Written by: Mia
Hey Readers! If you have a garden, thinking about creating a garden or just want to know more, this is the post for you. When starting a garden, the first thing you need to think about is soil; but more importantly fertile soil. You might want to buy some fertilizer; what’s better and more beneficial in the long run? WORMS!! The word worms does sound weird or gross, but they’d be an ally to your garden! This post will explain the reason why worms are a great source and why you may prefer worms over fertilizer!
Yes, I know, worms are a strange topic to bring up (I don’t like worms), however worms are a potential best friend when it comes to soil. Many people only rely on fertilizer to create a stable start, but you need to remember their effects long term. First off, they include chemicals to aid your crops, plants or grass. Once you start your soil on fertilizer, it becomes “chemically dependent”. It breaks down the organic matter originally used to naturally fertilize the soil. Second, it’s an expensive investment, meaning you’ll either spend loads of money or likely risk your fertile soil.
On the other hand, worms, specifically earthworms, create something called humus . No, not hummus – the tasty addition to your pita chips – but the type of soil I had mentioned in the paragraph above in italics. Humus contains many nutrients to help establish a fertile and healthy soil which internally supports your crops. Normal worms you’d see when it rains help to break down the organic matter, such as leaves and compost. They also help to increase the supply of air and water that seeps into the soil. The reason why it’s important is because the worms create ant farm looking tunnels that give a route for water to get to the roots of your plants. All these factors support the improvement in your garden’s productivity!
Since you’ve gotten this far into the post, you now know why these little squirmy creatures will benefit your future or present garden needs. Now you know the secret on how worms are a big ally to stepping up your garden game! We all here at WR School Food Gardens hope you’re safe, healthy and doing well. Enjoy yourselves and your garden 🙂
Sources:
https://www.solanacenter.org/news-updates/worms-vs-fertilizers
https://harvesttotable.com/benefits-of-earthworms-in-the-garden/