Archive for the ‘myths explored’ Category

Are Earthworms Native to Chicago?

Posted by EcoMyths Alliance on

Spring is upon us. With the snow off the ground (for now at least), and little new growth to obscure our view of the soil, it is easy to see the early stirrings of earthworm activity. Earthworm castings, neat piles of worm poop deposited on the surface as the worms busy themselves with their soil-work, are already accumulating on the lawns and parkways. Although nothing seems as natural or as necessary as this silent toiling, earthworms are, in fact, not native to the Chicago area.

As crazy as it may sound, nearly every earthworm you’ve seen in Chicago is an import! Native or not, their presence in gardens is often welcome as they increase soil fertility, making for bigger plants. However, in natural areas, where plant and animal communities have developed over thousands of years on worm-less soils, earthworm presence can be disruptive to these communities. Worms may be excellent companions in our vegetable plots, but are not so welcome in our natural areas.
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Myth: The Earth Under Our Feet in Chicago Is All Landfill

Posted by EcoMyths Alliance on

Soils in urban areas are poorly understood. Indeed, until most recently, federal and state efforts devoted to the inventory and classification of soil have been focused on agricultural, rangeland, and forest regions. As the world becomes increasingly urbanized, more attention must be paid to studying urban soil, particularly with respect to urban agriculture and food production.

Urban soils often show evidence of disturbance including cutting, filling and grading to level landscapes for development projects, and filling of areas with construction debris. Despite such disturbances, urban soils, just like their natural counterparts, provide valuable ecosystem services including serving as a medium for plant growth, regulator of water supply, habitat for organisms, modifier of the atmosphere, and recycler of raw materials.

The soil in the vacant lot down the street from your home might be highly disturbed and mixed with fill material. Yet it still sprouts vegetation, even if it is weeds! And with careful management, even these disturbed soils can be made productive for urban dwellers.

So, what is under our feet in Chicago? Is it soil or “landfill”? Unless you are walking on beach sand along the Lake Michigan shoreline, or a paved sidewalk or street, you are most likely walking on soil, both natural and disturbed!

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