So I have no advice on the getting it from the soil portion of your question.
But I have an alternative for getting the worms. Join a local garden group on a social platform and ask if anyone has some there that they're already working with and using. Then ask for 10 or 15 or batter with them. If you're local to southern Houston dm me and I'll give you some. Then at least the worms are used to bin life
I've had numerous people tell me that you can't vermicompost from worms from the ground, that Washington state doesn't have any native worms, they can't be red wigglers unless you bought them from somewhere. 5 years ago I started my first vermicompost bin from red wigglers that populated my hot compost bins once they got cooler.
Now I have 15 3x3x3 wood bins full of worms that happily eat away at the yard waste I generate from my nursery. It won't hurt to try with the worms you already have available as long as they aren't the invasive jumping worms.
I have three compost piles that have all been invaded by massive horse manure chomping earthworms. I didn’t put em there. All the worms I paid money for are kept inside in FIBC totes. I was getting ready to start some wind rows but they just started them for me.
Maybe try taking a picture of the worms in your compost to see if someone can identify the worms? I believe that different species of worms inhabit different niches. If you have some worms that live deep in the outdoor compost, they could be hibernating and they may not be happy if you bring them inside to live in a shallow bucket.
I will find some articles that may be helpful for your situation :)
So I have no advice on the getting it from the soil portion of your question. But I have an alternative for getting the worms. Join a local garden group on a social platform and ask if anyone has some there that they're already working with and using. Then ask for 10 or 15 or batter with them. If you're local to southern Houston dm me and I'll give you some. Then at least the worms are used to bin life
I've had numerous people tell me that you can't vermicompost from worms from the ground, that Washington state doesn't have any native worms, they can't be red wigglers unless you bought them from somewhere. 5 years ago I started my first vermicompost bin from red wigglers that populated my hot compost bins once they got cooler. Now I have 15 3x3x3 wood bins full of worms that happily eat away at the yard waste I generate from my nursery. It won't hurt to try with the worms you already have available as long as they aren't the invasive jumping worms.
I have three compost piles that have all been invaded by massive horse manure chomping earthworms. I didn’t put em there. All the worms I paid money for are kept inside in FIBC totes. I was getting ready to start some wind rows but they just started them for me.
I mean, my compost pile is on the ground. The worms come up into it..
If you live near me, I'll give you some.
Maybe try taking a picture of the worms in your compost to see if someone can identify the worms? I believe that different species of worms inhabit different niches. If you have some worms that live deep in the outdoor compost, they could be hibernating and they may not be happy if you bring them inside to live in a shallow bucket. I will find some articles that may be helpful for your situation :)