Loathsome, Noxious, Malignant Creatures

In class today I couldn't help but relate our discussion of the sensationalism of scientific study in the eighteenth century (particularly worms) back to my own personal life.  My father actually owns a large vermicomposting facility and to him vermiculture is as far removed from wonder and spectacle as it is possible to be.  He has satisfied William Paley's hypothesis that worms have their position in the natural order, they have found an important place in plant nutrition and disease suppression.  While people from Gronovius and Trembley to the present found worms to be "imperfect animals," to my father they are the focus of his life's work and indeed "sacred."  I'll attach a link to his website in case anyone wants to give it a look: http://www.wormpower.net 

Thanks all,
Kathleen