Feeding on Soil

• Earthworms tunnel into the earth, and feed while they do it. The worms swallow debris such as leaf and grass matter that if left alone could damage the soil.
  
  

Tunneling

• Earthworms will pull organic matter deep into a garden's soil.earthworm image by ril from Fotolia.com
  
  Earthworms create many tunnels, which allow air and water to penetrate into the soil.
  
  

Speeding Up the Breakdown

• Earthworms also pull organic matter from the surface deep into the soil. This action speeds up the breakdown and rotting of plant material, which speeds up the rate at which nutrients are supplied to the plants.
  
  

Kitchen Waste

• Earthworms will also finish off kitchen waste such as vegetables, fruit and coffee grounds that are tilled into the soil or compost pile.
  
  

Fertilizer

• Castings are excretions left behind by the worms. The castings are high in plant nutrients and organic matter and serve as a rich fertilizer.