Counting Earthworms
Farmers in our Healthy Soil Movement complete six soil tests every month. The full set takes about 30 minutes. The tests are simple, but the data is invaluable. It helps farmers see how their soil is improving over time.
One of these tests involves counting earthworms in one square foot of soil. Farmers roughly mark out a square foot in the field and dig down about a foot. The soil is lifted onto a tarp and carefully sifted through. Each worm found is placed to the side. Once the soil has been searched, the worms are counted and the number is entered into the Healthy Soil app. If the farmer recognises the type of worm or notices other interesting soil critters, there is a space for notes. The worms and soil are then placed gently back into the hole.
Regenerative farming strategies are built on the understanding that soil biology is key to healthy crops. So finding worms is a good sign. They are the ultimate soil builders, with their castings acting as perfect fertiliser. Their tunnels help rainwater move deeper into the soil. Their presence supports countless microorganisms.
I once thought everyone knew worms were good. I was wrong. One farmer in our pilot consistently recorded zero worms. His dashboard results suggested fairly healthy soil, so we were confused. On a site visit we finally learned the reason. He admitted he was scared of worms. He also believed they were bad for the soil. Once we explained why earthworms matter, he became more enthusiastic. His next test counted 15 worms and he now consistently finds five or more... but, he admits that he still does not enjoy touching them!
The earthworm count highlights how different each farm’s context is. Farmers in Magway (dry sandy soil), usually find fewer worms than farmers in Shan State (rich clay soil). There is no universal rule such as “10 worms = healthy soil”. The number of worms found is simply an indicator from a specific location at a specific moment. But when tested regularly over years, patterns begin to appear. Seasonal changes become clearer. Increases or decreases can be linked to farmer practices. The test becomes a tool farmers can use to make better decisions and track changes over time.
On our dashboard, we display a total number of worms counted on the first page. This number alone does not mean much, but it does represent a collective effort to care for the soil. Every farmer who counts their worms is a farmer working for the health of the planet and all of us. This total will only rise as we continue.