A vermiculture unit comprises structural elements defining an interior fillable with organic substance and through which worms for converting the organic substance to environmentally compatible products migrate; a perforated surface for supporting the organic substance; and fixed walls extending upwardly from the perforated surface to a void area located below an uppermost edge of the structural elements, removal of worms from the interior that is below the void area being prevented by the fixed walls. An extractor is insertable into the interior via the void area, for extracting, from the interior, solidified organic substance to which the worms have upwardly migrated, allowing grown worms to be separated from the extracted organic substance and collected. In one embodiment, the extractor is an openwork drawer member. In another embodiment, the structural elements are used for vermicomposting while an inclined surface receives worm processed byproducts downwardly discharged through the perforated surface.