Wonder Worms

Organic Soil Amendment

Worms and Castings for Organic Agriculture and Gardening

World farm soils have become depleted of minerals due to overuse and chemical fertilizers as additives. US Senate document #264 and the 1992 Earth Summit Report show that the North American continent mineral content of farm and range soils have declined by 85% over the past 100 years. Other continents have also declined drastically in soil mineral content.

Minerals are required for a healthy body and are needed for 95% of bodily functions. Document #264 states that 99% of the American population has a mineral deficiency. Mineral absorption in vegetation and in the human body is most effective when minerals are in colloidal form. Lack of minerals in the soil shows up as a lack in the quality and taste of the produce we consume. Vegetation and the human body will absorb and use 3-12% of metallic minerals, 40% of chelated minerals, and 98% of organic colloidal minerals. For this reason, more and more people are turning to organically grown foods.

Organic foods are grown in soils of all natural organic minerals and additives without the use of man-made chemical additives, herbicides and chemical fertilizers. The more we build up all our soils naturally, the better we can utilize the natural minerals of the soils.

Just by mixing 10-20% worm castings with our soils, we can build the soil to be very rich in minerals and vitamins that our bodies need. This principle can be applied to vast lawn areas such as golf courses and parks, as well as agricultural areas. Worms can take the composed, dried green wastes fed to them and convert any of the mineral content to colloidal form. They are the only animal that can do this. Vegetation, like the human body, can assimilate almost 100% of the minerals and vitamins in colloidal form.

Finally, ground worm castings are good for house plants since the worm egg capsules will not make baby worms when watered. For your lawn, it is best to use medium or ungrounded worm castings. They will generate lots of worms once springtime watering starts. Worm capsules in dried castings can still have babies up to 20 years after they have been dried. For cold or extremely hot climates, a foot deep or deeper is recommended. Limit use of pesticides, since some types of chemicals will kill the worms.