Worm Digest - Re:How will I know when it's time?

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S_Merlo
User

A Hatchling Earthworm

Posts: 11

How will I know when it's time? - 2008/07/08 18:50 Ok, I have what may be a couple of obviously dumb questions, but I just wanna make sure I don't mess up my first bin.

1. How will I know when the castings are ready for harvesting? And..

2. Is there a difference between vermicompost and worm castings, or are they essentially the same?

Thanks!!!

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gnosnhoj

User

A Protected Species Earthworm

Posts: 537

Re:How will I know when it's time? - 2008/07/08 21:37 S_Merlo wrote:
1. How will I know when the castings are ready for harvesting?
Judgement call there, neighbor; when you decide your herd has been through it enough and you're comfortable with putting it wherever you wanna put it. Me, I like it to look like dirt and fit through a 1/4" screen without a lot of prodding.

And..
2. Is there a difference between vermicompost and worm castings, or are they essentially the same?
VC is castings + uneaten/unshat material, be it bedding or chow.
Castings is straight-up 100% worm poop - extremely unlikely to guarantee from a home system, and IMO unlikely in a commercial system too, unless you got them l'il fellas in diapers...you don't, do ya?

Y'all have fun, whatever you're doing.
Gary
Hopkinsville, KY

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S_Merlo
User

A Hatchling Earthworm

Posts: 11

Re:How will I know when it's time? - 2008/07/08 21:56 gnosnhoj wrote:
unless you got them l'il fellas in diapers...you don't, do ya?

Shhhhhhh! Don't be tellin' ever'one else about my cotton hand-knit worm-nappies! I tried making some similiar for my son when he was a baby, but DCS didn't like the idea of composting his poo "on-site"

Well, looks like I just need to calm my self down a bit, and let nature take it's course. I've started with ENCs from the baitshop. Maybe it won't take toooo long to get my bin really going.

I know, I know... "Patience, Danielsan". Wait, my name's not Daniel!

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WistarWorms

User

A Protected Species Earthworm

Posts: 126

Re:How will I know when it's time? - 2008/07/09 09:59 Gary is right on target. According to the "experts", material small enough to pass through a 1/4" screen is considered VC. Material small enough to pass through an 1/8" screen is usually considered to be Castings. The only way to be sure to get 100% castings would be to sift through the screened material using a microscope and picking out the poop by hand. Like we all have time to do this. Also, getting a pure castings product takes at least a year. VC in a good system can be harvested in a few months. You do the math. We Are WORM - Resistance Is Futile!
Buddy
Richmond, VA

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