Do you think earthworms are cool creatures that are fun to play
with? Or are they icky, creepy, slimy crawlies that you’d rather
avoid? If you’re a fisherman, you probably like them since they
can help you reel in the big fish when used as bait. But what if
you’re a gardener? Anyone who spends time in a garden will tell
you earthworms are a gardener’s best friends. In fact,
earthworms may be the most important factor in the success of a
garden. Some people even call earthworms “nature’s first
gardeners”! If you’ve ever been around a farm in spring, you
know that farmers need to plow the soil. Plowing breaks up the
soil, allowing air and water to get to seeds and the roots of
plants. Earthworms act like tiny plows when they live in a
garden. As earthworms move through the soil of a garden, they
make tunnels. Just like plowing, these tunnels allow air and
water to get to the roots of plants. Without access to air and
water, plants would not grow well, which is why you might notice
that plants sometimes don’t su