WOW! I'd better start burying squash! I cleaned up some of my beds today, and I did see a few worms (and lots of partially decomposed newspaper from bottom liners and paper pots), but certainly nothing like that! I guess I should go out with a flashlight and see if I have night crawlers.

Granny

Here is a link that might be useful: Annie's Kitchen Garden

Man! I think i'm gonna bury my squash, too! Well....maybe a couple. Heh.

EG

Makes me wish I hadn't lined my beds with worm stopping landscape fabric. Hehe. Amazing!

Amy I suspect that your vegies are going to do great this year. My worms went south for the winter and are just coming back now. I have to shred the pumpkins and squash so it gets distributed through the compost because of the moles.:o(

John

Here is a link that might be useful: Johns Journal

That is impressive greenbean.

A question for you, do you have any weed fabric on the underside of your bed?

I am planning on making my first SFG beds shortly and was planning on putting fabric down to keep the grass out but wont this keep the worms out as well?

It's funny, I don't think I've ever been so happy to see worms as I've been with this garden! I've always tried not to kill them and I knew they were good but I think I have learned so much more about soil life this past year, I have a greater appreciation for the little guys.

I don't have fabric under my beds. I'm actually removing the landscape fabric from under the mulch in my paths too. I've recently found a lot of worms that seem to be wound up in the fibers. I want them to be able to move freely throughout the area.

Last year, I put a thin paper layer (I didn't have much newspaper at the time) under the beds and this year I'm using a thicker paper layer under the new ones because I have it. There was not much growing where I put the garden that needed smothering. I probably could have gotten away with just filling the boxes with nothing underneath.

Here is a link that might be useful: Tales of a Transplanted Gardener

No fabric? I have crabgrass in the area where I will plant so I will probably use the fabric. I ordered Mels's book and perhaps he elaborates more on this.

I think I will add worms to the mix.

I don't know why but I added worms to my mels mix and most if not all died. Maybe it was the worms, but I haven't tried again to add them. And with my fabric and gravel lining, none are getting in on their own.

I can't say for sure, but I would think unless you're dealing with something like Bermuda grass, if you put down a thick layer of newspaper or cardboard, it should smother the grass underneath. You could ask on the soil & compost forum if anyone has experience with crabgrass under their lasagna garden.

Here is a link that might be useful: Tales of a Transplanted Gardener

I have crabgrass, and the fabric stopped it from entering my garden.

EG

I used cardboard to put in mine last year, and it stopped the grass from coming up. I had a few persistent buggers that came up, but they were easy to pull out... maybe 5 or 6 per 4x4.

I moved the squares several feet last night to make a 4x8 out of them, and there was no sign of grass or cardboard... just a couple strands of packing tape. I think cardboard is the way to go.