High Tech vs Low Tech Harvesting Methods

16 years ago

High Tech: Who would not want to just turn the handle and perfect vermicastings cascade down more beautiful than any waterfall. I certainly want to. And I would want to be first in line to buy a product that promises that. Mind you I did not pay any money for my worms or my bins. But it seems to be a lot to ask of a bit of thin plastic or metal holding the harvesting bars in place. They are not designed for the torque. The pressures exerted by vermicompost might be larger than one would think. The holder for the bars would need to be something other than the sides of the bin.

Low Tech: I am finding scrapping the still pretty much vermicompost not vermicastings (working on it) from the bottom of the flow through not as much fun as I had originally anticipated. Well it was great fun the first time or three. I am thinking of drilling a few 1/4 holes (could be two inches, it does not matter) into the side near the bottom of the flow through bin. Then the grill skewer tool I used with the worms can jostle the material out of the open bottom. I hope. The effot needed may be similar to turning the crank on the high tech method.

This is what I lay awake thinking about.

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Comments (3)

mendopete
16 years ago
High Tech: Using my worm tumbler/castings sifter made of 5 gal. buckets, PVC pipe and 1/4" hardware cloth. A two person operation sifts 20 gallons in 10 minutes.
Low Tech: Put the vermicompost in a milk-crate and set it on your future worm bin, open to the sun and wind, for a week. 95% of the worms leave, and you the add the rest to the garden!
Both worked well for me recently. Happy Wormin'
Pete
patrock
16 years ago
Pete: Any chance you could post a couple photos of your worm tumbler?
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mendopete
16 years ago
High Tech: Posting pictures and useful links to where I got ideas.

Low Tech: Me. I wish I were high tech!

Here is how I made it.

Cut the bottoms out of 2- 5gal buckets. Drill 3/16" holes around the cutoff end, 2' apart and 2" from the cut, around the perimeters. Wrap 1/4" hardware cloth between them and attach with many plastic ties. Drill 1/4" holes in the buckets where the handle goes, and secure 12" all-thread with 4 nuts each. Attach a 1" PVC axle-housing with plastic ties to the all-thread. Insert over a broom handle axle mounted on a homemade modified miter-saw stand (or something else) at the proper angle( maybe10-15 degrees).
Now get your buddy and offer a beer. Have em slowly turn about 12 RPM while you shovel the goods in. I rigged a hopper to help load and reduce spillage, but... It is messy. Finished castings, some very juvenile worms, and many cocoons fall thru the screen. Worms and unfinished material comes out the other end. Then drink the beer. I hope this helps and I did not confuse to much.
Pete (low-tech with a rotary-dial phone)