Google Groups no longer supports new Usenet posts or subscriptions. Historical content remains viewable.
Dismiss
Re: Ideas for improving this second-generation home composting method
11 views
Skip to first unread message
Danny D
May 12, 2013, 12:52:04 PM5/12/13
to
On Wed, 08 May 2013 17:44:04 -0400, Norminn wrote:
> "Attracting rodents" is reason #1, #2 and #3!
To test whether the "diggers" were attracted to my compost,
I left the fence open the past two days at my compost pile:
http://www2.picturepush.com/photo/a/12915025/img/12915025.jpg
Checking this morning, I don't see evidence of animals
digging up the salmon or steak bones yet ...
http://www4.picturepush.com/photo/a/12915027/img/12915027.jpg
> "Attracting rodents" is reason #1, #2 and #3!
To test whether the "diggers" were attracted to my compost,
I left the fence open the past two days at my compost pile:
http://www2.picturepush.com/photo/a/12915025/img/12915025.jpg
Checking this morning, I don't see evidence of animals
digging up the salmon or steak bones yet ...
http://www4.picturepush.com/photo/a/12915027/img/12915027.jpg
dpb
May 12, 2013, 1:46:22 PM5/12/13
to
On 5/12/2013 11:52 AM, Danny D wrote:
> On Wed, 08 May 2013 17:44:04 -0400, Norminn wrote:
>
>> "Attracting rodents" is reason #1, #2 and #3!
>
> To test whether the "diggers" were attracted to my compost,
> I left the fence open the past two days at my compost pile:
> http://www2.picturepush.com/photo/a/12915025/img/12915025.jpg
>
...
> On Wed, 08 May 2013 17:44:04 -0400, Norminn wrote:
>
>> "Attracting rodents" is reason #1, #2 and #3!
>
> To test whether the "diggers" were attracted to my compost,
> I left the fence open the past two days at my compost pile:
> http://www2.picturepush.com/photo/a/12915025/img/12915025.jpg
>
Keep it up and you can be sure rats and other _will_ find it. A day or
two isn't long for new food sources to be discovered but rest assured it
will be found if it's kept up.
--
Dan Espen
May 12, 2013, 1:51:11 PM5/12/13
to
Danny D <Dan...@example.com> writes:
While discussing compost piles, I thought you might appreciate a
real compost pile:
http://www4.picturepush.com/photo/a/12915722/640/12915722.jpg
The fence is 6ft high. Last years leaves are compacted and partly
broken down.
--
Dan Espen
real compost pile:
http://www4.picturepush.com/photo/a/12915722/640/12915722.jpg
The fence is 6ft high. Last years leaves are compacted and partly
broken down.
--
Dan Espen
Danny D
May 12, 2013, 8:09:38 PM5/12/13
to
On Sun, 12 May 2013 12:46:22 -0500, dpb wrote:
> you can be sure rats and other _will_ find it.
The holes in the fencing are big enough for rats
> you can be sure rats and other _will_ find it.
to get through, so, if/when they find the compost,
I'll see some evidence of that, I hope.
http://www4.picturepush.com/photo/a/12918527/img/12918527.jpg
Danny D
May 12, 2013, 8:11:05 PM5/12/13
to
On Sun, 12 May 2013 13:51:11 -0400, Dan Espen wrote:
> you might appreciate a real compost pile:
> http://www4.picturepush.com/photo/a/12915722/640/12915722.jpg
Wow. I wish I had that much compost!
> you might appreciate a real compost pile:
> http://www4.picturepush.com/photo/a/12915722/640/12915722.jpg
Dan Espen
May 12, 2013, 8:36:40 PM5/12/13
to
1 years leaves pile up much higher than that.
--
Dan Espen
Danny D
May 12, 2013, 11:30:06 PM5/12/13
to
On Sun, 12 May 2013 20:36:40 -0400, Dan Espen wrote:
> Only if you really like exercise.
I have a lot of Spanish & Scotch Broom, which I pull out
> Only if you really like exercise.
(Scotch Broom) by the hundreds, and I cut & glyphosate
(Spanish Broom) by the scores; but I don't want to compost
that so I put them in the green recycling bins.
It takes a few months because each bin only holds about
an hour's worth of cuttings; yet I generally cut for
four or five hours at a time.
But, other than that, I don't have compost since I'm in
a windy location exposed to the Pacific Ocean winds, which
do all my leaf raking for me during the winter storms!
:)
Of course, it all ends up in the pool ... :(
Higgs Boson
May 13, 2013, 5:00:57 PM5/13/13
to
sold it on Craigs List. I hadn't really been keeping it up properly anyway. So when the City announced that they were now accepting food waste to incorporate into their (quarterly give-away compost events), I decided to go with that. I was surprised when the hand-out said that meat,fat,bones, etc. could be included, but when I called, they said that the compost was produced at such high temperatures that the no-no stuff was rendered harmless.
