A healthy Amish field has up to a million earthworms per acre. Industrial (after pesticides) — 50,000-100,000. 10-20x difference.
What Worms Do
Loosen soil (tunnels = air + water). Process organics (leaves, manure → humus). Fertilize (worm castings — best fertilizer). One worm processes its body weight in organics daily.
Test
Amish farmer: dig with shovel, count worms. More than 10 per shovel = good soil. Less than 3 = problem. Takes 30 seconds. More accurate than a $200 lab test.