WORMS... WORMS... WORMS!!!! have a peak..........

[KCMO_Don]

So last fall I build some rased beds with "found lumber". I had some compost and a BUNCH of old straw, grass clippings, and leaves. We are a vegetarian household so we have a TON of fruit/veggie waste.
I filled my raised beds with what I had, added some Alpaca "poo" and covered with clear plastic for the bulk of the past 5 months. My soil is the WORST kind of clay!!
Last spring it took me an hour to dig out about 2 gallons of clay to try and plant in ground. I thought that if I filled tha hole with water it would soften.......3 days later..... still had a hole with 2 gallons of water in it!
That was when I decided to go the raised bed route. I built a 30' raised row that is 20"W x 12"T. It runs North/South with unobstructed sun 100% of the day!
Well, today I decided to "turn it" a bit and add some more Alpaca poo while I was at it.
Check out what ONE spade turn exposed!!

Closer view......

I would say that upon closer inspection I must have a hundred worms for every spade of soil....... EASY!
I am SO excited for this years plants!!

[michael johnson]

I should say- that if you went into the fishing bait supply business right now, you would soon become a millionare

By the way- here is a little almost magical trick that was taught to me a few years ago by an expert- I could hardly believe the results and was astounded,

Get an ordinary garden fork, stick it into the ground anywhere- especialy in grass fields, right up to the full tyne depth, then with the palm of your hand bang on the side of the fork handle at the top- with a vigerous slapping action for about 30 seconds or more, and all the worms in the area will suddenly come to the surface and wriggle about on the top- covering about ten square yards in each sweep.

you can get a bucketfull in a few minutes.

[KCMO_Don]

And I thought I was CRAZY!!!
I did that exact thing (by accident) they almost jumped out of the ground!
I heard it was because they think it's raining and don't want to drown.

[Dunkel]

'Round here that worm gathering technique is called fiddlin'. We use a wooden stake driven into the ground about 8" or so and work another stick across the top like you would use a bow on a fiddle only harder.

By the way Don why did you add rocks to your raised bed soil?

[KCMO_Don]

Hey Dunk.... those "rocks" are actually Alpaca "beans"
sometimes the old ones get all white and ashy lookin
I like Alpaca poo, cuz you dont have to compost it and it won't burn plants.

[mms]

I never thought that I would learn of a new, simpler method of gathering redworms while here at T'ville, but I suppose you can learn anything here if you read long enough.

KCMO_Don,
I know what you mean about the clay soil. My Father bought the property that I live on about 30 years ago. The soil was almost entirely red clay. At the time I was a pre-teen and I'm the one who got the job of spreading many loads of manure, leaves, and many other things that I don't remember (but wish I did). Of course I didn't mind too much, that's where I learned to drive, hauling around loads of poo.

Eventually my Dad had some of the best soil you could imagine. When their house became available the garden was a big factor in my decision to buy it. I knew it would be ready to go as soon as I cut the weeds down. Now all I have to do is fight the billions of weed seeds in the soil. So don't give up, it just takes a few tons of manure and other organic matter.

MMS

[Earl]

We call it "grunt" some worms where I'm from. Use a foot long 2 by 2 inch board and rub a brick across and down the top. It makes a grunting sound and the worms come a wriggle to the top. Best to do it in the morning before they've to deep or right after a light rain.

I going to try my garden spade fork and see how it works.

[Gimme3]

Don...thats Beautifull...Here come yo NATURAL Tillers...)))

Keep feedin em, keep on doin what ya doin...and believe this, there is great Power in red soil, if it is treated w/respect an due effort on one's part to build it, amend and complete it's deficiencies...naturally...))) Aint no end, to soil Life and fertility, if one simply tries to foster it...naturally. Loved yo story... 8)

[coronabarb]

Hey, Gimme! Good to see ya around! How's the tomatoes coming along?

[Gimme3]

Well, Barb, ...i dont wanna divert this thread, so ill be brief, they aint doin as good as in the past, but thats because i been so busy, an on the other hand, i aint worried, cause i know we have a long , Beautiful season, here in the Southeast....much more i could say, but in another thread, in another time...Friend...))) Mighty Best Wishes to ya Barb...an big Smiles...)))

[Gimme3]

Don....on a side note....lol....Where in the world did you come by some Alpaca doo doo ?...Somethin tells me, you got more to say, Friend. Like Alabama sang...."aint it Wonderful, aint it BeaUTIFULL....LLLL......)))

[Tomstrees]

I did some planting this past weekend Don,
and let me say - I know what you mean
about worm activity ~

Every spade full of dirt I moved
had at least 10 - 15 worms ~

Glad to see them working all that
seaweed and compost I mixed
in last fall ~

Tom

[creister]

We have nice black alkaline clay here in West Texas. I've cover cropped each winter and go no till. I don't do much digging, but when there is a worm or two in each little garden spade when planting tomatoes, it sure is nice to see. More of this soil has that natural till look every year. Amazing how fast soil improves.

[Tom_Ato]

I knew I wasn't the only one picking up worms and dropping them in the garden. I'm going to try those techniques because my way is more work. I simply move my filled twelve gallon containers around. There are always lots of worms right underneath them, especially after a rain.

So I take my pitchfork, stick it into the ground and bang my hand against it for thirty seconds? Hard to believe, but I'll give it a try.

Ken

[Tom_Ato]

Didn't work. At least no one was watching.