Cocoon Bin

Check out the adolescent hanging on my finger in the bottom right corner

I've been slowing starting some seeds indoors and making my own potting mix.  I hadn't planned on making my own potting mix but if that's what I want to do, I need A LOT more vermicompost than what my worms are making.  Which means I need more worms.  I can't purchase them for another 1-2 months unless I can find a local vendor, and I haven't run into many people that compost with worms.  It's too cold to ship here for another 1-2 months.

To hatch as many cocoons as possible, I need to provide the most optimum bedding conditions. To do that, the cocoons should be harvested separately. This will allow me to provide a warmer temperature of about 80 degrees, which is ideal for red wigglers and European night crawlers cocoons. Normally the worm bin likes temperatures from 60-80 degrees. But if it's too cool, a cocoon can hibernate for several years.  I want to provide conditions that will ensure all viable cocoons will hatch to increase my worms and vermicompost.    

Soil Blocks
I made the potting mix here with 4 cups vermicompost, 4 cups peat moss and 2-3 cups of perlite.  In just the 4 cups of vermicompost, I pulled out at least 50 baby worms.  And this was in my completed vermicompost bin, from all the cocoons that were still in the bin.  Let me know if you want to know how I made the soil blocks.  So easy and incredibly convenient that I don't have to keep buying or saving containers. 

My husband graciously agreed to help me pull cocoons out for an hour last night.  I say graciously because not only is this NOT his thing, it's the last thing he would ever want to do.  But he did it for me.  What a keeper!

Harvesting
We starting harvesting the cocoons but piling on a cardboard flat. Eventually, we just started picking through the bin.  Cocoons are usually found near the food and my food is always put at the bottom of the bin.  So that bin got some great aeration last night. 

I didn't keep count but I think we pulled about about 50+ cocoons.  We didn't have a chance to get to the store to get a 10 gallon Rubbermaid container to make a permanent home so this is the temporary worm motel.  I added some existing bedding from one of my bins as well as a few rotting strawberries. 

Cocoons
Did I miss any? 

Tonight I transferred the cocoons to their new home and I was pleasantly surprised to see one of the cocoons had already hatched.  I'll try to get a photo op with the new little guy.   

Temporary Worm Motel