new to composting with a couple of questions

hookilau 6/10/2010, 4:36 pm

My Compost bucket is but a wee thing, a little smaller than a 5 gal bucket I guess.
It is a re-purposed pet feed bucket. I kick it around every day. It contains coffee grounds, lots of veggie scraps and shredded newspaper and computer printer paper.

There are teeny weeny bugs running around in there all over the place...is that supposed to happen? I've drilled holes all along the walls of the bucket, every few inches or so. I expect that's where the busy little buggers came in from. They kinda look like those teeny red mites you might see on brick.

It doesn't smell like anything except coffee new to composting with a couple of questions Fresse

new to composting with a couple of questions Fresse

junequilt 6/10/2010, 4:56 pm

Hmmm . . . when you compost, bugs can certainly get in. However, once the pile heats up, they usually depart for cooler, bug-friendlier pastures.

On the other hand, composting usually requires a fair-sized mass to get cranking. I've never done it on such a small scale -- unless maybe you're vermicomposting?

hookilau 6/11/2010, 7:02 am

well no, I'm not vermicomposting on purpose anyhow. new to composting with a couple of questions Icon_rolleyes

They almost looked like those paper mites?...ever see those?

My bucket *is* pretty small so you're right, there probably isn't enough mass.
Ah well, I guess once I get my big ol tumbler this wknd I can really
start cookin'.

Thanks for your reply though....I was starting to wonder about bugs, after seeing those little guys, it got me to thinkin' of flies, and of course that led to all manner of other of bug-dom, good, bad or indifferent new to composting with a couple of questions Alien

new to composting with a couple of questions Alien

Which brings me to my next question, Can I add Diatomaceous Earth to my compost since it's going into my sfg on legs?

**WardinWake** 6/11/2010, 7:10 am

hookilau wrote: well no, I'm not vermicomposting on purpose anyhow.

They almost looked like those paper mites?...ever see those?

My bucket *is* pretty small so you're right, there probably isn't enough mass.
Ah well, I guess once I get my big ol tumbler this wknd I can really
start cookin'.

Thanks for your reply though....I was starting to wonder about bugs, after seeing those little guys, it got me to thinkin' of flies, and of course that led to all manner of other of bug-dom, good, bad or indifferent

Which brings me to my next question, Can I add Diatomaceous Earth to my compost since it's going into my sfg on legs?

Howdy: You can add DE if there is a need for it in your garden. If you do need to add DE I would wait until the composting process is complete.

God Bless, Ward and Mary.

hookilau 6/11/2010, 7:17 am

Thanks for the speedy response. In that case, I'm leaning towards not needing to. new to composting with a couple of questions Icon_wink

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