THE INCREDIBLE REDWORM

Charles Darwin:  "Worms have played a more important part in the history of the World than most people would at first supposed"

                          “All the fertile areas of the planet have at least once passed through the bodies of Earthworms.”

“The “Formation of Vegetable Mold Through the Action of Worms”, published in 1881 by Charles Darwin, sold 8,000 copies more in its first few weeks than his book, “The Theory of Evolution”.  He also calculated It is estimated that for a single acre of cultivated land, earthworms move 8 tons of earth in a year, enough to produce a new layer of earth 2 inches thick, rich in nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and calcium.    

Today, a plethora of information has been accumulated from thousands of studies recognizing the redworm's ability to consume decaying organic waste, (paper, cardboard, food scraps, yard waste, poultry litter, agricultural waste, and wastewater treatment plant sludge) while destroying the microorganisms in sludge by digestive enzymes as they pass through its digestive tract, and provide a rich humus topsoil to be used without restrictions.  (See Articles).

Humus

One enzyme, (Humus) can handle only one type of molecule; Humic Substances create variable types of molecules where no two are alike.  The DNA molecules, RNA, proteins, carbohydrates, etc. are hydrolyzed into small units and undergo further metabolism that converts them into Carbon dioxide, and Methane.  Metallic minerals are “Chelated”, (key lated) dissolved when in solution with water into ionic form where they disappear into the fulvic structure becoming bio-chemically reactive and mobile, readily absorbable forms to the plants cell walls.  Fulvic acid transforms the metals to molecular complexes with different characteristics from their original metallic/mineral form.  What gives the worm’s castings uniqueness is the Humic acid within the castings, and the ability to trap carbon dioxide and methane in the soil.  This substance gives the soil the glue to stay together and is highly stable, (Ten to the minus 15).   Not only does it assist with the breakdown of toxic chemicals, it also has a peritrophic membrane surrounding each casting to protect the worm from its own waste and to feed the roots gradually over a long period of time. It also provides the exact amount and type of nutrients in a "goldilocks" form most absorbable to the plant’s roots.  The worm creates a 1000x increase in bacteria entering its gut, (2,500,000/gram) which assists in the decomposing of the materials.  This soil's/castings benevolent bacteria outperforms other bacteria in the soil that cause disease, crowding out the bad bacteria and replacing it with the healthy bacteria.  Microorganisms are the most important component of any soil and increase the overall productivity  for growing crops.  The castings provide nutrients over years of the soil's life and can remain in the earth for centuries without breaking down.  The humic content traps carbon emissions from disturbed soils and has a neutral pH that will not burn plants.  They reduce the potential for chemicals leaching into water systems and due to their stability are less subject to erosion and loss due to floods, heavy rains, drought, intense storms, or commercial and residential development.