How to Harvest

These worm experts at Waimalu Elementary School know that regular harvesting is important to keep their worms happy and their colonies growing.
To maintain the health and efficiency of your worm bin, periodic harvesting and re-bedding is required. When you harvest, you separate out the valuable excreta of the worms – vermicast – which has built up as your garbage has been ingested and processed. Not only should your bin yield a big pile of dark, odorless, nutrient-rich "Gardeners' Gold," but your worm colony may have expanded as well.

For our Mini-Bins and other small box-type containers, we recommend harvesting every 3 to 5 months. This is approximately the time it takes for the original 3-1/2 or 4 inches of paper and cardboard bedding to break down and be consumed by the worms.

Bedding is critically important to maintain structure – air pockets, habitats for other organisms, and safe harbor for baby worms. When bedding disappears, the health of the ecosystem starts to decline. Following your harvest, you will re-bed your worms in fresh bedding material.
 
Harvesting is Easy & Fun!
Download our illustrated instructional fliers, below. (For Can-O-Worms harvesting information, please go to the Can-O-Worms webpage.)
How to Harvest Your Mini-Bin
Step-by-step instructions for any box-type bin
Click for pdf
How to Handle Fresh Vermicast
Caring for your yield of "Gardner's Gold"
Click for pdf
 


Harvesting Services
Although harvesting is a real pleasure for most vermicomposters, not everyone enjoys it, and many find that they do not have the time to harvest regularly.

Waikiki Worm Co. offers harvesting services on-site at your home or workplace. Standard service includes a worm weigh-in, re-bedding, written assessment, recommmendations and clean-up.

Can-O-Worms harvest - $60
Box bin harvest: 10- to 18-gallon size - $80
Contact us to schedule your on-site harvest.

Harvest-on-a-Budget
For inexpensive harvest help, bring your bin down to our store for harvesting. You will be quoted a price depending on the size and condition of your bin.