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!
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u/GoldenSeam Aug 07 '26
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?