Well I finally got around to making a short video on the homemade worm castings harvester I use a few times a week. This worm harvesting contraption can be modified for vermicompost or as a soil sifter by replacing the 1/8” screen with a larger size such as a quarter inch.
I had built the worm castings harvesting machine based on my own needs which permits me to harvest worm castings from a quality controlled setting every two weeks from 5 gallon buckets.
I start with some rich organic humus and add a special blend of grain and other organic matter as a food source. Within two weeks the half filled 5 gallon bucket is turned over to 8-10 pounds of worm castings less any debris, i.e. wood chips, bark…
The worm castings harvester is framed out of wood using wood screws to enable the system to endure the vibrations when in use.
The source of energy is produced from a $21.00 finish sander purchased at a local home improvement store.
The rest of the information is pretty much explained within the video below.
Hi,
Great harvester!
Can you please clarify how you generate castings in the buckets? Do you use a lot of worms? What kind of food do you use?
Thanks,
Mike
Hi There Bruce very cool looks as if it works really well.Is there a way you could tell me more about how you hooked the sander to the screen to make it shake i would like to make one, if it’s ok since it’s your idea? any help would be greatly appreciated ty Shorty
Shorty
Sure you can make one
The reason I post these is so others can either duplicate or perhaps might give them another idea for their own. Either way is fine… but thanks for asking.
I used the two chain link fence post pieces on the back since it fit this brand and model handle pretty well as you can see from the below photo using two “U” bolts on the top as well as another two hooked to the main frame on the bottom.
On the front side, I removed the four screws holding the flat plate to the finish sander. I then used 2″ drywall screws since this fit the make and model I was using to bolt it to the frame of the screen as seen in the picture below.
Hope this helps,
Bruce
Mike
It gets pretty tricky since apparently the material for the bedding is tough to come by in most areas. I have given this process to a few friends in the business as I was writing an ebook and wanted them to give it a try. One fellow had to drive about 200 miles to locate the bedding material.
I place 275 worms in each bucket allowing for a minimal loss. The food I use is Purina Worm Chow along with chicken mash however you must know what you are doing as these worms are protein sensitive and too much will kill them.
I am modifying the ebook to include this along with other ways to raise them, however the castings will not result in the granule type.
Bruce
Very nice Thank you it helps a bunch, nice site here loaded with info. I just starting with African and European’s a pound of each i had received so i’m still trying to learn the in and out’s Thank You again and i’l be in touch again soon i’m sure lol
Bruce, Could the same amount of 275 African’s or European’s worms be raised in a bucket with rabbit droppings mixed with hay that has been laying in a pile all winter? And if so what would be the fill line as to not fill it to full and to empty and collect castings every 2 weeks? Plus could these have lids on them to stack with proper air holes in the bottom sides? Shorty
HI BRUCE, VERY IMPRESSIVE HOMEMADE CASTING HARVESTER. ARE PLANS AVALIABLE, AS TO MATERIALS NEEDES AND ASSEMBLY . I WOULD LIKE TO BUILD ONE FOR MY CASTING HARVESTING, YOUR FIVE GALLON BUCKET METHOD IS ALSO VERY GOOD.
THANKS FOR ANY HELP AVALIABLE.
ED. MCKENZIE
I have farm in India (Gujarat, Vadodara) 400 KM norht of Mubai. I am very new to this subject.
Please can you advice for a new starter where to find the information. Secondly from where can procure warms.
Thanks,
Narendra PATEL.
Narendra
There is information here, The Worm Expert forum as well as Alabama Jumpers blog.
As for finding worms you would be best searching online at Google or other search engine being it is illegal for the most part to ship many worms internationally.
Bruce
Ed,
I did not make any but could probably put something together… Let me work on the plans…
As for the five gallon method, I have just released an ebook, 14 Day Worm Castings which describes how to turn a worm bin (bucket in this case) completely over to worm castings in two weeks which is available here!
Bruce
What size screen do you use for harvesting? I’ve seen people use 1/4″ but also 1/8″ for fine castings.
