Composting

[PlantSwap]

There is going to come a day in the not too distant future when I am going to break down and get a composting bin of some sort. We dispose of far too much vegetable matter here that could be better put to use in the gardens.

Does anyone have any recommendations for a good composting system? I've heard that some systems are prone to ant problems and I don't think that would do for me with two young ones around (who get into everything no matter how nasty it is).

[ellgee]

What type ants are you concerned with?
http://www.terminix.com/information/...tcategory=ants

I used to compost "garden scraps" and lawn clippings and I just used black (or dark green) plastic garbage bins. I just dumped it out every week, stirred the "stuff" around put in back in the garbage bin. I never put sweet things (like watermelon rinds) in it to keep the pests out. I did also have a small outdoor compost pile which I would add the new stuff to which also is where I would add some of our never ending supply of horse manure. This would bring in the worms (they seem to love the stuff), because we lived in an extremly dry and hot climate, I kept a tarp over the compost pile to help keep it moist. We never had problems with ants - just flies!

Keeping the "moisture level" on a compost pile was the trickiest part for me, since our climate was extremly dry, I ended up running the sprinkler over the outdoor pile (yup, under the tarp) for about 1o minutes a day and after turning the pile, since it would dry out quickly.

Have you thought about an ant eater pet for the kids???

[PlantSwap]

Where I live, we have lots of ants - carpenter, pharaoh, field ant, etc. But the biggest worry is getting a nest/mound of fire ants. We definitely need a system that keeps the ants out.

I don't think anteaters could take the Texas summer...

[weddy]

So far, we're just 'hunking' ours against the corner of the fence (with no neighbors), behind the boat shed. I bury the scraps. We started it with horse manure, which he topped with grass clippings and leaves. Other than when I bury scraps, it doesn't get turned.

I'm hoping to get into vermiposting, but I haven't ordered any red wigglers yet. Does anyone here use them?

[johnplants]

There is going to come a day in the not too distant future when I am going to break down and get a composting bin of some sort. We dispose of far too much vegetable matter here that could be better put to use in the gardens.

Does anyone have any recommendations for a good composting system? I've heard that some systems are prone to ant problems and I don't think that would do for me with two young ones around (who get into everything no matter how nasty it is).

Hi;
a heavy duty garbagecan 33 gal.size with a good lock on top.
drill 3/8" holes in the bottom about 1 1/2" apart and a layer of 3/8" holes for air just below the top more holes if you think you need more air.
and cut a removeable door into the bottom on the side to shovel out the compost that is done. We have used ours for two years and put about a hundred 5 gal.bucket of house hold vegi.waist in this container and will start useing the compost this year.
A family of five will need two of these containers.

[johnplants]

Hi;
a heavy duty garbagecan 33 gal.size with a good lock on top.
drill 3/8" holes in the bottom about 1 1/2" apart and a layer of 3/8" holes for air just below the top more holes if you think you need more air.
and cut a removeable door into the bottom on the side to shovel out the compost that is done. We have used ours for two years and put about a hundred 5 gal.bucket of house hold vegi.waist in this container and will start useing the compost this year.
A family of five will need two of these containers.

I HAVE NEVER TURNED THIS COMPOSTBIN IN TWO YEARS.

[johnplants]

Hi;
Go to your nearest sewer districk and get some sewer slug it will have sewer worms or red wiglers in it to start your worm bins with.

[PlantSwap]

Thanks John, but do you have any problems with ants nesting in the bin? I've heard that can be an issue over here.

[Gram18]

You`re not going to believe this, but my compost bin got stolen 5 years ago. DAHHH!! WHO IN THEIR RIGHT MINDS WOULD WANT A COMPOST BIN THAT BAD!!!???!!!! Takes all kinds I guess.

[txbeyer]

I keep hearing about "compost tea". Does anyone have any experience with this? I have created "alfalfa tea" as a natural fertilizer in the past, but never tried "compost tea".

[johnplants]

Thanks John, but do you have any problems with ants nesting in the bin? I've heard that can be an issue over here.

No, don't know why! we have red ants all over and never in my compost bin for the house or out where i make compost for my plants compost is too damp for ants.
If the compost drys out then ant problem will start .














1

[johnplants]

No, don't know why! we have red ants all over and never in my compost bin for the house or out where i make compost for my plants compost is too damp for ants.
If the compost drys out then ant problem will start .











1

I turn my compost each two weeks or less and add water till i can squeeze out a couple of drops of water. spray with a fine spray. then cover with a tarp. never had ants nesting in it,i use it up ASP.

[johnplants]

No, don't know why! we have red ants all over and never in my compost bin for the house or out where i make compost for my plants compost is too damp for ants.
If the compost drys out then ant problem will start .














1

house hold bins do set in one place Maybe i have different kind of ants here in washinton than you do,that may be the reason i have no trouble with ants nesting in my house hold compost bin and i keep the bin moist all the time, i check for moisture once a week all summer and spring. If the bin dries out then ants will set up house keeping.