Healthy soil and sustainable growing

["Israel J. Carberry" <israel@earthsoutlet.com>]

The article can be found here: http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/invasives/terrestrialanimals/earthworms/index.html

Not scientific, as articles go, but at least it does reference the Minnisota Worm Watch site, which does have a list of studies.  One study mentions which worms are more damaging, which is more helpful information when choosing worms.  (The "bad" worms for Minn forests are worms that like soft forest floors, such as Lumbricus rubellus - see http://www.nrri.umn.edu/worms/research/publications/Dissertation.pdf)

It does mention the red wiggler (Eisenia fetida - be careful not to confuse with the L. rubellus), and that none are known to survive the Minn winters.  Though great for compost, they don't do well in soil (see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_wiggler), so good for the invasion concern.

When composting with worms, containment and control is always best.  Methods to kill worm eggs don't help the microbial population in the compost, either, which is half the benefit of compost.

Try using a liquid microbial product instead of worms - can be cheaper and requires less management.  Spray all new material, when turning the pile, and when watering as needed.  If it can be done efficiently, shred or chop new material (more surface area for the microbes) - for kitchen composting, a shovel works great.  Large scale operations would have energy input concerns, obviously.

Israel.

On Fri, Nov 27, 2009 at 8:44 AM, Terry Wereb <frostedacres@gmail.com> wrote:

Forgot to bring it back with me for more in-depth reading-- BUT--
 If anyone has acces to the current copy of "Leaves"-- the newsletter that Holden Arboretum publishes and sends to members- there is a very interesting article on INVASIVE SPECIES of earthworms, and how they can be detrimental to an ecosystem. The "red, composting worm" was mentioned, and it was suggested that people FREEZE their compost for about a month before using it in order to destroy the worms and their eggs before using the compost.

 Some of the damage caused by the worms were listed as water flow, moisture retention, changes in seed banks and mycorhizial (sp?) populations. There was also the competition against and resulting decimation of the local worm species. it seems some of these "asian" worms have been found on 3 of the wooded/forested properties that Holden controls...

 I will try to remember to bring back the article next trip into town, so I can provide the scientific name of a couple of these little boogers...

Terry W
Frosted acres

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