How to Keep Worm Castings ALIVE in storage- 55 Gallon Worm Bin
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- Опубліковано 9 гру 2022
- 55 Gallon Worm bin Massive Harvest and Talk about long term casting storage.
/ @plantobsessed
This bin was made from cutting a 55 gallon food grade barrel in half long ways and screwing the open ends together to make a 6 foot long bin.
To see the previous video click here • 55 Gallon Compost Worm...
The bin lives in the cellar of my 200-year-old house. In the winter the furnace dries it out, and in the wet season the moisture leaching through the bricks makes the basement very humid. The current set up was started near the first of the year 2021 after the wormpocolypse. A rat was in the basement and all the bins had to be moved to totes and buckets with lids on to protect them. When the rat was ended, I added 4 or more of the in-progress bins/ buckets with the compost mix of red, blue and European nightcrawlers in them to fill the big blue bin. I continued to add ground leaves and food. Currently the bin is undergoing a refresh. I am harvesting the castings as the top of the bin dries and adding new bedding and food. Keeping the moisture even in the bin is difficult in the wet summer. I flip or fluff the bin to keep the air in the bedding. Back to the wedge method starting now.
I am an Amazon affiliate. The items below are the Amazon affiliate links for the items I use in my wormery. I have read and recommend these books. The cost is the same to you, but the channel will be get a small commission if purchases are made using the links.
Down to Earth Organic Alfalfa Meal
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If someone told me a few years ago that I would watch a 31 minute video about worms I would have called that person crazy. But here we are and I'm very happy about it😅❤️
Lol I know right?
Working with worms is very relaxing. I look forward to it. 😉
If someone would have told me two years ago to start a worm farm, I would have laughed. It’s been 8 months, just wanted castings. Now, breeding worms for more castings!
I agree. 🤣🤣
Same
I get so nervous when worm keepers say we won't check on them for four months. I keep checking on mine everyday. I think I love my new hobby a little too much. My family is concerned. :). Thank you for a great video. It is so much fun to watch you play with the worms.
In my case, the 4 months are waiting for cocoons to hatch and grow up. To be fair it is not that long. I peek in every week to keep an eye on the moisture.
Been keeping my finished casting in garbage cans with holes drilled on the side with a center PVC pipe with holes and window screen, more recently, in 25 gal grow bags, with paper and bubble wrap for a lid. I have to make sure I do not let them dry out, every couple weeks I sprinkle some non chlorinated water on them.
Using bait cups in my stored leaf mold from last year. I added a full bin of worms to the leaf mold last fall and ended up creating a huge worm bin. All the worms I am pulling out of the leaf mold goes in my new CFT bin.
Enjoy going through older videos, the ones I missed the 1st time around.
Stay Well!!!!
Lol I did that too. I was storing my leaves in a 55 gallon drum. Didn't mean to put worms in there and then forgot about it. Went to empty it in the spring and voila worm bin.😳👍🏼🪱🪱
I love your videos so much, I watch reruns. I love how you just fluff and tell us so much. I really appreciate all you do for us. Thank you.
Thank you for the kind words ☺️👍🏼🪱
I love how the shape and proportions of your sieves resemble the pans gold miners use to pan for gold in a river. Except that the "black gold" is the part that comes OUT instead of the part that stays in!
Yep they are the same as gold panning sieves.
I learned so much...can't wait to see my worms.
Let me know how it goes. 👍🏼🪱😀
Yes, it was long, but totally entertaining 👏
Happy bday! Thanks for sharing your whole winter harvest process. You thoroughly answered my question about what you do to deal with cocoons/hatchlings in your harvested material. I like how you stressed that detail of putting holes on the sides of the bait containers but not on the bottom so the juices intentionally pool and invite in the wormies.
Lol I learn the hard way so others don't have to. Thank you 😊
I have the same motto - similar to: no point in reinventing the wheel ..
Well said @mascatrails661
Also, where do you order your Florida avocados?
I'm so sick of grey/brown disgusting tasting (expensive) avacado flesh... Smh
Oh, and we must share the same, or nearly the same birthday. Can't believe how fast it's coming around again 😳🥴
I have had success by freezing my kitchen waste in the compostible bags and then at feeding time letting it thaw a bit then breaking the whole thing up some. Thanks for all your videos. I have followed you and AV and set up my own horizontal migration bin (20 x 40 inches) last spring and am now harvesting every month. And yes, your videos are ASMR. You are the Bob Villa of worm farming. Mary
Thank you for watching and the kind words 😊
Happy Birthday!! What a hater (yammering on comment)... I am one of those that likes listening to you as you work along. You are very informative, and it is calming to watch you work. That worm ball was MASSIVE! I don't think I have ever seen so many worms in one place!
