By the end of this lesson: you will separate worms using their natural avoidance of light.

Place small mounds of material on a sheet or tray under a bright light. Wait for worms to move down, then remove the top layer of castings. Repeat until the remaining mound is mostly worms and unfinished material.

This method needs little equipment and is gentle when done patiently. It is slow for large volumes and can dry the material, so work in small batches and keep sorted worms covered.

Return the worm-rich remainder to prepared bedding. Check the harvested material again over the next few days for juveniles or hatchlings.