Protect your garden: New jumping worm prevention tools & website

[SK Dyment]

Hello Toronto Urban Growers community,

I am excited to share two new resources created to help gardeners across Canada prevent the spread of invasive jumping worms (Amynthas spp.).

I have developed a new Jumping Worm Prevention Protocols poster for gardeners, which provides practical steps gardeners can take to reduce the risk of accidentally moving jumping worms and their tiny, soil-borne cocoons through plants, soil, compost, mulch, and garden materials.

I have also launched new websites dedicated to increasing awareness, sharing prevention strategies, and supporting community action to help stop the spread of jumping worms in Canada:

https://www.stopjumpingworms.ca/lets-stop-them

https://www.soilstewardshipresources.ca/

Jumping worms are an emerging concern because they can alter forest and garden soils by rapidly consuming organic matter and changing soil structure. Gardeners are an important part of the solution because many pathways of spread involve the movement of soil, plants, and organic materials. We do not move soil on the industrial scale of development or construction, but we are often the first to encounter the issue.

I hope these resources are useful for gardeners, community gardens, native plant growers, and anyone who cares about protecting healthy soils.

Please feel free to share these resources with gardening groups, neighbours, and community organizations.

Thank you very much for everything you are doing to support healthy urban ecosystems!

Sincerely, 

Sullivan Dyment, MES.