Kman
It depends on what you are screening.
For worm castings you will want to use an 1/8″ screen.
For worm cocoons mixed in with some small unfinished decaying organic matter, you would want to use the 1/4″ screen. This works for most worms, however for Alabama Jumpers, the cocoons are only the size of the head of a pin. Most worms such as red wigglers, African nightcrawlers and European nightcrawlers have cocoons similar to a tomato seed in size hence the need for the 1/4″.
Bruce
HI BRUCE!! THANKS GOOD INFO HERE. I HAVE LOCATED A SOURCE TO GET MOST OF THE BEDDING MATERIAL LESS THAN A MILE FROM ME. TALKED TO THEM YESTERDAY. I WILL HAVE TO ORDER THE PURINA CHOW FROM YOUR SERVICE. THANKS FOR YOUR REPLY TO MY QUERY ABOUT THE HARVESTER PLANS.
ED MCKENZIE
Hi Bruce, Just found your great website. We started playing with worms about 6 months ago. We are using the large redworms normally sold for bait, which seem to be producing a huge amount of coccons in addition to turning castings fairly quickly. We are using pulverized Canadian peat for bedding. I noticed that some people seem to be having difficulty locating bedding materials. We are interested in purchasing your e-book, however we already have too much invested in redworms (and the peat is cheap) to start over with another type of worm. Is your system compatible with redworms and peat bedding? Not looking for you to divulge your secrets, but don’t want to waste money as we are living on a fixed income and times are a bit tough. Thanks.
Hey Cindy,
Glad to hear things are going well for you and your worms.
I am afraid that the bedding and worms used are different than what you currently use. I have tried different bedding materials as well as worms however they do not work. It is a specific process that only works one way…
Bruce
Hi Bruce,
Thanks for your quick reply. We are also interested in the casting harvester. In May you said you would work on more detailed plans for that…Is that still forthcoming, or do you not have the time or inclination? Thanks, Cindy
Cindy
Still working on this. I modified the harvester which now has two screens, 1/8″ and 1/4″ and three harvesting containers. The problem is I had to beef up the sides and make a few other alterations however the system seems a bit heavy to support my original concept… Hang in there… have an idea which should rectify the situation and eliminate one of the building steps.
Bruce
8/13/2010
HI BRUCE, GOOD INFO INCLUDED IN YOUR MESSAGES, AS ALWAYS. I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO FIND 1/8″ SIZE HARDWARE CLOTH IN MY AREA OF DET. MI. ANY SUGGESTIONS WHERE I SHOULD LOOK FOR IT, NEED TO ORDER SOME, I HAVE 1/4″ CLOTH.
I AM USING MY E-BOOK , 14 DAY CASTINGS.
THANKS
ED. MCKENZIE
Edward,
Thanks… I purchase mine through the local Ace hardware store. My local Lowes and Home Depot do not carry it however others have found it there at their local stores. Also some feed stores may carry the 1/8″ galvanized hardware cloth.
Bruce
Hi Bruce,
Any progress on the design for the casting harvester?
Bruce,
I have been looking at building a homemade harvester and purchased some plans for a rotary type machine. The plans are very complicated as I can’t get a picture in my head of how it all ties in together. Your machine is so neat and efficient, I would love to get some plans to build one myself if you have them completed.
Please let me know if the plans are ready (comments to Ed in May,).
Thanks,
John
Hi everyone,
I have a pig farm and compost all manure with rice hull bedding and rice straw. Here in Thailand this compost is finished in 3 to 4 weeks. I use the compost as bedding material and the worms are feed on cow and buffalo manure. Each bed returns about 1 cubic metre of castings and vermicompost, processing time 4 weeks.
Best, it is all waste materials turned into gold by nothing more than elbow grease.
John
I just posted the updated and improved version to the worm castings harvester machine. It now has dual screens, more power and is much more efficient. You can see the new video here.
I plan to draw up the plans shortly. It will be announced in the Worm Composting newsletter once they are finished.
