Separating Worms from Vermicast

Q. How do you easily separate earthworms from the castings. I raise them in a big pot.

A. There are three basic ways of separating earthworms; by pulling them to a new food source, using light to “herd” them, or screening the soil. Let’s get some “vermiculture” terminology out of the way first.

Red wigglers or other worms used in vermiculture can be separated from the vermicast physically by screening, food or herding with light.

            Vermiculture is the raising of surface-dwelling earthworms for the purpose of vermicomposting. Vermicomposting is using surface-dwelling worms to make compost rather than a traditional composting method. The end-product is not called “compost” but rather “vermicast”. Vermicast is basically “worm poop”. The proper way to talk about it might be, “I am making vermicast through vermiculture rather than composting.”

Screening Method

            All three of these methods require screening of the vermicast end product to remove worms and egg cases called “cocoons”. It’s faster to screen for renegade worms and cocoons than to rely on screening alone for separation but it can be done that way.

Food Method

            Putting “fresh worm food” in a pile for the worms to eat separates them. This method attracts them to one location where they can be transferred to a new location and the vermicast screened and collected. When they congregate around this new food source, remove them from the vermicast, transfer them, and begin the process all over again.

Herding Method

            The “herding” method uses light which they hate. Vermicast is dumped into a pile, the worms migrate away from the light as you screen the top of the vermicast. Always leave a thick bottom layer for worm migration. When finished, use the bottom layer full of worms as the “inoculation” for creating more vermicast.