Posts Tagged ‘worm farm’
Earthworms Convert Garbage to Garden Gold
At first glance, earthworms are not pretty. They are slimy and squiggly and don’t add much to the aesthetics of the garden. It seems all they do is sit beneath the soil surface emerging at night or on a rainy day to wander aimlessly about.
But did you know earthworms are as important as bees when it comes to having a successful garden? While bees pollinate plants to produce better flowers, fruits and vegetables, earthworms work underground to break down organic matter and create compost utilized by plants for optimal growth.
The earthworm’s body is an efficient composting factory. It starts with the pointed lobe covering the head, or the prostomium, used to pry open cracks in the soil followed by the mouth that eats everything in its path. The mucous secreted along the earthworm’s body helps the earthworm glide through dry hard soil. They breathe through the surface of their body, as earthworms have no lungs.
Once soil and organic matter enters the earthworm’s body, it passes through the digestive system. During the digestive process enzymes break the organic matter down on a molecular level. The worm absorbs what it needs for energy and growth and passes the rest into the garden soil. It is what the earthworm leaves behind that is considered garden gold. This garden gold, or garden soil enriched by earthworm deposits, is considered by many the best soil you can have in the garden.
