That's the thing about tower systems - they do compact just from the stacking. You might be able to go another week or two with your first tray. Add food but not bedding. That should reduce the amount of bedding. When you do start a new tray (hopefully when your worms have multiplied), add some of that mostly-composted bedding to that new tray along with the fresh bedding. That should help get things going in the second tray. I learned a new technique for compost harvesting a couple of weeks ago. I spread out one of those big black plastic trash bags on the garage floor (keeps the floor clean and the worms from coming into contact with cement) and dumped all of the bins in the middle into one pile. Wait 20 minutes while the worms dig themselves down into the pile and then collect the compost off the top of the pile. When you start running into worms again in the pile, wait another 20 minutes and then collect some more compost off the top. I would pull out any large-ish strips of newspaper as I went and added it back to the trays. Repeat these steps as often as necessary until you're left with mostly worms on the plastic bag. While you're doing the waiting thing, you can be getting the trays ready with new bedding and food scraps. I was able to collect most of the compost this way and it sure beat sitting hunched over the trays trying to sift. When done, you can fold up the bag to use for next time or use it for trash so no waste. The compost will be coarse - not like the fine commercial stuff we buy in bags. That's ok by me as it's going to get worked into soil or covered by mulch.
