Pick Up a Worm. Don't Be Squeamish.

With your Southeast Regional Ag News, I am Haylie Shipp. This is the Ag Information Network.

Soil nerds will rejoice when I give this book recommendation: The Hidden Half of Nature by Montgomery and Bikle. It’s a real-life story, heavily validated by anecdotes, of a couple’s trials and extreme successes in building up once nearly sterile soil in their backyard to something of a botanist’s dreams.

Call what we’re talking about today the children’s version. Young readers, gardeners, and educators have a new agricultural adventure to dig into with the latest children’s book from Feeding Minds Press. “The Soil in Jackie’s Garden” is a cumulative-style picture book that tells the story of Jackie and her garden friends as they discover the wonders of soil and how things grow.

Peggy Thomas is the author…

“It's a cumulative story that celebrates all the critters in the soil that help this little girl, Jackie, and her garden grow. When it's time to harvest, Jackie and her friends become part of the soil cycle and the plant's life cycle by putting all their scraps back in the compost pile to make more healthy soil.”

She says she hopes that kids will just decide to explore some more, find out what's underneath the ground. “Pick up a worm,” says Thomas. “Don't be squeamish.”