permaculture

["Bryan Innes & Joanna Pearsall" <permaculture@eartheal.org.nz>]

> > Actually they are not that different.
> > Compost works with micro-organisms. Worms do not eat anything other than
> > micro-organisms,
>
> I thought they ate vegetable matter directly rather than waiting for it
> to decompose
> through microbial action.
>
> > and they help the development of them too (Remember-
>
> In what way do they do that?
> 1) add to the array of aerobic (or possibly anaerobic as well)
> micro-organisms
Yes . Worms require aerobic conditions. Basically (though I am not a
micro-biologist- so this is simplified) a worm is a tube containing millions
of micro-organisms, they are able to secrete these bacteria etc. through
their skin, so the breakdown of the matter begins outside the body.and
that's is what the worm consumes.
>
> > Everything gardens!).Yes, the worms provide the environment for the
things that they consume to flourish. Ducks do the same- they eat the flies
that are attracted to their crap, we create gardens etc etc.

----- Original Message -----
From: "Lawrence F. London, Jr." <lflondon@mindspring.com>
To: <permaculture@lists.ibiblio.org>
Sent: Wednesday, 20 February 2002 17:19
Subject: Re: [permaculture] Worms eat my crap? & more


> Bryan Innes & Joanna Pearsall wrote:
>
> > One thing I wanted to point out - the composting process and the worm
> > > composting method are qualitatively different ways processing waste -
that
> > > is, one relies on the activity of micro-organisms, while the other
relies
> > on worms to eat the stuff and create worm droppings.
>
> > Actually they are not that different.
> > Compost works with micro-organisms. Worms do not eat anything other than
> > micro-organisms,
>
> I thought they ate vegetable matter directly rather than waiting for it
> to decompose
> through microbial action.
>
> > and they help the development of them too (Remember-
>
> In what way do they do that?
> 1) add to the array of aerobic (or possibly anaerobic as well)
> microorganisms
Yes . Basically (though I am not a micro-biologist- so this is simplified) a
worm is a tube containing millions of micro-organisms, they are able to
secrete these bacteria etc. through their skin, so the breakdown begins
outside the body.
> that break down organic matter
>
 2) provide food (npk/micronutrients/pH moderation/moisture) for the
> microorganisms?
>
> > Everything gardens!).Yes, the worms provide the envirionment for the
things that they consume to flourish. Ducks do the same- they eat the flies
that are attracted to their crap, we create gardens etc etc.
 It is still micro-organisms that are breaking down the
> > organic matter.
>
>
> --
> Lawrence F. London, Jr.
> lflondon@mindspring.com - london@ibiblio.org
> EcoLandTech - Permasphere - InterGarden
> http://www.ibiblio.org/ecolandtech
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