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How do you harvest worm compost?

Last Updated: September 05, 2008

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When a worm bin is full, scoop out any undigested food scraps and the material that contains the most worms - usually the top 3 to 4 inches of material. Use the rest as compost. Put the material full of worms back into the bin. Mix it with an equal amount of fresh bedding, and cover with 1 inch of shredded paper.

To remove more worms from the compost, spread a thin layer on a tarp in sunlight, leaving a few small mounds. The worms will gather in the mounds as the material dries. Be careful, because the heat and rapid drying can kill the worms. Another method is to sift the compost gently over a wire screen and save the worms that don't go through.

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