permaculture

(Michael S) #1
Workshop Module 4: Healthy Soil 133

PR
ESEN
TATIO

N

FAC

ILITATOR

Presentation : About worms for healthy soils


Method : Discussion about worms

Tools : See the “Worm farms” section from PC Book MOD 4 – Healthy Soil

References : PC Book MOD 4 – Healthy Soil

Objective    :  Participants    learn   about   the benefits    of  using   worms

The importance of worms in healthy soils


Many worms in the soil show that the soil is a healthy living environment.


How worms help create and maintain healthy soil:



  • Worms eat and cast out soil. As the soil passes through their body, the humus in
    the soil is changed into nutrients and the quality of the soil improves.

  • Worms continuously:

    • Turn humus into nutrients that plants can use.

    • Dig and add air to the soil.

    • Improve soil structure and water drainage.

    • Bring up nutrients from deep in the soil to supply plant roots with food.




Worms are extremely economic:



  • 1 worm can eat and cast out many tons of soil each year.

  • 1 worm can produce 150 baby worms each year.


The facilitator can encourage a discussion with the participants to identify:



  • The importance of worms in soil and how they help create healthy soil.

  • How worms turn natural fertilizers (mulch, compost, liquid fertilizer, etc) into
    nutrients available for plants.

  • Why pesticides, herbicides, and some chemical fertilizers can kill worms in the
    soil.


Making a worm farm can quickly increase the number of worms in your soil. See the next


page for details on how to make a worm farm.

Free download pdf