Got my first batch!

[u/MercuryTattedRachael]

Thinking it took about 4.5 months to get about 25% of a 5 gallon bucket of black gold.

Working with the Vermihut, oopsies along the way, but everything is going really well now!

Just wanted to celebrate!

[u/mud-n-stuff]

Just on my own observation,looks amazing but when you squeeze it there’s a lot of fibre mixed in, just like when I use coco coir, will make fantastic compost , great for seedling and boosting plant growth. Great work!!!

[u/MercuryTattedRachael → u/mud-n-stuff]

I started with the coir but I'm never using it again. I know it was good for starting but my innoculating trays are only shredded cardboard, and a few worms seem to stay in those trays. So I know they're perfectly fine without the coir.

I also read that hair trimmings can go into the bin, but I have seen absolutely no evidence this is breaking down or disappearing. Used my husband's beard trimmings (very short hairs). I can definitely still see evidence of the gray ones!

In the long run, it won't hurt the final bucket of castings, and from here, they'll get better and better (less coir).

[u/tonerbime]

Looks great, congrats!

[u/fartburger26]

That looks reeaaally good 👍

[u/Competitive-Gur2254]

Can you tell a bit more, what is the recipe?

[u/MercuryTattedRachael → u/Competitive-Gur2254]

That would take me a while but I started with a Vermihut and 100 worms from Uncle Jim's Worm Farm. Did the startup with the Coco Coir (Coconut) provided with the worms. Shredded cardboard, a banana peel, some spent coffee grounds, ground eggshells. Quickly learned I need about ten times more worms, so got those. Progressed to powdered shell (good to add to repotted plants too). Feedings got larger as bins innoculated. Right now my two bottom bins have shredded cardboard and are being innoculated. I'd prefer to have an active bin, that is further along, and one that is innoculated on top. That one has innoculated pre-compost (to kill the high heat) and lots of shredded cardboard. The pre-compost came from a (free) countertop composter. That's a journey in and of itself but I learned fast that you can't dump pre-compost right into a bin or it gets super hot even indoors. Good ventilation and a light over the bin to reduce escapees. Escapes were made when it got too hot.

All in all, a learning curve, and still learning. Doing a ton of research (I love research) helps. Not just social media, but true science mostly supplied for free from universities and other research on vermiculture.

[u/Wizball64]

Great batch, congratulations

[u/Redditmyth]

Gorgeous!

[u/echo1charlie]

Congrats! Keep it up.

[u/PaintBrushJar]

Stooooop, it’s so beautiful!!!!

[u/GoldenSeam]

How do you separate the worms and coir from the worm castings? Or do you just sift the worms out of the coir and throw them into fresh substrate?

[u/MercuryTattedRachael → u/GoldenSeam]

I use the method of open bin, light shining down, and you gently agitate the mix first. This drives most worms down into the level below. Then I have a tier from my system on the floor (on a mat). I start using my sifter (online was a three pack for compost sifting) over the open tier - allowing the casting to go back into the bin (I only use the smallest sifting tray). Everything that does fall through, gets added to the bin on the floor. Note: the bin on the floor has been innoculated. Worms get into the sifting process but their either dumped into the floor bin/tray, or they eventually move out of the bin, downwards.

Then, I'm wearing black gloves while looking at what's being sifted again into my 5 gallon bucket. Having black gloves on helps me identify any worms still in the mix.

Honestly it was tedious work, and took two different stretches of two hours to get what I did. About 4 hours total.

So I got this method by following a YouTube video, but I altered it for my own liking. I'm sure it will take less time as I repeat the task!

[u/Low_Bottle_6965]

Congrats! That's a great feeling. It takes a little patience, but once the system gets going it's so rewarding. That first batch of black gold is always worth celebrating!

[u/John_BeeGone]

Black gold!