How do I know vermi-compost is done?

Question

So a friend of mine gifted me with a bucket of worms mixed with dirt and food. It was a living colony and I maintained it so, even growing properly. I've followed quite a few proper rules, also taking into account prior post on how-to-make-compost.

• I made several levels with 20 liters paint buckets with some holes in it (in the sides and below). From top bottom:
  • Covered with cloth and some slight weight
  • 3rd level has the major colony where I throw food.
  • 2nd level has a base of grass, dirt and is where they go down to reproduce.
  • 1st level is empty with no holes to receive water from above layers.

I already know how long this takes in average, and that it should have a balance between carbon and nitrogen. Now to the question. Once this is all done:

How do I know, visually, if the vermi-compost is properly ripe?

Answer 1

How should it look like?

It should look like very fine, dark-brown earth. And there should be no worm or very few in it: worms climb up your pile where fresh material is added.

Usually, this is what you will get at the bottom of your pile. You can't have your whole batch turn into compost entirely, since constantly have to add new nutriments on top otherwise your worms will get hungry and start migrating... elsewhere in your kitchen... no just kidding, you don't starve poor little wormy, do you?

How long to wait?

It can take up to wait 6 moths to a year; but some say it can take less.

You can also us the smell:

You want a nice earthy smell. If it smells sour or rotten there's probably got too much water and not enough air. If it smells of ammonia, you've got too much nitrogen ("greens") and not enough carbon ("browns").