It's actually a nice community event; people line up in their cars with their bags, pails, other containers. When you get to the head of the line, you climb into a huge "bin" full of this lovely powdery compost, break out your shovel and load up.
DirtBag
May 13, 2013, 7:42:09 PM5/13/13
to
Dan Espen said
Wow, the wife would never tolerate that pile. I had to pitch a fit to
get two 4" square bins accepted. :-)
get two 4" square bins accepted. :-)
Dan Espen
May 13, 2013, 8:47:22 PM5/13/13
to
You can't make compost in 4 inch bins. Well you can, but you can
turn the compost over with a teaspoon.
--
Dan Espen
David Hare-Scott
May 13, 2013, 9:18:50 PM5/13/13
to
D
songbird
May 13, 2013, 11:21:43 PM5/13/13
to
DirtBag wrote:
...
they do much better in the ground where
temperatures are moderated the location can
be less visible to "the management".
most scraps can simply be buried, if done
deeply enough there's no smell or problem
with vermin/bugs. leaves are also broken
down more quickly if buried with some dirt
mixed in instead of just left in a pile on
the surface.
for bones it's much better if you can
grind them (if you don't trust your meat
source you may want to cook them well
first) before composting, but in the end
the earth's critters will take care of
them one way or another.
i worm compost a great deal and study
decomposition techniques. :) more fun
than a mere human should ever be allowed...
songbird
...
> Wow, the wife would never tolerate that pile. I had to pitch a fit to
> get two 4" square bins accepted. :-)
or use worms and let them take care of it.
> get two 4" square bins accepted. :-)
they do much better in the ground where
temperatures are moderated the location can
be less visible to "the management".
most scraps can simply be buried, if done
deeply enough there's no smell or problem
with vermin/bugs. leaves are also broken
down more quickly if buried with some dirt
mixed in instead of just left in a pile on
the surface.
for bones it's much better if you can
grind them (if you don't trust your meat
source you may want to cook them well
first) before composting, but in the end
the earth's critters will take care of
them one way or another.
i worm compost a great deal and study
decomposition techniques. :) more fun
than a mere human should ever be allowed...
songbird
DirtBag
May 14, 2013, 7:10:18 PM5/14/13
to
David Hare-Scott said
Hmmmm, maybe that's my problem. Too small! :-) (oops)
Danny D.
May 14, 2013, 11:16:39 PM5/14/13
to
On Tue, 14 May 2013 23:10:18 +0000, DirtBag wrote:
> Hmmmm, maybe that's my problem. Too small! (oops)
I took all your advice to heart, and added two more
steps to my composting sequence:
1. I now rake the compost over a larger area than before
(in order to aerate it and allow bacteria their freedom).
http://www5.picturepush.com/photo/a/13002068/img/13002068.jpg
2. I disinfect the compost bin in the kitchen with chlorine
(to keep the mold away, which has been happening lately).
http://www2.picturepush.com/photo/a/13002075/img/13002075.jpg
PS: The wife has been complaining about the smell of the pool
chlorine in the kitchen; so I have to clean it at night.
> Hmmmm, maybe that's my problem. Too small! (oops)
I took all your advice to heart, and added two more
steps to my composting sequence:
1. I now rake the compost over a larger area than before
(in order to aerate it and allow bacteria their freedom).
http://www5.picturepush.com/photo/a/13002068/img/13002068.jpg
2. I disinfect the compost bin in the kitchen with chlorine
(to keep the mold away, which has been happening lately).
http://www2.picturepush.com/photo/a/13002075/img/13002075.jpg
PS: The wife has been complaining about the smell of the pool
chlorine in the kitchen; so I have to clean it at night.
Dan Espen
May 15, 2013, 12:42:37 PM5/15/13
to
"Danny D." <Dan...@is.invalid> writes:
> On Tue, 14 May 2013 23:10:18 +0000, DirtBag wrote:
>
>> Hmmmm, maybe that's my problem. Too small! (oops)
>
> I took all your advice to heart, and added two more
> steps to my composting sequence:
>
> 1. I now rake the compost over a larger area than before
> (in order to aerate it and allow bacteria their freedom).
> http://www5.picturepush.com/photo/a/13002068/img/13002068.jpg
>
> 2. I disinfect the compost bin in the kitchen with chlorine
> (to keep the mold away, which has been happening lately).
> http://www2.picturepush.com/photo/a/13002075/img/13002075.jpg
Those bacteria are what you want to break down the compost.
> On Tue, 14 May 2013 23:10:18 +0000, DirtBag wrote:
>
>> Hmmmm, maybe that's my problem. Too small! (oops)
>
> I took all your advice to heart, and added two more
> steps to my composting sequence:
>
> 1. I now rake the compost over a larger area than before
> (in order to aerate it and allow bacteria their freedom).
