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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Plans set for 30th annual Hiroshima-Nagasaki Vigil ... How'd you get into theater? 'The stage doors were open' ... Mix saw thousands of dollars go down the drain when water didn't ... Plans set for 30th annual Hiroshima-Nagasaki Vigil ... How'd you get into theater? 'The stage doors were open' ... Mix saw thousands of dollars go down the drain when water didn't ... Paul Rogers: Daylight Saving, full moon hopeful signs for spring Comment By Paul Rogers More Content Now DailyTidings.com By Paul Rogers More Content Now Posted Mar. 9, 2015 at 8:57 AM Updated Mar 9, 2015 at 8:58 AM By Paul Rogers More Content Now Posted Mar. 9, 2015 at 8:57 AM Updated Mar 9, 2015 at 8:58 AM » Social News Two events occurred during the past week — one worth observing, the other less so. Daylight Saving Time has sprung the clocks, and hopefully us, forward by an hour. Sunset now occurs after 7 p.m. Gardeners cannot use the time to good advantage just yet, but as the snow melts and the earth thaws, the early evening light will prove invaluable. The other less recognized event occurred last Thursday, the full moon of March, the worm moon. If the full moon of March is supposed to be a wakeup call to the dormant earthworms, it is likely to go unheeded this year. Whether it be the red wigglers, the night crawlers or any of the other 7,000 species of earthworms, few are likely to be cultivating the garden. How many earthworms will be aerating, mixing, modifying and generally improving growing conditions for your plants? Estimates vary, as do soil conditions, but there may be from 54,000 to 1,750,000 earthworms per acre under your feet this summer. It has been suggested that the total weight of these largely unseen creatures is greater than two or more beef cattle in the pasture above ground. What functions do earthworms perform in addition to serving as food for starlings, crows, gulls and robins, as well as a portion of the diet of voles, moles, snakes, foxes, pigs, bears and beetles? They consume organic matter such as leaves, dead grass and roots, mix it with soil particles and bring it to the soil surface and deposit it in the form of castings. These castings are five times richer in nitrogen, seven time richer in phosphorus and 11 times richer in potassium than the surrounding soil. Some species of earthworms add a charge of calcium to their castings that further enriches the soil. As earthworms move through the soil, their open passageways allow fresh oxygen to enter the soil, and carbon dioxide to exit. Plant roots use the burrows as a path of least resistance when extending, rain can penetrate into the lower strata of the earth, and the soil is rendered more porous and friable. Many of the Amerindian names for the full moon marked the seasons. Different tribes used names that were meaningful to them. Thus we find multiple full moon names for the same month. The worm moon could be expected to shine on earthworm activity before the end of the month. Another was the sap moon, as the stronger sun caused the sap to rise in the sugar maple trees, thus proving an important product in a time and place that offered only two natural sweeteners — maple syrup and honey, one in the spring and the other in late summer or fall. A third full moon name was the crow moon, as it was believed that crows caused the woods to ring with their caws as a farewell to winter and welcome to spring. The final name in this series of names comes not from the natives but likely from religious groups. The Lenten moon lights our way from Mardi Gras to Easter. April brings us the pink, sprouting grass or fish full moon. Sounds warmer. Paul Rogers is a correspondent for The Worcester (Mass.) Telegram & Gazette. By Paul Rogers More Content Now DailyTidings.com By Paul Rogers More Content Now Posted Mar. 9, 2015 at 8:57 AM Updated Mar 9, 2015 at 8:58 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... 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