The Earthworm in the Organic Garden
|
Posted by Jamie McIntosh Jun 26, 2009 |
When was the last time you saw an earthworm? Chances are, you didn’t think much about the sighting. If you were working in the garden, you may have disturbed some in the soil. If it was after a heavy rain, you saw them writhing on the sidewalk. If it was three days after that rain, you saw their desiccated carcasses, frozen in their last flight like the mummies of Pompeii.
Whether they make you feel squeamish or indifferent, earthworms are a vital part of a living, healthy soil. Consider life without earthworms: the soil would become flat, hardpan, as lifeless as the sphagnum moss in an artificial flower arrangement. The extinction of the earthworm could serve as the premise for an apocalyptic novel. After all, as T.S. Eliot said, “the world will end, not with a bang, but with a whimper.”
Considering the lowly member of the annelid family in this stark scenario, how can organic gardeners protect and nurture the earthworm?
- Stop using chemicals on plants and in the soil.
- Place at least three inches of organic mulch on bare earth to retain moisture.
- Maintain a healthy soil pH of at least 4.5.
- Avoid walking on the soil, which compacts it and reduces earthworm traffic.