Ok I think worm composting is for everyone. But after reading about all these amazing women keeping bees and building their own straw bale houses- I thought hell if they can do it- I can do it. And that's what I want you to think about keeping the worms. Plus it can involve sweet shabby chic finds from the thrift store (old wooden night stands) and now hot pink mesh! Whats not to love?
Here's my fool proof plan for harvesting the worm casting.
Don't put any food in the bin for a week or two- depending on how much food is currently in there. You want the worms hungry. Then put something sweet (watermelon rinds, strawberry tops...) that worms really like in an onion bag and put it into the corner. I usually make two onion bags and put them at either end of the bin. After two days pull the bags out-they will be filled with worms- and put them into a holding bucket.
Hot tip: Don't put onions in the onion bags. Worms don't like them.
Now this method gets out a lot of the worms- but what about the worms that are left?
Buy hot pink mesh. Oh ok- buy any color you want. I bought 1/2 a yard for a whopping 35 cents from a fabric store. Rubber band it around the top of a bucket.
Scoop the left over soil from the bin on to the top and sift it out. Only larger chunks of soil and the worms will stay on top.
Put the worms in the holding bucket. Confession: I use a plastic spoon so I don't ever have to touch the worms. This leaves you with really nice fine worm compost in the bottom of the bucket. Repeat until the whole bin is empty. Use worm compost on needy plants. Then rebuild the bin with fresh food scraps, ripped up paper and some dirt. Replace the worms. Ta da!
"A three year old child is a being who gets almost as much fun out of a fifty-six dollar set of swings as it does out of finding a small green worm." Bill Vaughan
Josie, you have quite the helpful blog here. I just love the Vaughan quotation at the end. I wish all parents could take it to heart. Bless you for the work you do.
ReplyDeleteGreat tip about the onion bags. Want to try this out on my new worm composter soon.
ReplyDeleteAwesome! Someday I am going to do this. I just haven't figured out what to do with them in winter. Do they stink? Can they go in the house?
ReplyDeleteVery informative post! I actually really like worms and get so happy when I see them in my dirt. I'm going to try this. -Jackie
ReplyDeleteI found your blog through the API site. I just spent the better part of an hour reading - great blog!
ReplyDeleteSnowbrush- Thanks for the kind words- I think nature is an amazing teacher for children and adults.
ReplyDeleteHelen- Good luck with the onion bags and worms.
Heather- I know many people do keep them in their house- I think they smell very mildly wormy. You would just have to make sure to bury the food scraps under the dirt so the bin didn't attract other bugs or smell bad. If you put it in a barn or garage I think it would be fine- but then again we don't have winter here so I dont know for sure.
Ellie Mae- Having your own happy worms means they multiple and you can throw some extras out into the garden beds directly. I love doing that.
Brendy- Glad you like it. : )