Grinder,

I've never had a Lasagna bed, but have a book on the subject. I read that earthworms (that are already in the soil) are drawn to the newspaper or cardboard that is first laid down. After they ingest the newspaper, they work their way through the leaves, grass and whatever mulch that is laid down.

But if your dirt is "dead", I don't think it's at all silly to add earthworms, or you'd be waiting for years for those wigglies to find your yard!

Good luck,

Julie

......so that hopefully someone else will respond.
BTW, I forgot to say before.....I think you're being VERY resourceful to add worms!

Julie

If you build it, they will come. You'd be surprised at how alive some dead looking soil is.

tj

The reason I was asking is that I have read that new houses are surrounded by dead dirt. Dirt that is void of any biological goodness.

I know our top soil is just dirt and grass has a hard time growing in it which I have been told is normal.

Huh, never heard the expression of dead dirt before. I always assumed all soil had some nutrients unless it was 'nuked' or poisoned in some way. I think the lasagna bed idea is great. Try it without adding worms this year and see what you dig up by late Springtime, say mid-June.

I've used the paper, mulch method to kill grass and make new beds many, many times. Bag or rake grass clips to really start the bed off fast.

Ooops, forgot to mention this. Coffee grounds attract earthworms and other buggy things like crazy! Have no clue why, but if you have a coffee shop near you, ask for the grounds and put them on your garden soil. The surface soil will be slightly acidic if you use a ton of the stuff, but nevermind, everything grows well anyway. Pondy