martinzoo

A few days ago we got an email from Home Science Tools. In it they included lots of ideas for some Summer Science projects. This one peaked our interest. There were a few others that we want to try, also.

So we went outside to find different kinds of soil to layer in our wormery. We got some topsoil, and some hard compacted clay, and some ordinary dirt, and some play sand. After layering them in the plastic two-liter bottle, we put some plant matter on top.

Then the hard part - for me anyway - finding the worms. We must have dug about 10 holes in the yard looking for the little critters. Any time I’m not looking for them, I find them, but not this time. I finally found some close to the foundation of our house. I’m sad to admit, I actually killed one by mistake when I chopped it in half with the shovel. It’s funny how even killing a worm can make you sad….

Then we dumped them on top of the plant matter in our wormery and you should have seen how fast they burrowed down into the dirt to begin their work. Worms move an amazing amount of soil for their small size. Can you believe an earthworm can eat its own weight in soil every day! Worms are extremely helpful to plants, farmers, and the ecosystem in general. Their active tunneling not only aerates the soil, adding necessary oxygen, but also spreads nutrients throughout the soil, making the ground more fertile. So after a few days we should be able to see evidence of their work. And after a few weeks the layers of soil should be thoroughly mixed up.

Worms are kind of gross, but it really is fascinating to me to see how every living thing on Earth has it’s purpose… even the lowly earthworm. And what a necessary purpose it is.