EARTHWORM

 

Earthworms are beneficials because they eat soil mixed with decaying material as they travel through the earth, creating air tunnels lined with nutrients that are great for plants, roots and water pathways. Earthworms eat half their weight in dead leaves and other decaying material every day, and their poop becomes food for plants!

 

How do I attract earthworms?

 

If you add compost to the top of the soil next to the roots of your vegetables, the worms will come. Chemicals repel earthworms.

 

Factoids

 

In 1881, the famous scientist Darwin, proved that earthworms turn the soil and make it more fertile. This was surprising to gardeners at that time who thought that earthworms were pests. Darwin called earthworms “nature’s ploughs.”