Trash-Composting

Website/Blog on Composting:

Compost Guy
http://www.compostguy.com/

From 'About' Section of site:

Bentley 'the Compost Guy' Christie is on a mission to get people reconnected with the earth and on their way down the path towards sustainable living. ...    ---CONTINUED---

Ants in Composting Pile



Get rid of ants in compost bin
http://www.gardenstew.com/about16151.html

Q: How do I safely get rid of a colony of tiny ants that has taken up residence in my compost bin. Turning it over every day does not deter them. They crawl on me when I open the lid, and the compost is full of them and their eggs!!! I would rather not use insecticide. Thanks

A: Ants in there usually means the compost is too dry. Moisten it and roll it several times to break up their nest, it may take a few days for them to leave. And with ants in the yard they may return to the compost bin eventually.

Ants can actually benefit the composting process by bringing fungi and other organisms into their nest. And their moving minerals around in the compost makes it enricher in phosphorus and potassium.

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Ant colony in my compost
http://www.ubcbotanicalgarden.org/forums/showthread.php?t=15144

Q: I have one of those black plastic composter's that the City of Vancouver sold to residents. Yesterday, when I went to put in some yard waste and old container soil, I found what is obviously an entire colony of ants. The hill seemed quite far along, with tunnels and what looked like larvea being tended.
What can I do to get rid of the ants? Is there any way to save the compost? Help!

A: I read the link and it suggests that the pile is too dry. I find that hard to believe as the contents seem correctly damp. I had thought since I posted that the thing to do is supplement the compost so that it will heat up beyond ant tolerance. I'm not sure how to do it however. Perhaps add more nitrogen? I read somewhere else a recommedation to use diatomaceous earth to get rid of ants. Would it be possible to add this to my compost safely? ---CONTINUED---
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How to Control Ants in a Compost Pile
http://www.gardenguides.com/67535-control-ants-compost-pile.html

Overview

Ants seek out compost bins for warmth and protection. Although they may actually benefit the compost bin by introducing bacteria and fungi that help with decomposition, too many ants can be problematic. You can take some steps--both organic and non-organic--to discourage ants from staying in your compost bin.

Step 1

Keep compost moist to deter ants. Ants prefer warm dry areas and may seek out your compost bin if it provides a dry area to shelter them form the weather.

Step 2

Turn the compost to expose ants to the elements and to break up their nests. Disturbing their hiding place while wetting the area may encourage them to move on to drier ground where they can find shelter.

Step 3

Sprinkle corn meal or dry cream of wheat around the compost bin. Ants will carry the cereal back to the nest and eat it, but they are unable to digest cornmeal or cream of wheat. The grain will swell inside the ant and kill it.

Step 4

Place commercial ant traps around the perimeter of your compost bin to prevent ants from returning to the bin. However, if you are opposed to a chemical solution to your ant problem, avoid ant traps.

How to Make a Trash Can Composter
http://organicgardening.about.com/od/co ... poster.htm

Not every gardener has the space for a large compost pile, and not all municipalities allow back yard composting. The good news is that it's very easy to compost in a small space. Even if all you have is a patio or balcony, you can use this method of making compost in a trash can. And, if you need to compost on the sly, no one will be the wiser---they'll just see another trash can. ---CONTINUED---

When Compost Goes Bad (this mean war!)
http://willamettevalleyhomesteader.wordpress.com/2012/02/16/when-compost-goes-bad-this-mean-war/

Fruit flies. Only scientists love those little dudes. I was very pleased that the compost in my plastic bin had heated up very nicely. I am a constant but not very textbook composter. Put another way, I compost everything (including the kitchen waste from granny’s house) but I am terrible when it comes to altering green and brown, turning, containing, etc. I usually have a couple.of piles in varying degrees of decomposition and recently added a free plastic bin. Over the last season, I did begin covering my piles, having realized that the heavy winter rains of Oregon were keeping it so sodden I couldn’t turn it without using my entire day’s allotment of energy. Another challenge I deal with is dog, the compost-eater. Things that put in his dish would have him looking at you as if to say, “what’s up with this slop?” suddenly become irresistible in the compost pile. The bin solved this. All food goes into the bin and is unreachable by nasty (but cute) dog.

And so began an adventure. The bin filled nicely, packing down to hold a surprising amount of material. It heated nicely too with all the green material in the form of veggie trim and findings from kitchen and garden. It actually heated up! It bred a bazillion fruit flies. I could not open the cover without needing a face mask to breath, the air being so thick with frenzied fat fruit flies.

So Sunday I Googled “fruit flies compost”. Ding ding ding!   ---CONTINUED---

Wind powered Composter - The Green Twist , Exactly
http://www.instructables.com/id/Wind-powered-Composter/?ALLSTEPS

Composting is the easiest thing one can do to help your community. With a wealth of good soil you, your neighbors, and everyone else is stuck with the predictament of what to grow. Imagine such a world.

The problem is that the standard composter doesn't turn itself, and the average human is too everwhelmed with life's callings to take the time to turn the composter once a week.

Hence the self turning composter, wind powered so no additional power is needed. ---CONTINUED---