Not too long ago, the presence of earthworms in the soil was overlooked because it was not thought to have any impact. But with further research, we now understand that biological life in the land is crucial to the development of crops. Earthworms have a variety of positive affects on the soil. For instance, they created vertical holes that allow rain to infiltrate the ground. They help neutralize the pH of the soil. They eat nematodes which could be harmful for the surrounding area. Their excretion help decompose the crops’ residue. They also create a topsoil which helps the growth of the plants. But humans have to do their part to aid the earthworms. They have to make sure they have a source of food such as soil residue and manure. Also, certain pesticides should not be used that might kill the earthworm population. Earthworms are often introduced to environments where they are not abundant in because of their long lasting benefits.

For my first blog post, I am going to discuss the problems we have with urban agriculture. There are many positives, like making sure that there is food in the city, and the positive impact it has on the environment. However, there are some downsides. There’s not enough space in the city! Cities are meant to hold many people and that does not leave enough room for a field to grow crops. And if there is room for agriculture in the city, it could be very expensive compared to a space in a rural area. Another problem is that that urban agriculture requires water just like all other kinds of agriculture does, but it could create a shortage of water in the city since there are so many people. There is also more of a risk for soil and water pollution in the city. And one more thing that I’ll mention which seems like a non-issue but that actually bothers some people, is that it is not aesthetically pleasing.  Especially when these agricultural areas are not tended to properly.