Subscribe To This Site
XML RSS
Add to Google
Add to My Yahoo!
Add to My MSN
Subscribe with Bloglines

Home
Buy Worms
Ask Me
Testimonials
My Videos
Search this Site
Basics Why Worms?
How to Start
Just for Kids
Worm Bins
Castings
Problems
Other Composting
Interact Ebook
Worm Class
Forum
Newsletter
Photos/Stories
Find a Worm Farm
Sell Worms
Gardening Edible Landscapes
Compost Toilets
Articles
My Farm
About Me
Contact Me
Challenge
Gardening Blogs
Worm Blog
Support BigTex
Privacy Policy

Worm Harvesting

Worm Harvesting is rewarding yet very tedious work. It is fun to reap the benefits of the worms labor but is very time consuming and dirty work.

worm harvesting

You can harvest your worms using the pile method or by simply feeding on one side of your bin for a few weeks or months until all the worms move over. The pile method is simple. Put the castings/worms in a pile shaped like a pyramid. Leave as is for 15-20 minutes and come and scrape the top layer of the pile off. Leave it again for another 15 minutes and repeat over and over until all you have left is a squirming pile of worms.

Here is my video on harvesting:

Another way to harvest is by using a worm harvester. Here is a video of a motorized harvester. I have been trying to talk my husband into building me one for over a year. For now I do the pile method.

How do you know when it is time to harvest? When there is very little scraps and bedding left, when the castings look like fine coffee grounds.Here is a video on how to know when its time to harvest:

Have A Comment or Question on This Topic?

Do you have a comment/question about this? Share it!

Title of comment/question

What Other Visitors Have Said

Click below to see contributions from other visitors to this page...

Entering Earthworm Castings in a Compost Beauty Contest Tomorrow  starstarstarstarstar
Hello Liz,

I'm attending the last day of a Master Composter class tomorrow, and there will be a Compost Beauty Contest. : ) I asked if I could bring ...

Screen Compost Harvester  Not rated yet
I made this worm harvester. Their example uses it for soil, but it has ¼” hardware cloth so thought it would work for worms. I had all the materials ...

what type of growing/area device/bed do you favor  Not rated yet
do you perfer a single growing area ie bucket,tray or a multi level design.

Answer from BigTex Worms:
I like a single level working worm bin. I have ...

Seperating castings  Not rated yet
I have a traditional three layered farm that works swimmingly. What is the best way to seperate the castings and the worms

Answer from Liz with BigTex ...

Do worms migrate up to harvest?  Not rated yet
I think I understand now that just the compose material is left for use in making the tea. So no eggs are left in the compose material. All the worms ...

Clumpy and hard castings  Not rated yet
My castings are moist , but when I dry them out they become hard and Clumpy what can I do to make them soft and crumbly.

Answer from BigTex Worms:
Worm ...

harvesting castings and worms  Not rated yet
Hi Liz,
It has been 3 1/2 months since I started my worm bed. I have an 18 gallon tub and started with 1 lbs of worms. They seem happy and have laid ...

Worms compost  Not rated yet
If you started your compost already and you need to do a S.A on worms compost what would you go on (like site or book wise)
Answer from BigTex Worms ...

Back from Worm Harvesting to Raising Red Worms page

Back from Worm Harvesting to wormbincomposting.com

Copyright 2010-2012 wormbincomposting.com

SBI
SBI!

Create your own banner at mybannermaker.com!
Make your own banner at MyBannerMaker.com!

Want to support BigTex Worms with a donation? THANK YOU!

Site Build It!

Sign up for Newsletter

Sent out every 4-5 times a year:

Email Marketing You Can Trust

BigTex Worms

Promote Your Page Too