That is a lot of hungry mouths to feed. I'll get them something to be excited about in the next few days. 😊
Awesome video !!!
Thank you 😊
I always love it when you post anything to do with Big Blue. That is a very impressive number of worms you have going there. By your reaction to the massive worm balls you found I must say that you're a great worm Mother.
I was surprised, last time I was in blue I didn't get a worm ball. Maybe they did that for my birthday present 🎁
Happy Birthday Ann !!! Great video and perfect timing for me cause I'm about to be doing the exact same thing and I was wondering about the storing of castings , long term. Thank you so much for doing this one and just for the record , I personally enjoy you bringing us along on everything you do and especially all of the tips , tricks and remedies you have and are experiencing. Again , terrific video !! 👍👌
Thank you for the kind words!!
Happy Birthday Anne!
Thank you 😊
Happy Birthday Ann ! I hope you had a great one and many more to come . Blue looks like he is working hard LOL . Love it ! The excitement in your voice when you found that massive worm ball said a lot . Thanks for all the great information . Don't listen to the haters , if they don't like the chatter they can mute their device .
Lol right? Lots of options for people that don't want to hear the worm talk. Lol
Ann so wish it could be much more but being on benefits makes that not possible
This is the only channel I have ever given too
As you know I joined the channel in the early days and am so glad you you are still here sharing such a great varied pot of knowledge with us all Hazel xx
Penblwydd hapis I ti
Penblwydd hapis I ti
Penblwydd hapis to Ann
Penblwydd hapis I ti
Thank you I appreciate your support!!
Thank you. I think that is my first Welsh birthday wishes. 😊
Happy birthday. I’m really appreciating your videos!
Thank you 😄
Happy Birthday 🍾
Awesome video
Thank you 😃
Happy Birthday! I love Blue 🙂and what you're sharing with us.
Thank you 😊
Happy birthday! And many more!
Thank you 😊
Thank you so much for sharing the video. Your videos are educational and inspirational. I very much enjoy them and eagerly wait for the next one.
Thank you for the kind words. 😄
I like watching you sifting castings (and I like the sound of it), fluffing bedding and finding worm balls. The longer the better.
Thank you. It is nice to hear. 😃
Great worm ball encounter @23:53 - I must admit, it gave me goosebumps too :) Watching those magic hands process the contents of Blue is always so satisfying. It was funny how you pointed to the opposite side of the screen as where your end screen item for the Blue playlist appeared _(easily fixable should you decide to swap them)_ HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
I swear I do that half the time. Lol thanks for watching 😃
Blue is getting pretty full. Thanks for asking the question about long term storage. Worm castings are pretty incredible. Self healing and regenerating when the conditions are right. I always enjoy baiting out the baby worms from castings. Happy Birthday Ann! I knew AJs was coming up. Either I didn’t know or forgot you were a December baby. My birthday is coming up soon 😂
December babies seem to be popular worm babies. 😃😃
Happy Birthday ! & Happy Holidays !!
Thank you😊
Happy birthday from the Sanderson family
Thank you 😁
Happy belated birthday! Hope you've had a blessed, few couple weeks so far 🙂
Thank you 😁
Wow! That is a huge worm ball !
Crazy right?
That was a worm beach ball. The insatiable amazing Blue bin always a pleasure to see it at work.
Yep, Blue got all the kids together to say happy birthday to me😊
Such GREAT content! Thank you learned a lot.
Glad you enjoyed it!🪱👍🏼😁
Products listed as compostable means that they are compostable in a large scale hot composter, not in most home compost bins. Adding something like EM-1 or bokari grains would help.
Yep, I usually find things out the hard way. I quit buying the bags. I found one in the cabinet after a few years and it pulled apart in threads. Weird right? 👍🏼🪱😀
@@PlantObsessed well, I think that's what any reasonable person would assume when it just says "compostable". I just got a bottle of microbes to try out bokashi composting. I'm pretty sure it can break these down as it can even compost bones.
Holy cow, giant worm ball! Great video and Happy Birthday 🎉
Thank you 😃
Wow what a HUGE worm ball!
