yes you're being wierd ... the "destruction" you've heard of has to do with worms in forest environments, not in urban yards, and it is mostly a result of fishers dumping their purchased nightcrawlers at the end of the trip, whereas you're more likely using 'red wrigglers' for your composting .... anyone who uses worm castings in their garden or house plant pots will be introducing some worms - if the soil isn't high enough in organics, they won't "wander", they die off, particularly because the soil will also be way too dry, at least part of the year .... there are almost NO native earthworms in N America, they're all "invasive species"

there will be red worms anyplace there's an organic-rich soil, if you don't find any it just indicates poor soil in the area .... I add wheelbarrow loads of {{gwi:1333766}} to my greenhouse soil every spring, and if a few worms "escape" into the neighborhood the neighbors benefit :)

Bill

I've always been careful to not let any wigglers into the ground, but I suppose I've never really thought about that practice. Since plenty must escape from the bins all over North America, and I must put cocoons into the ground (no way I could get them all) and since you can find them in horse manure, and no reports so far of an ecological nightmare...

Now that I think about it, with all the worms I've dug up in beds over my lifetime - including ones I've put castings into, I've never seen a wiggler in the ground. I guess I'll stop worrying about it myself.

OK cool, I have no clue whether or not the soil is healthy right now, but I definitely want to use my vermicompost to add to the microherd when I do set up my beds. I'm feeling better... thanks :)