Worm Digest - Re:How to Seperate ENC's from bedding??

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Tman
User

A Fertile Cocoon

Posts: 2

How to Seperate ENC's from bedding?? - 2006/03/05 18:54 I have had a bunch of Bob's ENC's for almost a year now and would like to seperate them from the castings.
One container is 22 gallons and the other is 10 gallons. What would be the easiest way for me to seperate the worms from the castings. I have access to aluminum screening with 1/8" holes in it if needed.
Any advice will be appreciated.

Tman

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Worm Police

User

A Mature Breeder Earthworm

Posts: 96

Re:How to Seperate ENC's from bedding?? - 2006/03/05 20:20 Hi Tman,
Bob does offer plans for a worm harvester on his web sight for a modest price.
But for my self I use my mesh bags for separation.
Depending on the size of your bin, and how full it is, the bags work great, if you're not sorting them for sale and you are in no hurry.
I custom make my own bags by crocheting thin hay twine, and buy cheap bags at the dollar store too.
But to use a bag, you start when you figure you are about 6 to 8 weeks from harvest.
Get a new worm bin container ready for the worms, and set aside.
Insert mesh bag into worm bin, as if you were lining a garbage bag, add some damp bedding to the bag until you can bottom out, and use the bedding to push it to the sides of your bin. Now feed the bin like you always have, and in about 2 to 3 weeks the majority of the worms have moved into mesh bag. Empty the bag and contents into the new bin, and put the bag again, back into the old bin, with damp bedding, and feed as normal, and about 2 to 3 weeks empty bag/food/worms into new bin. Most of the worms by then should have moved into the new feed and bedding, the castings should be mostly clean of worms, although you might have a few straglers and babies, they should be easy to pick out of the castings.

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redhen

User

A Protected Species Earthworm

Posts: 684

Re:How to Seperate ENC's from bedding?? - 2006/03/05 21:39 Probably one of the fastest ways I have found, is to make a new bin, (add some of the compost to keep things going and add fresh bedding). Put a hardware cloth tray on top of the new bedding. Scoop the old bin contents onto the screen, not more than 2" deep. Do this in bright light. The worms will go down into the new bedding and the material on the screen can be dumped into a storage container. (This container can be checked for cocoons and baby worms, that can be added to the bew bin later.) Keep doing this until the old bin is empty. Susan Quinby-Honer
redhen@nc.rr.com
Starve the Landfill...Feed the Earth.

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Worm Police

User

A Mature Breeder Earthworm

Posts: 96

Re:How to Seperate ENC's from bedding?? - 2006/03/05 22:00 photo of bag set up.

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gnosnhoj

User

A Protected Species Earthworm

Posts: 544

Re:How to Seperate ENC's from bedding?? - 2006/03/05 22:10 Put a hardware cloth tray on top of the new bedding.
Susan, do you get good results (minimal compost drop) with a single layer of 1/4"? I was thinking of making mine with 2 layers and off-setting the grids by half, at least for my WF-to-onground bin transfer iot get more accurate wormie weight. Y'all have fun, whatever you're doing.
Gary
Hopkinsville, KY

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Tman
User

A Fertile Cocoon

Posts: 2

Re:How to Seperate ENC's from bedding?? - 2006/03/05 22:36 I work for the World's largest manufacturer of Fiberglass and Aluminum insect screen. We have some aluminum grill cloth that has 1/8" holes that I bet would make a good screen. I can also get some fiberglass screen to make a bag with. We have some with holes large enough for the worms to crawl thru without any problem at all.
Thanks for all of the great advice.

Tman

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Worm Police

User

A Mature Breeder Earthworm

Posts: 96

Re:How to Seperate ENC's from bedding?? - 2006/03/06 03:18 Hi Tman,
Is your fiberglass screen, cloth like and pliable?
I would like to try some yardage to make some bags.
My email is the same as my post name WormPolice@aol.com.
Thanks
Connie
example of crochet bag

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redhen

User

A Protected Species Earthworm

Posts: 684

Re:How to Seperate ENC's from bedding?? - 2006/03/06 11:06 Gary..I do get good results with just that one screen. It is very easy to take the little compost that does go through and put it back in the old bin. Susan Quinby-Honer
redhen@nc.rr.com
Starve the Landfill...Feed the Earth.

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Bob Ingram

Visitor

A Protected Species Earthworm

Posts: 156

Re:How to Seperate ENC's from bedding?? - 2006/03/10 05:01 It's also good to remember how important it is to include active vericompost in the NEW bedding you're moving the worms into. For castings we run the bedding and worms through our harvester, which I understand is not viable for the home composter. To seperate small orders, however, we'll put fresh bedding in a box, cover with netting from a fruit or vegetable bag and put thin layers of worms and bedding on the mesh...to get away from the light they crawl through the mesh into the new bedding in a matter of minutes...Seeya, Bob www.trinity-ranch.com

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Judy

User

A Juvenile Earthworm

Posts: 40

Re:How to Seperate ENC's from bedding?? - 2006/03/15 11:02 I handsorted two bins last week and will be more diligent about setting up a system that lets them move on their own next time. Although it is a great mediation exercise, it's also hard on the back!

After I think I have the worms out, I put bedding/casting material on a 1/4 inc. hardware cloth and sift/sieve that (remember I'm a small outfit). Then, if it's necessary to get everything, I do that with a 1/8 in hardware cloth layer. This made nice stuff and reminds of pushing tomato or plum pulp through the ricer/colander! When Life Gives You Scraps, Make A Quilt.

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