Have you ever read the Ruth Stout books, she wrote about gardening without tilling.
I thought she said she pulled back the mulch, scattered the pea seeds and covered them well, before the first snow, so they came up when ready.
LOL, I tried her methods, and it does not work in Arizona, here we have to water all year.
On the horn worms, all I can say is, that I never found any thing that would eat them.
I did find that having a Datura plant in the tomato area drew them in, after they ate the datura, they ate tomatoes.
I have gone miles out in the desert and found them munching on the datura plants.
I have not tried the worms for fishing.
Growing herbs in the kitchen is excellent, right there and ready to use.
Welcome to you and do join in, anytime.
Plant marigolds in a border around tomato plants. They help a great deal in warding off tomato pests.