I only let DH till once a season, and not all the beds, just those we are incorporating cover crop, or heavy fall manure. Do I need to buy worm eggs to follow rototilling? I only use my own compost, and I know the horse owner, and her horses eating, pasture and stall habits. The manure is full of worms, who look health and happy.

Is it to dry? My beans, cabbage, and cucumbers all look well enough watered, though I have cut back on overhead to keep fungal stuff to a minimum on the cucks. We have NOT had much rain lately, just a few drizzles.

Will they come back????

maybe they get scarce as winter comes? use more mulch do less digging, tuck all old vege' plants(we don't shred them just tuck them under) and kitchen rottables under the mulch that way it does not affect plants and the worms still work it, keep mulch around 8"s thick if you want with kitchen scraps etc.,. going under it buy some compost worms to add in.

len

Also as I have been searching photos this morning I am reminded of the IWBDS ( improve with bulldozer shed ) that was on top of this area for 35 years ish. We tore it down last year, and this soil is at the very beginning of a new look at the sun. So it sort of makes sense that the soil needs LOTS of OG.

Re shredding: we are coming into leaf season so I shred to make things more compact, and provide more surface area so that leaves will fit into the area I have to compost. I have also not shredded, just employed patience, and yes that has worked for me also!

lisanti & kimmsr: Thanks for the info. They will have company!

And speaking of patience I might have squash here next year, instead of onions.
KateQ

In some climates and geographies soil is naturally dry and so huge areas will have no worms at all, and the soil decay cycle is very limited.

yep keep the moisture up teh mulching will help there

see page 2 link below

Lloyd

Len: working on the mulch, yep those grass clippins have a good home! My issue is that garden space doubled this year, so I'll have to search out more mulch materials.

pt03: Wow that's some link! I bookmarked so I can read it all! Thanks.

Dognurse: My experience is limited, but I tend to agree. I've read that the worms regenerate both themselves, and through eggs left in the soil, but the rototiller has to slow them down. Unfortunately I can't do as much digging lately, feet bothering me, so the spring till in certain beds is a necessary evil. I'm trying to develop a small dig schedule, and thinking about notill options. My worms work hard, and I DO love the SO!

pnbrown: Where is zone 6.5?

Seusian Lima beans:

We have had heavy rains in SC - my walkout basement is crawling with earthworms...yuck, yuck, yuck. It's a death sentence for them - I have no idea what is drawing them across the threshold.