There are several methods for harvesting. Method 1: Move the worms with food This is the easiest method! Feed the worms on one side of the bin for one to two weeks. You can use your new active bin for the majority of your food waste, and strategically feed the bay that is in the finishing stage so the worms move to one side. Once the worms have moved over to the food source, remove the castings from the vacated area. Replace the castings with fresh straw bedding. Wait a week or two, then repeat the process in the opposite direction, herding the worms into the new bedding.
Method 2: Use a screen to remove the worms Screens let small particles fall through while capturing the larger particles on top. There are many designs for basic screens online using scrap wood, hardware cloth, cylindrical concrete forms, and other materials. Scoot the straw cover aside and use a shovel, your hands, or a bucket to scoop up the worm castings. Position a screen over a bucket or collection sheet. Dump the worm castings onto the screen and allow the worm castings to pass through. The worms will remain on the screen, and you can put back them into your active bin in the worm composting system.
Use Worm castings (their poop) are a great, stable slow-release fertilizer. Worm castings have a lower C:N ratio than the feedstocks you give them, so are more favorable to plant and soil organisms’ growth. Your finished worm compost is a nutrient-rich soil amendment for your flowers and vegetables. You can mix it into potting soil blends 30-50 percent for containers, or spread it as a top dressing for landscaping and larger gardens. Top dressing simply means layering finished compost lightly around the bases of the plants you’d like to nourish. Water it in, and let the beneficial microbiology get to work making your plants healthier, heartier, and more drought-resistant!
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