Intro to Worms
Thursday | 18 February 2010
Worms at COWHORN are a big, slimy deal. Worm composting is called vermiculture. A little history lesson reveals that worm composting is both ancient and local.Since the beginning of dirt, worms have been breaking up, oxygenating and feeding soil. They leave a rich trail (pun intended) of nutrients and microbes that make soil great for crop growing. Many folks practice at-home vermiculture programs by dropping their kitchen waste in a worm bin and then a week or so later spreading the resulting compost in their garden.
In recent years, vermiculture has captured the interest of innovative farmers around the world. These days, experiments are being conducted to determine ways to introduce vermiculture into commercial farming. Though the topic is huge, a couple simple factors make vermiculture superior to traditional composting methods.
First, worms do not degrade topsoil and waterways by the action of their grazing. Second, worms improve soil simply by living in it. As well, worms are easy to care for. Stop using the rototiller or other soil degrading implements, and the next thing you know worms are there working for you!
For me, anytime doing less yields more, I am happy. And that is the point I will end on today because it is often the most useful rule of harmonious land stewardship: do less not more because chances are Mother Nature knows more that you! Next up: the COWHORN worm bin.
– Barbara Steele
