who works at night excavating? quietly, year after year? Does it really amount to anything, or just early bird food...

Are worms similar to beavers, out at night collecting organic matter to drag down later into their pantry?  Why? 

The soil excreted in the photo below is just one worm's excavation production from one night (above freezing).  Let's call it a teaspoon in volume.  If you look in the woods, or at any lawn that hasn't had any chemical killer "care", you'll find a leaf midden and excreted soil like this centered about every 12" (inches) in every direction.  Do the math.  one teaspoon/sf/night X's the soil surface of Ohio = lower taxes. 

More on this later  -  think about it when it rains.