Setting up a very hungry worm migration

[@brianseybert192]

Horizontal migrations are so easy and effective in a plastic bin. I lay some bubble wrap over the feeding zone to help retain some moisture and leave the migration side open to dry out a bit, it is not really necessary, but then the castings are a bit drier and easier to screen if you do so. Still in the process of harvesting my outside grow bag bins, only about 15 gallons left to go. I have been using the screening debris to inoculate damp shredded leaves for worm bedding this winter. Think I will end up with 6 or 7 bins over the winter, sooo many worms. Excellent video Sandra, Stay Well !!!!

[@NanasWorms]

Thanks Brian. I have loads of castings matured and ready to go, so we are distributing them on our garden beds even though it's December. These harvests will do for my seed starting in February. I also have to time it because we are leaving for a few weeks over Christmas, so I don't want to start a migration and then forget about it or run out of time before we leave (been there, done that!). ~ Sandra

[@Vermicompost]

I love it!! We're migrating our bins at the same time which will make for a great comparison! They did a fantastic job of eating the blob of food from the take out container last time!! Excellent video Sandra!!🪱🪱🪱

[@NanasWorms]

Thanks Patrick. I need to remember that Cinderella sits in the warm part of the kitchen, so that bin cycles more quickly. I'm going to pull the castings out in a couple days! ~ Sandra

[@peggyhelblingsgardenwhatyo7920]

Hi Sandra, Nice job Cinderella. Hungry worms are on the move>>>

[@NanasWorms]

Haha, nothing like pumpkin to tempt them over! ~ Sandra

[@AJsGreenTopics]

Let the migration begin. 🪱

[@NanasWorms]

Thanks AJ. The bedding built up quickly, so I need to pull some out! ~ Sandra

[@A-V]

If ya ask me, I think that horizontal migration feeding zone is going to be awfully popular!

[@NanasWorms]

@@A-V I went in five days later and scooped them up. I actually mentioned you in the video because it was an opportunity to get a population estimate! ~ Sandra

[@A-V]

After only a 5-day migration, your worms did a great job evacuating the vermicompost. Great harvest 👍🏻 Oh - and I've been wondering what other way to describe what's commonly called a 'wedge' setup... and I think you hit the nail right on the head with how you described it as a gradient. I like that :)

[@NanasWorms]

@@A-V Thanks! ~ Sandra

[@terrykingsallotmentgardening]

👍😁🪱🪱🪱🪱🪱🪱😁👍

[@NanasWorms]

I wonder what Mrs. K would think about having worms in her kitchen, Terry?? ~ Sandra

[@terrykingsallotmentgardening]

@NanasWorms she is fed up with my worm so there is no chance Sandra.......🤣

[@NanasWorms]

🤣🤣

[@terrykingsallotmentgardening]

@@NanasWorms 😊

[@marymccusker8133]

I’m going to try my first horizontal migration soon. After seeing you entice the worms with pumpkin, I’m thinking I might need to ask my neighbors if they happen to have an avocado long past its prime. I have plenty of my own food scraps but I’ve seen so many posts say how much worms love avocado that I’d like to see what mine do with it. Such fun!

[@NanasWorms]

They love avocado, Mary, but it's a slower material to bait a worm than something sugary, like melon or pumpkin. Even a soft cucumber works really well! Enjoy! ~ Sandra

[@marymccusker8133]

@ Thanks for the tip!

[@Debbie-Keller]

Good morning, Sandra. Diet ...oh, I don't like that word. 😂

[@NanasWorms]

I'm much more disciplined with my worms' diet than I am my own! ~ Sandra

[@marymccusker8133]

@@NanasWormsSame here! 😂

[@Debbie-Keller]

​. Me too

[@wallysworms]

That'll be a pumpkin party. Nice job.

[@NanasWorms]

We have loads of donated pumpkin this year, Wally, so my worms will be spoiled! ~ Sandra

[@Freeland-Farm]

I'm very interested in this process. Recently divided my 2 bins into 4. Mostly because I thought it was time population wise. Partially because I didn't feel prepared enough knowledge wise to do my first harvest/store the castings properly. How long would you estimate the process takes from where you are now to finished, ready to use castings? How long can you generally store castings before a measurable decline in quality? I understand there are a lot of variables. Just looking for a rough idea for planning ahead of plant starting. As always, thanks for being awesome.

[@NanasWorms]

I'll pull all that mostly processed material out next time, then sit it in a tote for two months or so. That will give me time to extract any worms that are left behind or that emerge from cocoons. It also will be perfect timing for seed starting in February! You can store castings for six months or longer as long as you keep them moist and keep feeding them. In a 5 gallon bucket, I bury about a golf ball sized bit of food plus some shredded paper or cardboard every month or so while I have castings in storage. That's the first place I look to find worms and it also feeds the microbes in the bin. ~ Sandra

[@Freeland-Farm]

@NanasWorms Thanks so much. Suppose I'd best get on with it then. Just fed them a few days ago, so I can set it up this weekend. Don't know if you're planning on taking us with you through the whole process, but I would love to follow along. No pressure. I'll look back through your videos to see if you've already covered this. Originally thought I might sift/screen, but this process just seems like it would be so much easier on the worms. Thanks again.

[@NanasWorms]

I agree - I didn't like seeing the worms hung up on the sifter and rolling back-and-forth. My hands can't get all the big bits, but it is far easier on the worms. My garden doesn't seem to mind! Yes, I will show the harvest, but I also have lots of other videos. I did a video titled "ready or not" a few weeks ago that showed me pulling unsifted castings from a bin. If you watch to the end, you will see the finished product. Thanks for watching! ~ Sandra

[@Freeland-Farm]

@NanasWorms I listened to that video while mixing pre-compost last weekend. Guess I can't do that. I missed way too much useful information. Thanks again.

[@Freeland-Farm]

@@NanasWorms One of the reasons I've been having doubts about baiting them is when I've been feeding, I find worms distributed throughout the bin. Often with substantial numbers in the corners opposite the feeding zone. I have been feeding anywhere from 10-14 days, always on the opposite end from the previous feed zone. Taking to heart the premise that worms prefer to be left alone, I have managed to restrain myself from checking in on them between feedings. Other than a quick peek under a piece of pumpkin, cantaloupe, etc, or adding a little moisture, I've left them alone. Thinking more about your "ready or not" video, which was only a few days after feeding, I got to wondering. Maybe I'm just not seeing the migration because by the time I feed them, they've finished most of the good stuff and are cycling back through the bin and whatever "leftovers" were mixed in from before. With this in my head, I decided this morning (after feeding 4 days ago) to take a look, thus confirming my suspicion that I had been missing it. I'm sure this is no shocking revelation to someone with your experience, but for a newbie like me, it was exciting to find both a feed zone full of worms and castings with very few. I easily could have harvested this morning if given the time. I still intend to, now confidently, set up a migration this weekend with plans to harvest next week. Couldn't help but share my excitement. Thank you again for the help. I think it's also worth mentioning how much I appreciate, not only your content and your willingness to communicate with your viewers, but also your contributions to other content creaters in the vermicomposting community. More often than not, I find your words of encouragement and wisdom in the comments. Also, Gilligan is the coolest worm bin on KZbin. As always, you're awesome.