I rent these fields from Our John’s uncle. And when I first took them over they had been cropped in corn or beans or wheat for at least fifty or sixty years. Since the 70’s chemicals have taken over as the main source of herbicides, fungicides, pesticides ( the suffix cide means to kill so you get the picture) even synthetic fertilisers (often made from oil) that ultimately draw goodness out of the soil, not add to the soil, rendered this ground inert.
Not one living thing, certainly not any earthworms could be found and the ground actually smelt like the underside of a road – you know that smell when they scrape the tarmac off a road — when there are roadworks in town?
The rain water pooled, did not drain properly and the soil was silty.
From October to May the ag land is quite bare to the elements, awaiting its new crop. You have seen our surrounding fields – you will never find an earthworm out there. None of this is natural. To heal land into rich pasture is a long, long process. Most of it conducted by nature.
Imagine my delight – after seven years of growing pastures in this soil – I have found numerous earth worms. And in large numbers too. The soil has begun to heal.
Some interesting facts about earthworms.
And it is all thanks to this stuff. Manure. (Though this is destined for the compost heaps down the back.)
Here is a patch of pasture that shows the amazing fertilising power of a dollop of manure.
See how rich the surroundings are. And if I were to dig down under there I would find many precious earthworms. This is quite the best news.
Thank you, cows.
And pigs of course. All my pigs are vegetarian so their manure is also easily digested into the soil.
You all know how worms work so I won’t go into it but you can imagine my delight at finally seeing multiple worms in the soil. Worms mean this work of decomposition is happening at a rapid rate now.
To jump from manure to carrots and parsnips is a wild one. But I love mashed parsnips and carrots. It is the best way to use up the old root vegetables while the new ones grow. The manure I use in the gardens has to be composted for a year first. Though my Dad swears that if you plant a tomato into a cow pat you will get the best fruit ever!
Actually he said his mother used to keep a tin bucket and shovel by the gate in the old days and if a horse in town was seen to poop in the street the Mums would send their kids out to scoop up the steaming piles and add it to the compost down the back by the vegetable garden.
Worms in the soil means the natural underground cycle of composting organic matter is now intact and working. Long live the worms!!
I hope you have a lovely day.
The Kitchen's Garden 
70 responses to “The re-turn of the worm”
Your title and this whole discussion give a whole new meaning to the phrase, ” turn the soil.” Also it sent me looking for information about earthworms, those amazing little creatures. Everyday a lesson here!
Earthworms are greeted happily here as well. We’ve always had them as I think historically there was a dunny & garden out the back, but now with the new vege patch, compost pile and growing our own soil, there’s more.
Parnsip & carrot smash… I think will now be on our autumnal menu. Yum
Well the sour cream ad slogan A Dollop of Daisy here in the US has a new meaning for me now
I was at a restaurant a while ago and they served whipped parsnips on top of a peppered steak, the contrast was delicious! We recently got the latest copy of Progressive Farmer magazine. For years this was for and about large ‘modern’ farms and farming methods. This issue is almost entirely about rejuvenating the soil, from grazing practices to cover crops to no till planting. They speak of organic content and how fast water percolates down – very encouraging.
Congratulations on your happy soil regenerators!
Great news Celi – Mother Nature is working her magic, as she does if we have the patience to let her.
I love worms and everyone thinks I’m crazy, but they are so valuable for the soil and we couldn’t do without them. Long live worms!
Most of my food scraps go into my worm box and I get great soil for my lemons and herbs and worm juice that helps fertilizing my plants. I love parsnips and often roast them with other veggies .
Wonderful news indeed!
Victory at: dawn; high noon, dark of night; a celebration
Cheers for worms! Now there’s encouragement and hope
I take it they didn’t do crop rotation back then? Maybe it’s because the farms were small, but farmers here always varied crops to save/improve their fields. Only prudent if you had no plans to sell.
Worms do make you smile!
I’m a worm fan .. of course I have a worm farm too. Feed them a host of goodies, which works its way back into our gardens!
How exciting to see the worms coming back. Congratulations. This is a significant achievement, and it does my heart good to see them. PS My mum used to mash parsnips and carrots together. Must be a Kiwi thing.