I love it when they all get together to come see me. 😃
love the worm ball!!!!
They are awesome 👍🏼🪱😁
This is exactly what I've been wondering and thinking about. Storage of castings, how to support the benefiial microbial life in castings until ready to use. How to deal with mold. What if there are cocoons in there etc. Best 30 mins ive spent in a while!Ty so much!
Thank you very much for the kind words 😃
Great info, thanks!!
Thank you for watching 😃
Happy Belated Birthday Ann Flower 🌹 All The Way From County Durham England ❤️❤️❤️
Thank you 😁
Love seeing the full scope of the work in one go! Feeding is the fun part, but it seems sometimes the other aspects leave me stumped...
Excited for the red wiggler surprise! The spoiler that its vertical may fulfill a deep wish to get a long term guide on the worm factory type system
It's funny, I was expecting people to say you forgot to feed him. Lol
If you set the smaller screen below the larger and dump it out every 3rd -6th sifting it'll take less than half the time.🤠
Thank you for the idea 💡👍🏼🪱😃
Happy birthday Ann! 💐🥳🎈
Don't listen to them, it's calming and inspiring.
For me you are best on UA-cam. 💚🐛(worm😁)
Thank you 😊
This was excellent Ann. Sorry for the long comment, but hopefully others can learn from my mistakes.
Sadly ironic, I check in on our 2nd ever harvested castings from a week or so ago.
I sifted just like you and had probably a gallon of beautiful casting and it they grew some great plants.
Where I f'd up, I think, is I put a piece of Celery ontop of castings in a larger Tupperware container the SEALED the lid on. I checked this morning and it smelled like death and unfortunately, dead whisps everywhere :( I filled the container so full there was no air. Rookie mistake!!!!
Btw, We totally appreciate the longer form videos.
Birthday worm ball, is definitely the biggest we've ever seen 🥳🥳🥳
Thanks again Ann !
Cheers Jason and Colleen 🪱🤞🪱
Yikes. Sadly I used to use the car litter buckets and did the same thing and clicked the lid shut. Live and learn.
@@PlantObsessed crazy, I had just checked, swore a couple times, picked up my phone and got your video notification. Where were you a week ago !! Lol
Happy Birthday Ann
Cheers
I use woven plastic bags to store my castings in, cant remember where i saw or learned that or maybe it was intiution, from what i learned when i began is that the castings need to "breathe" to keep the microbial bacteria alive, but we all learn thats why theres mistakes
@@theunskoch4256 excellent, thanks for this. I can't believe I did it, especially after watching so many videos!! But I generally learn by mistakes. Don't know what that says about me lol
Thanks again
!!Giant worn ball!! = Nothing short of amazing!
Blue never disappoints. 🥰
Happy birthday!! It was lovely to spend it with you : ) Good grief. People need to just move on instead of leaving critical comments
Have a fantastic Christmas !! can't wait to see what the worms get after the big day !
I think the same. Being mean to people shouldn't be anyone's hobby.
That big worm ball was them wishing you a happy b day hope you had a nice day💐
I believe you are right 👍🏼 good worms.
I'm eating noodles while happily watching someone turning over worm poop and compost. Should I worry?
No its perfectly normal for my people!!
I had luck with a compostable bag breaking down in my ANC bin since it was heated. That said I wouldn’t do again - just too annoying. BTW, I like your yammering! I really enjoy your sense of humor. ❤
Thank you. Agree. I won't buy them again.
I enjoy watching. Yammer on. ❤️
Thank you 😃
@@PlantObsessed
Happy Birthday
🥳🧁🍰🎁🎈🎉
C-A-L Ranch has the same set of stackable sifters for less than $60. In case anyone needs them.
Cool is that a website or a store?👍🏼🪱😁
@@PlantObsessed it's a store out west but you can order online.
Happy birthday 🎉
Thank you😊
It took me until the end of my day, but I finally was able to wind down and watch you harvest Blue, Ann. I can’t think of a more relaxing way to finish my day than to see this incredible monster bin at its finest (and the biggest worm ball you’ve seen so far!).
~ Sandra
It is funny, sometimes I see a worm ball in the bin. Sometimes I don't. With the volume of worms you would think I would see it every time?
