Worm castings are an all-natural soil amendment made exclusively by composting worms. Unlike other worms that burrow deep in the ground, composting worms stay near the surface, consuming dead or decaying organic material. As they feed, worms leave behind castings packed with nutrients and beneficial organisms plants love. Worm castings look like fine, dark particles of soil, and have a rich, earthy smell. They even feel good in your hands. Pick up a handful and see for yourself!

It’s all in how they’re made. Worm castings have the distinction of being the only soil amendment that passes through the body of an earthworm. This process provides a host of benefits superior to regular compost or any other product. We like to think of worm castings as nature’s secret weapon. Here’s why. As worms consume organic material, they load it up with all kinds of good things only worms can provide: special growth hormones, plant-boosting enzymes, and beneficial microbes from the worms’ digestive system. The material is also infused with powerful nutrients from the worms’ intestines. Before being deposited into the soil, each casting is coated in humic acid, enclosing the casting to help it retain water. This coating breaks down slowly over time, delivering a steady release of moisture and nutrients. Continuing through the digestive tract, the material is eventually excreted as a worm cast, packed full of all the things plants need to thrive. This transformation from organic material to plant and soil superfood is unlike anything else. Worm castings are biologically and chemically different from either compost or soil. With a much higher percentage of humus, castings not only hold more water, they also provide binding sites for micronutrients such as calcium, magnesium, and sulfur that would otherwise wash out of the soil. Gardeners love that worm castings are naturally infused with a host of beneficial microorganisms. This creates a biologically active growing medium to rebuild soil and give plants a nutritional superboost. Nature has perfected the amazing process of creating worm castings. All natural, full of good stuff, and made only by earthworms. Now that’s special.

Worms are nature’s way of taking care of the soil, and the castings they leave behind are the building blocks of a healthy growing environment. Worm castings provide all the benefits of regular compost and so much more, bringing tired, stagnant soil back to life. Teeming with microorganisms, worm castings put beneficial microbes back into the ground, creating a thriving habitat for all the creatures nature intended healthy soil to contain: good bacteria, fungi, protozoa, actinomycetes, nematodes, arthropods and even insects. This biological activity creates naturally fertile “living soil,” giving plants easy access to the nutrients they need. Worm castings contain large amounts of organic material. Soils rich in organic material have increased water retention and improved aeration. The organic material in worm castings also creates better soil structure to resist erosion and compaction. Worm castings are more than just a temporary fix. The microbe-activated fertility sustains the soil without the need for chemicals or fertilizers. Soil becomes a healthy ecosystem fueled for growing hearty, robust plants all season long. Worm castings build fertility from the ground up, the way nature intended. No other soil amendment does more.

Adds organic matter Helps soil absorb and retain water Breaks up clay soils Improves soil structure Eases cultivation Helps form soil aggregates Enhances soil fertility Reduces bulk density Improves soil aeration Increases soil microbial populations Reduces soil compaction Diminishes soil erosion Reduces pH Helps prevent soil crusting Provides micro- and macronutrients and increases their availability

Healthy plants begin with healthy soil. That’s where worm castings have a distinct advantage. Unlike other soil amendments that feed only the plant, worm castings nourish the soil. Many of us have tried to help a struggling plant by adding synthetic fertilizer or other chemicals. This treats the symptom, not the cause. Worm castings go straight to the source, improving soil health so plants can sustain themselves naturally. As soil health is improved, plants can more easily access and absorb the nutrients they need. This results in stronger root development and more vigorous growth. Plants with stronger root systems are better equipped to ward off pests and diseases and tolerate extreme conditions such as severe heat or drought. Castings also supply increased levels of macro and micro-nutrients, plant growth hormones, and beneficial microorganisms, all of which help seeds germinate better, while plants grow faster, with greater yields. Worms are nature’s way of taking care of the soil, and their castings will take care of your plants, providing everything they need to flourish and thrive.

Causes seeds to germinate more quickly Enhances rate of seedling growth Increases root numbers and biomass Improves root stress tolerance Leads to earlier flowering of plants Increases plant yields Decreases plant transplant shock Increases plant vitality and flavor profile More leaves and flowers More total leaf area Greater plant biomass Higher leaf chlorophyll content