Insects in compost bin?
Hello, Your compost bin/pile will draw insects to a point, but mostly, it needs to be "HOT", to kill off eggs and such. Try adding anything like dead dried grass or leaves so that the nitrogen can kick up the breakdown process. You need a balanced load of "greens" and "browns" for best results. Also, turn or mix up the stuff every couple of days, the Ethelyn gases and CO2 gases attract insects, that can be expected. Biggest thing is though, turn/mix often, don't let the contents get water-logged. http://forums2.gardenweb.com/forums/soil... Hope this may help you, Dave
How long does it take a small animal to decompose in the winter months?
Depends how warm it is in that space. Best to have it removed, either way you will be smelling it a loooooong time.
How is composting useful for plants?
Compost (/ˈkɒmpɒst/ or /ˈkɒmpoʊst/) is organic matter that has been decomposed in a process called composting. This process recycles various organic materials - otherwise regarded as waste products - and produces a soil conditioner (the compost).Compost is rich in nutrients. It is used for example in gardens, landscaping, horticulture, urban agriculture and organic farming. The compost itself is beneficial for the land in many ways, including as a soil conditioner, a fertilizer, addition of vital humus or humic acids, and as a natural pesticide for soil. In ecosystems, compost is useful for erosion control, land and stream reclamation, wetland construction, and as landfill cover (see compost uses).At the simplest level, the process of composting requires making a heap of wet organic matter (also called green waste, such as leaves, grass, food scraps) and waiting for the materials to break down into humus after a period of months. However, composting also can take place as a multi-step, closely monitored process with measured inputs of water, air, and carbon- and nitrogen-rich materials. The decomposition process is aided by shredding the plant matter, adding water and ensuring proper aeration by regularly turning the mixture when open piles or "windrows" are used. Earthworms and fungi further break up the material. Bacteria requiring oxygen to function (aerobic bacteria) and fungi manage the chemical process by converting the inputs into heat, carbon dioxide, and ammonium.Compost - Wikipedia
Is kitchen waste used to make a compost the best way to get a healthy fertilizer for a home garden?
Kitchen waste is a good ingredient for compost, but it tends to be higher in nitrogen than ideal. If you want a hot and fast compost pile, plan to layer in carbon-rich materials, like straw or wood chips.The only drawback of kitchen waste is that it’s attractive to rats and other animals. If these are a problem for you, animal-proof compost bins can be built using a wooden frame covered in 1/4 to 1/2 inch hardware cloth. I had to do this when, after years of using a pair of standard, plastic bins, I acquired a population of brown rats whose tunnel system in the ground around the bins allowed them to easily survive cold winter weather, fueled by the scraps in the bins. But once you have an animal-proof bin, you don’t have to worry about adding scraps that will attract pets or wildlife.As long as you have an animal-proof bin, normal amounts of meat and dairy products shouldn’t be a problem in a well-managed pile. Be advised, though, that bones don’t break down in the compost pile and tend to last for years when you spread the finished compost in the garden. This lends a rather macabre ambience to the garden until you pick them out. Eggshells, on the other hand, often get snapped up by birds, probably females who have an increased need for calcium when making their own eggshells.
Do I need holes in my compost bin if I let it air out?
The art of composting includes heat to "cook" . Composting occurs at temperatures ranging from 60 to 160F, with ideal temperature being 95 to 130F. At the higher temperatures, composting is slower, but the heat kills weed seeds, bugs and diseases. I would suggest, as a minimum, putting holes in the lid only, as long as you are turning on a daily basis. When you get more debris in your tub, it will become harder to turn. Without the vents, the compost may turn into an unusable muck. I was given a large compost bin that has a handle to turn. It does have 4 vents for air, although they are small compared to the size of the barrels. There is a vent on each end and 2 on each side.
How to maintain an indoor compost bucket?
Compost won't make enough heat, and will freeze outside in winter. Also becuase of the climate composting takes longer in Interior Alaska then in other places. But you can do one in a garage, barn or similar out building. I know some people who have kept worms composting all winter, and that seemed to work. You might also get in touch with folks at the Co-operative extension service, as they have great Alaska specific information. http://www.uaf.edu/ces/
What is compost used for?
It's basically free nutritious soil. You can easily make your own compost... combine any old dry leaves, grass clippings, most kitchen waste (not meat, oil, dairy. I also don't like bread products, bread can go to the birds) ...some people will compost citrus peels, some don't, I prefer not to, they tend to mold before decomposition and I had read several years ago they're not good for the worms, so my personal preference is to leave them out of the pile). ...banana peels and melon rinds are amazing (worms love them). ..in the last couple of years years I have gotten quite lazy. I just throw my fruit/veggie scraps and rinsed out egg shells out in my veggie garden. I also ask my gardener to throw the grass clippings in there once in a while. Fall/Winter was great with our tree dropping so many freakin' leaves. Once they're crispy dry enough, I just spread a good layer over my garden as well. ...even with all these layers of leaves, grass etc, sprouts from last year still manage to spring up. My winter lettuce is thriving wonderfully (I am careful not to cover them with all the scraps, so I just spread around roots), some sort of tomato is just barely emerging out of hiding, nasturtium has quickly emerged as well, and I have chrysanthemum in full swing. Composting is a lot of fun, keeps the kitchen waste out of our landfill, and the worms just love it!
How to find worms during the winter?
Check your compost, their may be some in there. Alternatively: dig deeper, only the top few inches of ground are frozen, and the worms will have retreated to the lower levels where the ground maintains an even temperature.