When to harvest worm casting

August 27th, 2008

Hi Wormswrangler,

When I add more food to the top tray, the juices drip through to the next trays, making them pretty moist. How do I prevent this from happening, so that the bottom trays are not so moist, or is this supposed to happen? I can add paper, but then that means that the worms just keep composting in that tray, and don't move up to the next level, so I never get a chance to empty out the bottom trays.

Also since there is supposed to be a thin cloth layer in the bottom tray, once that is emptied, I am assuming I have to empty one of the other trays into that bottom tray, so that the worms don't fall through the holes into the liquid tray. Or do you have any other suggestions on how to do this?

And lastly the only things that seem to take an age for them to digest is eggshells. Should I wait until those are all processed before removing the compost?

Many thanks for you help, am really enjoying composting all my leftovers, just wish they would eat faster!!

Thanks
Judy

---------------------------

Hi Judy,

First, let's talk about the weed barrier cloth. The weed barrier should be in between your Liquid Collection Tray and your first tray, i.e. the weed barrier is not in the bottom tray, but on top of the Liquid Collection Tray and under the bottom tray. Now we suggest to everyone to also put a weed barrier between the roof and the top tray. This way the worms are trapped. It can be anything beside a weed barrier cloth. Some have even used old window screen. I tried that too and it works. Anything that can allow the moisture to drip through.

When you see that your worms have migrated away from a tray is when the casting is ready. Your casting might be too moist for you. If so, here is an option to harvest dry worm casting from your worm farm. If you want real dry worm casting, take your bottom tray when the food is all composted and put it on top of the top tray that is filled so it touches the bedding of the top tray. Make sure there is food in the trays below. The top tray will eventually dry out as the worms will no longer find food in it. Worms go up and down. If the food is abundant in your second or third tray, the worms will finish composting the top tray (your 4th tray for example) and will migrate down when all the compost is complete. The moisture in the top tray will evaporate and drip down.

If it gets very hot, the worms will seek the wettest part of your farm. Use tons of coconut coir. It absorb moisture and worms love it. Coconut coir is food. Five bricks of coconut coir will last you over a year. $ 11.95 + shipping.

As for egg shells, in your case, you may want to only feed a certain tray of egg shells. Egg shells give grit to the worms so they can break down the food as they compost. Worms also love to lay their cocoons in eggs shells.

Judy, Thank You for composting with worms. There are millions of us internationally who care so much about the planet we live on, we are pitching as a collective army, an army of worms and humans joining hands.

Go Judy Go !

www.wormswrangler.com