I agree
Your video was so informative that I just watched it a second time..didn’t know that about the mold. Can you do a vid about using worm castings on your plants. I am trying to save some house plants that the castings burnt😩🇨🇦
Yes I was thinking about that, thank you for reminding me.
Employer of the year.
👍🏼🪱😃
Happy Birthday Ann, Today, December 10th is my husband's birthday, too👍
He is probably a super cool guy 🤣
@@PlantObsessed He just said the same thing about you ❤️
Holy Batman! That has to be a 3 pound Worm Ball!!! 🪱 Incredible 👍👍
That was crazy
.I couldn't find the edge of it!!
i LOVE watching you work and talking it does calm me and I never would have thought that I would become obsessed with worms shitting :P
If someone told me 10 years ago that I would have a worm farm in my basement I would have said no way.
After watching a few of your videos I went to tractor supply and got a small animal feed trough it's basically like blue I was using storage tubs but I like the large trough it's lot more easier to mix up
Yes the trough is a great idea. I'm glad you have the space for a large system. There is nothing like it.
🎉happy birthday
Thank you 😊
Wow 😮What A Worm Ball Juno 😳
Sometimes I get lucky. Good worms🪱😁🪱😁
Juno You’ve Just Showed Me Ann Flower 🌹 Something About That I’ve Been Missing,That’s Airating That’s Where I’ve Been Going Wrong Thank You Now My Problems Are Solved Juno ❤️❤️❤️
I'm glad I could help. ☺️
I'm just starting a work farm from 3 buckets I'm from Indiana
That is great. Did you start with red wigglers? 🪱👍🏼😀
Ann, why don’t you add some blackstrap molasses solution to that bin to kickstart it off? I know you have it😊 and it is excellent to get microbes going wild. Another fun trick is to soak a piece of cardboard in blackstrap solution or fruit juices and put it in the bin a few inches deep. I always find lots of baby worms collect in the flues of the cardboard and it helps keep the moisture in the bin. My tips.🪱🪱🪱
I just put harvests from my Vermibag, Hungry Bin, several trays from my towers and a mortar tray I harvested a few months ago and have waiting on babies to hatch, into a very large wheelbarrow. I filled it pretty high and left about 10-12 inches across x 6” in the front to migrate those worms out. I put in some aged bedding and melon, lettuce and banana peels and put some plastic over it. I’m hoping to sift the drying side several times to store in buckets. It’s gotten so cold over here in the PNW that I’ve had to move the towers into the garage, as well as some nursery castings, so need to get those worms back to work in active bins. I’m going to consolidate some smaller systems and put them into the larger systems so they can stay warm in the big mass. Since the worms slow down so much in the winter, I’d rather feed less systems and have them work through more kitchen waste faster. Not sure how much this big wheelbarrow holds, but I’m guessing over 60-70 gallons. Thankfully the actual mass of the castings gets smaller over time. 😊
I like the cardboard idea. I use molasses in my worm tea and have used it in my bedding in the past. The suggestion for alfalfa powder has won me over in the last 6 months.
Hello Ann, I pass by chance on your UA-cam and now hooked on it cuz I would like to learn what your doing building worm castings and so my veggies will grow instead of dying 😬👩🌾 I want to ask do you put holes in your bin container or they just no holes at all? Oh how deep is your bin also? Thanks for sharing your knowledge in making this video, love it! Take care and keep teaching us new stuff. 😊👩🌾👍🙏🏻
The bin is about 1 foot deep. No holes. If it starts to get wet I add dry paper or put a fan in the room. Thank you for watching 😃🪱👍🏼
@@PlantObsessed belated happy birthday as well 😊, I didn’t hear that while I was babysitting, sorry.
Feliz cumpleaño
Thank you 👍🏼🪱😁
Compostable trash bag: paper.
No truer words typed. 👍🏼😁🪱
I've found that cellulose based compostable bags break down fine but PLA based bags take forever
I hadn't got to the bit where you mention your birthday when I typed that - Happy Birthday! Nice of the worms to gift you some castings
The green must be the later.
Thank you
I really need to know more in details about the wedge system. I googled it many times but didn't find any detailed rather than a complete piece of information. So, if you really can help me here by attachina a link of a deailed video of yours explaining the issue, or any other trusted source, I'd be more than thankful for your kindness and help.
There will be a video Sunday on this same bin. I will go into better detail and add some pictures.
