GardenBanter.co.uk - View Single Post

09-07-2003, 05:08 PM

writes:
Anybody see the July 7 article about earthworms in the Wall Street
Journal?
It seems that people are finally learning that worms are not the wonderful
things the worm dealers would have us think.

FACT: Earthworms do not create good soil, they migrate toward good soil.
After finding good soil, they attract moles.

That certainly sounds like the reporter may not have done thorough
research and may very well have started out with a bias, a big no-no in
professional journalism.

Fact: I haul in horse manure mixed with leaves. That is not soil, it is
horse manure and leaves . . . organic, yes, but not soil. A good supply
of earthworms comes with it. The manure that is left in the manure bin (a
surround of concrete blocks) is beautiful, highly fertile soil in the
spring. From my personal observation, there is no question the earthworms
(and incoming buddies) have converted the manure and leaves to soil, or
more properly called, worm castings.

At Hanford, Washington, they conducted experiments with earthworms to
"clean up" radioactive soil. It seems that everything that goes through an
earthworm's body is detoxified. The soil passed through the earthworms'
body did, indeed, become non-radioactive; however, they had no way of
disposing of radioactive earthworms, experimentation abandoned.
(Information from our composting classes.)

My grandfather farmed and made certain to keep a good supply of vegetative
material in the fields when he harvested, the reason? Earthworms to break
it down for more fertilizer for next year's crop. He was also a rotation
crop person, taking a lesson from Ben Franklin.

I read sometime last year that Australia has a crisis building. They have
been invaded by a tapeworm that eats earthworms and is becoming a major
problem. Without the earthworms, the soil is not being "worked" and the
agricultural industry is in jeopardy. Perhaps some of our Aussie friends
on the group can fill us in about the particulars of that; I have lost
track of the current status of that problem. Seems logical to me that
moles are not so discriminating in their food supply that they would
ignore tapeworms and starve, ya think?

As for moles, there are a lot of good soil areas that do not have moles.
My own garden is one of those. Moles are attracted by more than
earthworms.

Do you think that perhaps all the other critters (beetles, etc.) that are
also working the soil the earthworms are working could be attracting moles
as well? But maybe those smaller critters aren't as obvious as earthworms
and didn't catch the reporter's fancy. Perhaps the reporter will go after
ladybugs next time and tell us they really don't eat aphids?

I'll tell you for sure, between moles and earthworms, I'll take the
earthworms any day even it means moles too. I can trap the moles but I
cannot live without the earthworms . . . none of us can. Throw a load of
organic material, leaves, manure, whatever, onto a spot of clay and you
will have soil. As they say, compost happens. Earthworms are a major
element in the compost happening . . . soil built.

No, I am not a worm dealer and have no financial interest in earthworms
except my survival as a member of this planet. I am smart enough, however,
to observe my worm bin which has only redworms and kitchen scraps that,
without my help or any additions of anything else, becomes beautiful, rich
soil that gardeners strive to achieve. Without the worms, it becomes a
smelly, stinking and unhealthy mess.

There are many tiny critters involved in composting, but the earthworm is
the one that is universal and most effective. It leaves the question in
my mind if the reporter is one of those poor souls afraid of earthworms.

Oh, by the way, earthworms attract gulls as far as 400 miles inland from
the ocean, just ask any farmer plowing his field. Did the reporter mention
a gull problem? They also attract Robins to entertain us with their food
gathering.

Yes, I will try to remember to read the article, but I doubt it will
convince me that all earthworms are good for is attracting moles. I also
doubt it will change anything I've said here; reading will tell.

Glenna