We are often asked if we carry worms, both red wigglers and nightcrawlers; The short answer is: we do not carry either varieties of these earthworms. However, we might be able to help you find a source for both kinds of worms!
Did you know that these are actually different critters and used for different purposes? (That being said, you’ll probably find them at different kinds of places as well.)
Nightcrawlers – Lumbricus terrestris
These big fellows are what you might call your classic, or common earthworm. They are actually native to Europe but have been introduced and become common in just about every part of the world. If you’re looking for a good fishing worm, these are likely your go-to choice as their size and resilience equates to a tantalizing wiggly snack for a hungry fish. (We do not carry nightcrawlers, but if you want to buy worms locally, check any small store near a waterway, (like Killions’ Market on Row River Road here in Cottage Grove) or anywhere that carries fishing gear and tackle (like Bi-Mart here off on Gateway).
Nightcrawlers are deep-burrowing worms and are friends of gardeners, helping to aerate and bring nutrients from the surface soil down into the deeper soil. While most composing operations don’t use nightcrawlers as their main workers, they can be beneficial for getting that good organic material further down to where deeper-rooted plants can use them.
Red Wigglers – Eisenia fetida
These elegant little wormies are sometimes called Red Worms or Manure Worms (or as we like to call them, Red Wrigglers), and are also native to Europe but introduced world wide. They are not found in the earth as much as in rotting organic materials, like compost or manure. They have an amazing ability to convert decaying compost into rich, loamy soil that your garden plants will cherish. Because of this, people starting compost piles may look for sources of starter worms. While we don’t carry them here at the feed store, there are some possible local sources for them that you could check out. Three Trees Farm in Cottage Grove sells earthworm castings and may have red wrigglers, as one example we have heard of.
If you know of other great local sources for earthworms, we would like to know, so please reach out!
