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Friendly worms to killer worms

Nan Sterman asked this:

I would like your permission to forward your comments to the LA Times editor's
desk. I think it is important for them to be clear with the public
whose scientific knowledge is basically nil.

Nan
Yes, I am willing to have you do this, Nan. I also think Jeff Ball made some good points

I quote him at length here: "So here we have an issue - are earthworms really bad for the ecosystem?
Most folks, including most garden writers have no clue about the difference
between a night crawler and a red wiggler. I suspect the article in the LA
newspaper was not written by a garden writer; no reason why it should be.
But here is my concern. We garden writers are supposed to be writing about
how to create good soil "to attract earthworms". We are supposed to
encourage recycling our kitchen waste on the property with "worm farms" of
some sort. In Englad the garden writers encourage people to kill night
crawlers because they mess up the very short mowed lawns in that country.
Here we have a gazillion lawns most growing on compacted soils and one of
the solutions is to mulch the lawn to attract worms which will break up that
compaction and improve the quality of the turf and reduce the need for
pesticide. So are worms bad or are they not bad?
I can help people distinguish between red wigglers and nightcrawlers. I am not willing to enter into a public shouting match about whether worms are "goodies" or "baddies." In the couple of conversations I have had to date with scientists about whether I should be concerned about continuing to encourage people to do worm composting with Eisenia fetida they have told me they think the "baddie" (my term) reports are premature. They say that Eisenia fetida is found in most environments where humans live, and they are not likely to cause the effects being reported for the nightcrawlers.

Jeff also asked, "So how do we behave on this story as a profession? Do we as a "profession"
try to make sure this story does not get out of control? "

I'm glad he asked, because I want to know, too. I know that if I come out strongly, publicly, challenging Cindy Hale's and other's work, I will be perceived as being overly defensive, with vested interests. After all, there have been thousands of worms nurtured and encouraged to go forth and multiply by people who have begun composting their garbage with worms using my book as a guide. From the very beginning I have encouraged lay people to get acquainted with scientists, and learn some of their language, so that we can move the body of scientific knowledge about worms further. I have coordinated two major international conferences with that very goal. I have been appalled at the paucity of federal research money that goes into worm research considering their importance on this planet. How many people do you know making a living in academia studing earthworms? How many studying insects?

Before I "go public" with a definite position, I want to talk more with Dr. Sam James and Dr. Paul Hendrix. I understand, that Paul has recently gotten a sizeable National Science Foundation grant to study the issue of invasive species of worms. I believe the study period is 4 years. If the definitive answers were already in, he would not be getting such a grant. So I think Jeff's caution is well-advised. And I'd prefer not to be pressed for a position until I know more. And can talk with those who know more than I.

I can say that I am for diversity. Different organisms have different jobs to do. We have all evolved as complex organisms interacting in complex systems. We need the bacteria and fungi and protozoa and nematodes and microarthropods and earthworms and plants and animals to keep our planet functioning in a way that we want to be around. We don't know enough about the complexities. But if we can get people excited to learn about them and not always look for simple answers, we'll make life more interesting for ourselves as we expand our own and other's horizons through our writing.

Thank you all for the opportunity to have this discussion.

Mary Appelhof
Author of "Worms Eat My Garbage"
Visit http://www.wormwoman.com and sign up for my WormEzine

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