More Organic Gardening in Cuba

The good news about worm composting is always rolling in from Cuba. They're quite focused on reducing inputs (i.e., fertilizer) and increasing self-sufficiency, not to mention recycling, and what does all that mean? Worms, worms, worms. If only we all lived on islands. Oh, I suppose we do, in a larger sense.

Urban Agriculture Gaining Momentum in Las Tunas, Cuba:

"As part of the efforts that Cuba is making to increase the areas dedicated to urban agriculture, a plan to set up 135 new organic vegetable plots is being organized in eastern Las Tunas province.

These areas of land of approximately one hectare are mostly sown with green vegetables and spices. They have watering systems and use earthworm humus. "

Earthworm Eggs

This is a crazy, but very cool, idea: Buy earthworm eggs and plant them in the ground like seeds. Let the little critters hatch and make magic in your soil.

I believe the species is Lumbricus rubellus. This is a little red worm that will thrive in fertile soil and compost piles, but it is not a deep burrower like a nightcrawler. It's also not necessarily the best worm for a worm bin; for that I'd recommend Eisenia fetida, the red wiggler, which is the kind most commonly sold by worm farmer to use in worm bins.

Available from Gardener's Supply Company

Do you see a worm?

Bostonist looks at a museum and sees a worm:

"...our first reaction to seeing the architectural rendering of the proposed structure was that its smooth, curvilinear shape reminded us of a gigantic smiling earthworm emerging from the expressway tunnel underneath the greenway."

Bostonist: Lumbricus Terrestris

But this is nothing compared to the real thing: the Giant Worm museum (aka Wildlife Wonderland) in southern Australia, where visitors not only see the creature their region is famous for rendered large alongside the Bass Highway, but they can even walk through the belly of the beast and get an idea of what it's like to be inside a worm. Wanna know more about the worm or the musuem? Yeah, you saw it coming: read the book.

The Origin of Feces

Washington City Paper helpfully provides a naturalist's guide to identifying the...er...droppings that locals may encounter on their walks. Conspiculously absent? Worm castings. Come on, people. Get it right.

District Line . Washington City Paper

Amateur Microscopy

is blogging about whatever fits under the microscope. How about a worm? Some dirt?


Amateur Microscopy

Earthworms Tell the Tale

Once again, the Philippines takes the lead with the latest earthworm news. If an area has been logged (not anywhere, just there), you'll see these particular worms in the forest. Not because the worms themselves are particularly attracted to logged areas--trees from coastal areas are transplanted to repopulate the area, and those trees have Brazilian worms in their roots. Got it? Good.

Oh, and these worms' "excretion becomes compact, which blocks the entry of water into the soil instead of facilitating it and helping reduce floods."

Where loggers go, Brazilian worms follow - INQ7.net