Learn to add worms to your garden
There isn’t much about edible gardening that ECHO doesn’t know about. After all, it’s their business to teach people worldwide how to maximize food production to reduce hunger.
That is why the Edible Gardening Exchange’s January speaker will be Brad Ward, Tropical Agriculture Specialist with ECHO, who will provide details on how to build and install a simple “worm tower” in your garden.
Karen Harty, who runs the Edible Gardening Exchange, said this is a topic that even she is interested in learning about, since the soil in Florida is so unconducive to growing much of anything.
“Normally when we use worms, we have to keep them in special barrels and can’t incorporate them into our gardens because they don’t do well in our soil,” Harty said. “Somehow, ECHO has worked out something where they’re incorporating worms.”
ECHO has been experimenting with a method of using composting worms directly in the garden bed to reduce labor and drastically increase soil health.
Ward will share how it has impacted ECHO garden beds and discuss what it takes to maintain good garden soil health here in Southwest Florida, which can be a challenge.
Ward said it essentially eliminates the middle man and allows worms to better thrive during the summer by maintaining a certain temperature.
“You’re building organic matter right there in the garden. Our soil is sandy and not great for vegetable gardening, so anything you can do to add organic matter to the soil is a good thing,” Ward said. “It’s straight-forward simple technology.”
“I don’t think he’s talked to anybody about this topic. I haven’t heard anyone mention it to me and I know he’s really excited to talk about it,” Harty said.
Join other edible gardeners on Thursday, Jan. 21, at 6:30 p.m. at the North Fort Myers Rec Center. Arrive at 5:30 p.m. for an open and informal chat on edible topics. Consider bringing something to share with other gardeners (seeds, plants, a snack). Bring your own cup for free coffee and tea.
All fees are paid at the front desk. Membership fee for monthly meetings through March is $10. Lee Parks and Rec lifetime membership card is required which costs $10 per person. For more information, contact Karen Harty at (610) 530-8883.