Mary Ann Smith, a worm entrepreneur and the owner/operator of Valley View Worms in Waynesville, will be the guest speaker at the Foothills Association of Master Gardeners’ Lecture Series on Monday, May 7, at 1:30 p.m.

The presentation will be at the Extension Office at 79 Carmel Lane in Columbus (behind the Senior Center on Skyuka Road)  It is open to the public, free of charge and no reservation is required.

Earthworms are beneficial to gardens, aerating the soil and making channels in the soil that improve absorption of water and drainage  Waste left behind by worms has an even greater impact, supplying organic matter, helping the soil retain moisture, reducing soil density, supplying beneficial microorganisms to the soil and plants and allowing plants to use nutrients more efficiently. Smith will talk about the benefits and uses of worms and worm products in gardens, and will instruct how to set up your own worm bin to start composting with worms.  She will talk about using worm castings to make “living soil” to produce healthy, disease and pest resistant plants.

– Submitted by Ann Mazzullo