@@PlantObsessed
That'll be more than perfect. Thank you for your kind interest and prompt reply 😊.
i wonder how many worms we can add to a bin without the population falling drastically due to overpopulation. Or if we can grow a bin population significantly over the natural max population of when they stop reproducing.
I think it is probably going to be maxed out soon. That is one reason I am pushing to get more harvested to make room for the new worms.
Do you feel that if u had a bigger amount of available wormcastings u could altogether stop 10-10-10 use?
For things like tomatoes, no I would either need to amend the worm bin / castings with seaweed or alfalfa to keep up with the nitrogen. That is what I put in my worm tea to supplement usually. For the mature full size fruit trees I just don't think I can keep up with just castings. 2021 I only used castings and I got less than 1/4 of the crop.
My worm castings are so wet and don't look anything like yours! Not sure what I need to do differently.
I dry them slowly and try to get in there every few days to break up clumps. How big is your bin?
Sister, anything a worm will not eat . Doesn't need to be in the ground.
Right? The list is short. 🪱😃👍🏼
how do you store your castings? how long can castings be stored for? how do you care for the castings once stored?
Good questions. If the casting are kept with good moisture and airflow with at least one worm to keep the microbes alive they will stay for a year. If they get too dry or there is no air the microbes will die. I will add moisture and stir monthly to keep it good.🪱😊👍🏼
@@PlantObsessed in this instance; would you add to the water? like molasses or even honey to feed those microbes? do you also place a small portion of food for the worm?
@@charlesnorman4676 I have added some worm chow if there might be a lot of cocoons.
Brown paper bags like they used to have are they compostable?
Yep. Worms love them. 🪱👍🏼😃
@@PlantObsessed ove never spoken to a famouse person befor... haha tha ks for the reply. I just started with worms your channel is a great source of information. Tha ks for all your videos.
This is my first time here. Can I ask why you do this? Are castings worm eggs? And why do you trap the babies?
The casting has worm eggs in them. I do the trap so I can save the egg cocoons to make more worms for my bins. If I don't trap them they will go out in the garden or just die without food. Does that answer the question?
Do you cover your bin for prepared bedding?
It tends to mold of shut tight. I leave it half open.👍🏼🪱😃
I’ve been annoyed at the fruit flies or nats that seem to like it. The worms so love this bedding too.
Did this ever happen to you?
@@theresarothenberger2264 yes, but to avoid the gnats top off the bedding bin with a few inches of completely dry shredded paper or cardboard.
Doesn’t your casting container need air holes, maybe it has some and I just don’t see it?
The lid is not on tight. It gets looked in on weekly to see if there are babies. So I air out and add water if it needs it.
Whereca i buy those strainer mam
Here is the 1/4 inch one i used the most. amzn.to/4b3LHSX
Why do you keep referring to the 1/8 screen as a 1/4 inch. I know this because I purchased one and your castings look like mine.
I would love to see a video where you screen all of Blue using the 1/2 inch screen.
Ok
Re: castings storage... Isn't the debris that falls through the sifter enough for the microbes to eat?
My 'Blue' is called Mikey... Cuz he eats everything!!
In my experience it is not enough for 4 or 5 months. If it was a month I would say yes. Moisture is the biggest point I think.
OK good to know... I currently have half dozen 3 gallon buckets from Oct & Nov on the go of castings sifted to 1/4" finishing... I go in every couple of weeks to pull out any with a clitellum or close to developing and to check on the debris situation... I've thrown in a tiny piece of pumpkin a couple of times as a treat, but once they get down to really slim pickings, I'll remove the worms and add the alfalfa... I'd originally thought weak Molasses water misting but I like alfalfa better.... Thank you... BTW Happy Birthday!! And yea that was a monster wormball!!
Paper bags😂😂😂
Yep🪱👍🏼😃
Hey Ann! I just wanted to let you know- if you didn't see- I'm going live for the next 12 days to do "12 Days of Seedmas" where I'll be giving away seeds!
Cool
If they don't want to listen, why are they here?
In their defense they don't have ears.🤣🤣🪱👍🏼😁
NBA or WNBA basketball size worm 🏀.
Yes exactly.
I've watched a few such videos
Only women are so rough with the worms
Interesting 🤔🪱👍🏼
Do not even think about doubling up on Blu 😂 maybe you can find one of those liquid containers and hopefully it has already been cut in half 👍🏻🍻
That is why I have a full time engineer.😃
A new RO system for your orchids ?? 😮
Hummm