Bruce
Last year my roommate Cindy e-mailed you on a couple of questions. One was if you had plans on the harvester. We would like to build one. Is there plans we can purchase or get?
Thanke.
George
Hey Bruce! Hi! I’m planning to start my own worm farm. I need help in maintaining my compost bin. Do you have any trick on how to keep pests away? Thanks! – Michelle
Michelle
By keeping the worm bin a little dryer can help, especially on top. Top feeding will attract more critters than mixing food in. Also the use of food grade DE can help reduce and or eliminate certain pests.
Bruce
George
I offer plans for a free one at http://WormHarvesterPlans.com
Bruce
Gosh…got my Africa’s today and they were huge! Ordered 500, got 631. I know because we had to count them to put in the 14 day casting program. We put 275 in each bucket. Made another small bucket (with peat and manure) out of the 81 left. Also, received our Euro’s on Wednesday and they looked great! They are in an outside bin and doing very well. We are so happy with our order. Thanks Bruce.
Linda
We usually count on some dieing off during the eight months it takes to grow out the Africans… guess none or not many were lost in the buckets used to send your worms
Normally I would not count on that many extras, however it is a good sign….
Thanks
Bruce
Bruce,
Can I use just MP moss for my cocoons or will horse manure/shredded newspaper be better bedding?
screek
I would personally use whatever the bedding material is made up of that the cocoons were laid in. Believe it or not this can make a difference in the hatch rates.
Bruce
I’ve been following different designs that Bruce appears to have worked on; One, where an anchored sander agitates a screen box. Two, where a vibrating sander is simply attached to a screen box. And Three, a drum type of screen powered by an electric drill. These significant changes in design imply either problems or someone with a lot of time on their hands. If some of the designs turned up problems, it would be really nice if the designer would openly share these problems so others would not have to rediscover these problems…
Hey Dave
Let me start with actually there are two types of harvesters one with the sander and one trommel type. If you were following the posts you would have known this as well as the difficulties as well as unsafe issues I came across with the shaker using the sander for a motor to drive the machine..
Secondly for a person to imply another may have too much time on there hands allow me to elaborate on on my day! First my day started at 12:30 AM on the 26th and double sifted over 1,000 pounds of worm castings as well as reset numerous worm bins and then set numerous bins for hatching cocoons with more to do tomorrow..
Once the sun came up I also played with my dog numerous times during the day with her Frisbee and rope as she is actually a border collie/red healer mix… anyone knowing of this mix knows they require a lot of attention and running time… on two acres of land…I have to wait for the sun to come up as I lost one last year to coyotes that are prevalent in this area…
I also have eight new rabbits this week hence I built and hung a new larger cage today to support her and her 8 young ones as well as adjusted a heat lamp since we are getting cooler again.
I went to the grocery store… Also went to the gas station to purchase ten gallons of diesel for the one controlled building for the worms and filled the tank.
I spent almost two hours on a new book I am writing which will be a hard copy when eventually done.
I also received numerous calls today for business as well as family and friends… Exceptional high call volume due to it is my birthday today… Blew out the birthday candles on the cake… and yet to have a piece of cake…. but am replying to your post at 8:30 PM, hence been awake and working for over 20 hours today which is typical since I average about 4 hours of sleep per day 7 days a week.
So please follow the posts and do not imply someone has too much time on their hands when they work 120 to 140 hours per week giving free information on results from their testings!
And that is only some of what I accomplished today…
So what did you do today????
Thanks & Happy New Year.
Bruce
Bruce,
Hope you took a few minutes to enjoy the holiday and your birthday. Happy New Year!
Thanks for all your hard work and the information that keeps us going.
Cindy
Thanks and yes I did for a minute
Bruce
Hi Bruce. Just a simple thank you for your work. We are starting a worm farm this week. We have done quite a bit of research, but still have a lot to learn. I appreciate your effort and shared knowledge. I, like you, have a business and find it exhausting when someone things “I have too much time on my hands”. Peace.