Harvesting Compost Worm Cocoons- Making a Worm Nursery

This is a mix of all my worm species. Red Wigglers Blue Worms and European Night Crawlers.

[PlantObsessed]

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 supported and get a small commission if purchases are made using the links.
pH meter TDS meter compo pack
Mesh bags to make worm tea
Coco coir Coco Bliss
Organic Kelp Fertilizer
Liquid Kelp
Unsulfured Black Strap molasses
Utility Tub - 26" X 20"
Aurora 18 sheet shredder
SE 5-Piece Set of Patented Stackable 13-¼” Sifting Pans - GP2-5 SET
SE Patented Stackable 13-1/4" Sifting Pan, 1/4" Mesh Screen - GP2-14
SE Patented Stackable 13-1/4" Sifting Pan, 1/8" Mesh Screen - GP2-18
SE Patented Stackable 13-1/4" Sifting Pan, Mesh Size 1/12" - GP2-112
Bon Tool 11-407 Utility Tub - 26" X 20"
Tetra 16172 Aqua Safe Fish Tank Water Conditioner
Worm Farmers Handbook Book
Worms Eat My Garbage Book
Vermiculture and Technology Book
Worm Farm Revolution
Uncle Jims European Night Crawlers
Uncle Jims Product page

[amyleader]

On my birthday I was looking for some potting mix in the backyard and found a ton of wild cocoons. Needless to say my birthday gift this year was a worm bin❤

[jerrycallison]

Good info. I appreciate the way you teach in your videos. You aren't a know-it-all guru, but you show your experiences so that others can benefit. Thank you!

You have no reason to be apologetic about being an Amazon affiliate. I think we all know how that works.

[Vermicompost]

I love the castings that come through that smaller screen!! This will be fun to watch this cocoon bin get going from scratch!! I got the shirt in the mail!! Thanks so much!!! It is my first worm channel shirt!!!🪱🪱🪱

[janecarver]

Thanks for this video Ann. I also wanted to see sifting and set up of a cocoon bin. I'm loving your videos.

[sandramcqueen]

I love the feeling of castings from a cocoon/baby bin.

[augustineschaefer]

A ton of castings per year. That’s really cool!

[NanasWorms]

Thanks for the info about how cocoons survive, Ann.

[A-V]

A fine screen is a great thing to have. I don't have one (yet) so I have not yet been able to try screening for cocoons... but it definitely seems like a very effective way to retain a lot of cocoons rather than leaving them in the compost. And the fineness of the castings that pass thru the tiny screen is very nice too 👍🏻

[outlaw]

I only started the journey of vericomposting a few months ago. Had to buy a bag of worm castings with cocoons in it cos every time i order worms, it takes too long for them to get to me. the cocoons in the castings a bought survived tho. got arounf 30-50 worms maybe more starting off. since the population was so small i put them in a small shoe bin until the population gets bigger. they ate up a good bit and i was able to get half a gallon sized ziploc bag of castings. was gonna make use of it right away before i paused and said, hold up, just in case eggs are in here let me leave the castings in the bag for a bit. Sure enough tiny worms are in a lot and i keep seeing them even tho i keep taking them out and putting them in the main bin to increase the population. clearly i need to sift and get as much as possible. I still don't have enough for my likeling but in another 3 to 6 months i think i'll have enough to have a decent size bin.

[emrybennett]

Very nice video! I have a full bin ready for harvest, but I can't bring myself to have baby worms in a storage bucket only to starve to death (even though they decompose quickly ).

[gregbutler]

The best thing about that nursery is you can paint it any color you wish… 😂

[thuffman]

Great video! Guess I'll have to purchase a few of those bucket sifters! I been holding off but I think it's due time. The 1/8th mesh I'm using seems to allow cocoons to pass, so I'll use your affiliate links when I buy. Thank you for sharing your progress!

[Aaron-Brown]

So I’m guessing the cocoons are not as fragile as you would think??

[playgyrl]

How do you get your castings to dry out? My bins are always muddy textured

[illyariddell]

Is it easier to ship cocoons than live worms? Are you planning to experiment with how long cocoons can be dormant before they are not viable?

[ontherocksinthesoilmichael]

What you need to think is that you aren't "wasting" castings because in two-three months or so you will recover those castings and any new castings the new worms will make.

[geraldmarlowe]

How many worms do you have to get a ton of castings per year?

[juanitanoble]

Do you use a special bedding for the nursery?

[shirleyporter]

Can you tell me how you prepare your bedding please