So, after getting extremely envious of my neighbors garden (not Roberta, but Ian) I decided we needed to do something about it. Ian said that his whole garden came from his compost pile. He said all he does is throw all the stuff in a pile in the side yard, water every once in a while and boom, great soil for a great garden. So I got pumped, informed Scott of my decision and the pile was started. Of course we needed a start so we saved all day long, Scott mowed the grass and we added some rotten apples that we had lying around (ok, normally that wouldn’t happen but someone gave me a whole box of almost rotten apples and I was going to make apple sauce out of them but then all the stuff with Milo started and so they just sat in a box in the back yard).
We went to bed with high hopes of a wonderful garden to come…..next year of course. What we didn’t bank on was this:
[notice all the eaten food?]
OR THIS:
How in the heck am I suppose to get a compost pile when all the stuff is eaten by rats before it can decompose? So, alas, perhaps my compost dreams are all just dreams. I haven’t given up though, I still put stuff out there. We have the fattest birds, squirrels and rats around. Come sometime and see, they’ll come out in broad daylight to take stuff from the pile. Honest truth!
Last Sunday we were sitting in the yard enjoying some yummy popcorn as a family and watched three mice run to the pile, pick up food and run home. Yep, right there while we were sitting on the grass. Scott decided to go get his BB gun. Boy did he scare the pants of one of those mice. The next night, after FHE, he went rat hunting. He shot at one and missed but shot another and it fell into the neighbors yard. We haven’t actually SEEN any more, but they come lurking each night. It’s like Templeton from Charlotte’s Web! Fat happy rats!!
Good luck. I love gardening but haven’t figured out composting. Someday!
I’ve heard of just throwing your stuff in a pile, but I think the pest problem would be solved and your compost would form sooner if you get a garbage can and drill holes in it. Keep the lid on and the warmth will compost to soil faster. You have to remember to not get too much “greens” compared to your “browns.” But you’ve probably done all the research on this already. Good luck!