> http://www5.picturepush.com/photo/a/13002068/img/13002068.jpg
>
> 2. I disinfect the compost bin in the kitchen with chlorine
> (to keep the mold away, which has been happening lately).
> http://www2.picturepush.com/photo/a/13002075/img/13002075.jpg
Adding chlorine to house air is a bad idea.
> PS: The wife has been complaining about the smell of the pool
> chlorine in the kitchen; so I have to clean it at night.
I put coffee grinds, spent flowers, pistachio shells, and leaves in mine.
Nothing smells. The actual compost is 99% yard waste.
You mentioned pulling weeds and not composting them.
That does not seem logical. If you give it enough time the
seeds won't survive.
--
Dan Espen
Danny D
May 15, 2013, 8:51:18 PM5/15/13
to
On Wed, 08 May 2013 18:50:17 -0500, Fat-Dumb and Happy wrote:
> There is a reason the grass is greener over the lateral lines
> of a septic tank system.
After googling, as suggested, I decided to experiment adding that
new liquid element into the compost:
http://www5.picturepush.com/photo/a/13045138/img/13045138.jpg
> There is a reason the grass is greener over the lateral lines
> of a septic tank system.
After googling, as suggested, I decided to experiment adding that
new liquid element into the compost:
http://www5.picturepush.com/photo/a/13045138/img/13045138.jpg
DirtBag
May 15, 2013, 9:01:29 PM5/15/13
to
Danny D said
I apply such liquid after dark - when I take the dogs out for a wee.
The wife is none the wiser.
The wife is none the wiser.
Danny D
May 16, 2013, 12:03:33 AM5/16/13
to
On Thu, 16 May 2013 01:01:29 +0000, DirtBag wrote:
> I apply such liquid after dark - when I take the dogs out for a wee.
> The wife is none the wiser.
I'm sure mine wouldn't use the compost ... if she knew.
> I apply such liquid after dark - when I take the dogs out for a wee.
> The wife is none the wiser.
Danny D.
May 17, 2013, 5:27:18 AM5/17/13
to
On Sun, 12 May 2013 12:46:22 -0500, dpb wrote:
> Keep it up and you can be sure rats _will_ find it.
Tonight, I was working on the pool equipment after dark, about a dozen
feet from the compost area, when I see this cute rat walking calmly along
the pool plumbing.
I couldn't snap a picture quickly enough, but I did set out two traps and
continued working on the pipes under the light of the moon, although one
of the traps got the better of my finger in the process:
http://www3.picturepush.com/photo/a/13058021/img/13058021.jpg
Anyway, I wasn't back working on the wires, only two feet away, for more
than five minutes, when I heard the tell-tale snap.
http://www5.picturepush.com/photo/a/13057973/img/13057973.jpg
The rat died immediately as I was there within a couple of seconds and it
wasn't moving at all, as I gently removed it and set it aside to see if
it was breathing:
http://www2.picturepush.com/photo/a/13057980/img/13057980.jpg
I felt really badly for the little guy, but I can't have them chewing on
the wires in the heater (which might be why the heater isn't working).
Can't prove it was eating the compost or not - but it could have been, as
it was a small one, that could easily get inside the wire mesh fence.
Danny D
May 17, 2013, 12:24:38 PM5/17/13
to
On Fri, 17 May 2013 09:27:18 +0000, Danny D. wrote:
> Can't prove it was eating the compost or not - but it could have been,
> as it was a small one, that could easily get inside the wire mesh fence.
Looks like it was identified elsewhere as a (big) deer mouse.
> Can't prove it was eating the compost or not - but it could have been,
> as it was a small one, that could easily get inside the wire mesh fence.
Natural Girl
May 17, 2013, 4:27:55 PM5/17/13
to
--
Natural Girl
Tekkie®
May 22, 2013, 8:42:38 PM5/22/13
to
Danny D posted for all of us...
And I know how to SNIP
3 in 1 oil ?
--
Tekkie
And I know how to SNIP
--
Tekkie
Danny D
May 23, 2013, 5:29:50 AM5/23/13
to
On Wed, 22 May 2013 20:42:38 -0400, Tekkie® wrote:
>> After googling, as suggested, I decided to experiment adding that
>> new liquid element into the compost:
>>
>> http://www5.picturepush.com/photo/a/13045138/img/13045138.jpg
>
> 3 in 1 oil ?
Naaah. Something with a bit more natural nitrogen in it.
>> After googling, as suggested, I decided to experiment adding that
>> new liquid element into the compost:
>>
>> http://www5.picturepush.com/photo/a/13045138/img/13045138.jpg
>
> 3 in 1 oil ?
0 new messages