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Posted: Jun/03/2009 6:54 AM PST
For those of you that have a compost pile on the ground do you have any trouble with rodents or other animals? That's the main reason we have a tumbler we were concerned all the food scraps would attract unwanted guests. |
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Posted: Jun/03/2009 8:39 PM PST
The only critter I have ever seen at my compost pile is earthworms. Usually when I have a good bit of kitchen scraps to add, we add it and turn it. We checked our pile today and it is cooking nicely. |
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Posted: Jun/04/2009 4:56 AM PST
Composting is like making sourdough bread - you need a sourdough 'starter'. Dried leaves and grass, without some added moisture and some 'brown' (manure of just about any type, as stated before) will take a long time to get started. Nothing 'speeds up' composting, but there are lots of things that can slow it down (cool temps, lack of moisture for some). As for critters, I have never found anything when turning my compost (which I do rarely) that has surprised me, but a week ago my husband came upon a 3-4' milk snake (aggressive but non-poisonous). He found out they like to lay their eggs in compost piles! so I have been very cautious! I think it like the mice living in his bunny shed though. |
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Posted: Jun/11/2009 5:14 PM PST
One thing you can do to get "brown or dry" is to leave your clippings out in the sun for a few days. I've had some luck with compost, but I don't worry about it much. I put egg shells in, coffee grounds, grass clippings, weeds (but not with seeds), even paper towels sometimes (ones that are just wet...not ones with grease, etc.) Also, a few years back I actually dug up worms from my yard and put them in. Maybe that's what you need, since you have a tumbler compost..there's probably no worms in it. Also a little of your own regular soil once in a while helps. (like when you dig up sod to make a flower bed..just throw it in the compost) I don't put milk or sweets in mine as someone suggested. They may work, but I've never tried it. Some may disagree with me, but all of this has worked for me. Just thought I'd share. |
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Posted: Jun/12/2009 5:35 AM PST
Our compost is within chicken wire, and I have not had any critters to worry about, though my DH just took a picture of a rather large milk snake which are supposed to like to nest in compost piles!! I will be watchful... Anyway, I put old potting soil in from my planters and hanging baskets at the end of the year. Occasionally I put in used cat litter (solids removed) because I use a product called Cedarific, which is cedar shavings. We just let grass clippings lie, so I don't add grass, and I keep the weeds away, just to be safe. I have to stop putting rotten tomatoes in because I get tons of volunteer tomatoes in all my garden beds when I use the compost as mulch!! Arrgh! |
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Posted: Jun/16/2009 4:59 AM PST
My compost heap is right on top of the ground at the edge of my garden exposed to the elements. I've never had a critter problem, but I don't put meat products or bones into it. We have a compost collection program here and I get rid of those items that way. My heap gets fairly large (especially when I add sunflower stalks at the end of the season). We have to turn it from time to time with a tractor or bobcat. Frequently I allow volunteer gourds to grow over it to make it less unsightly. I put all my garden waste into it, except for any diseased plant which I burn. |
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Posted: Aug/10/2009 2:27 PM PST
Well this compost is hard work. I left the lid off, poured old milk and rinsed all dairy containers out in it, when we got plenty of rain and keeping it wet and hot. Our days have been in the 90's which seemed to really help. I have tons of worms in the bottom and it was doing pretty good. About 1/4 of compost was looking somewhat like dirt. Then I filled it up with grass clipping. We haven't had any ran and it has been real hot! it just looks like burnt up grass now. I am getting some horse manure and hopefully that will get the it turning. The information really helped. I do have way too much green products. I will keep everyone posted how the manure helps. |
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Posted: Aug/13/2009 3:22 PM PST
My husband and I started using a vermicomposter (a worm factory) because we were having the same problem and we love it. I researched the different types of composters before deciding on that one. This link explains the different types really well and the pros and cons of each. http://www.urbangardensolutions.com/types-of-compo sters-a/141.htm?click=11346 And then this link talked about the balance of compost materials and the use of compost activators. http://www.urbangardensolutions.com/Quick-Start-Co mposting-Tutorial-a/134.htm?click=11346 Hope it helps! |
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Posted: Sep/12/2009 9:22 AM PST
When I started my compost pile 3 years ago I went to the local hardware store and got a couple of the old pallets that they were giving away (some are returned to the mfg. so check with them first). I use 1 for a center, two as "gates" and two on each side to form a box shape. We put a screw in at the corners and use baling wire (or whatever you have) to keep them together especially when it gets windy, and it is up against the back of an old shed on our place. I dump in small branches, shredded paper, chicken coop clean outs, manure, coffee grounds and filters, vegetable cuttings and egg shells, old hay and straw, etc. If it isn't meat or dairy, it pretty much goes in, no seeds if possible. The small branches take longer to break down but also create the needed air pockets. If it gets to hot and dry in the summer months, I just turn the hose on the whole pile briefly and give it a little turn and poke with my pitch fork! I love the smell of fresh turned black gold! Every once in a while (1-2 times a year) we pull out the center pallet, and using a pitch fork we rotate the pile from one side to the other. If you don't try to do the whole pile all at once it really isn't that difficult. Also, as far as animals go, we get occasional interest from a crow or two. But even they don't bother with it much. The little birds that nest in my bird houses like to get in there and get paper shreds for their nests, but that is okay with us. I'm originally from sunny CA but have adapted to my rural AR life quite well! |
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Posted: Sep/12/2009 8:58 PM PST
I had trouble at first getting my compost to "cook", but took some good advice and put in that first morning pee and guess what, within two days that stuff was getting hot and no more ants, wormy things or anything else. I now have unloaded my first batch of compost of the year. I use a home made tumbler. |
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