mjfriendly
Member
I want to start composting on a larger scale but live in an area with alot of bears wolves ect. I dunno if my concerns are unrealistic or not. If I should be concerned are there steps to take to keep the wildlife away.
Composting & bears
- Thread starter mjfriendly
- Start date
Compost in a large pile - if you're lucky a bear will come around & "turn it over" for you.
Wolves won't be a problem, and I doubt the bears will either unless you dump excess food waste in your pile.
I had a compost pile on the outer edge of my property (almost in the woods) and had zero brownie visits to it for years as far as I could tell and our Human to Ursus arctos middendorffi ratio is roughly 4 : 1.
GWN
mjfriendly
Member
Thanx, that helps. Isn't food the majority of compost though?
No, not necessarily - usually the majority of materials that go into a pile are plant based - grass clippings, mulched leaves etc...
Jack*Herrer420
Well-Known Member
I just got done writing a large response and hit the wrong button, deleting it all. Sucks.
Anyways, if you have the funds, I would recommend a compost tumbler, especially if you are using it on your yard outdoors as well. They are pretty well sealed, except for some small air holes, and the composting process could be completed in as little as 3 weeks. You could also make one yourself with a little reading up and some work. Basically, take a large barrel w/lid, take some large pvc pipe the length of the barrel, drill holes in the pvc throughout, attach the pvc to the barrel ensuring airflow can flow through both ends(top-bottom), add your materials, turn barrel on side and roll every day or two. You could probably have compost in a month or two with this setup.
http://www.organic-compost-tumbler.com/
You should also check out bokashi composting. It involves adding bokashi bran, or yeast, to a bucket in layers between materials(you can even add meat and dairy products without a problem) and letting it sit for a set time. This could be done indoors with minimal odor(only when opening to add material). Definetely worth checking out.
One thing to mention, you shouldn't have any problems from bears and what not, as long as you add the proper materials. I wouldn't recommend putting dead animal or dairy products at all, though I've heard of people who do. You want a mix of about 60%-40%(browns to greens) with no more than 10% of any one product to ensure a diverse, nutrient rich compost. You could add things like newspaper, cardboard, grass clippings, sawdust, just too many to list, but I havea link you should check out, read all info provided, it is a great source of knowledge. Good luck on your composting ventures.
http://vegweb.com/composting/
Anyways, if you have the funds, I would recommend a compost tumbler, especially if you are using it on your yard outdoors as well. They are pretty well sealed, except for some small air holes, and the composting process could be completed in as little as 3 weeks. You could also make one yourself with a little reading up and some work. Basically, take a large barrel w/lid, take some large pvc pipe the length of the barrel, drill holes in the pvc throughout, attach the pvc to the barrel ensuring airflow can flow through both ends(top-bottom), add your materials, turn barrel on side and roll every day or two. You could probably have compost in a month or two with this setup.
http://www.organic-compost-tumbler.com/
You should also check out bokashi composting. It involves adding bokashi bran, or yeast, to a bucket in layers between materials(you can even add meat and dairy products without a problem) and letting it sit for a set time. This could be done indoors with minimal odor(only when opening to add material). Definetely worth checking out.
One thing to mention, you shouldn't have any problems from bears and what not, as long as you add the proper materials. I wouldn't recommend putting dead animal or dairy products at all, though I've heard of people who do. You want a mix of about 60%-40%(browns to greens) with no more than 10% of any one product to ensure a diverse, nutrient rich compost. You could add things like newspaper, cardboard, grass clippings, sawdust, just too many to list, but I havea link you should check out, read all info provided, it is a great source of knowledge. Good luck on your composting ventures.
http://vegweb.com/composting/
snew
Well-Known Member
If the bear wants in you just blew the money on the tumbler. Its a bear a little plastic never stopped a bear. Do read on composting, you should have about 80% carbon material (brown stuff, leaves, small sticks, etc). The tumblers are nice and fast and will keep out raccoons, opossum, etc. I think a 9mm will be the best deterrent, and bear meat is tasty.
Jack*Herrer420
Well-Known Member
As long as you have a proper mixture of ingredients, and aren't throwing meaty products in, you should be fine from bears regardless. I have heard different ratios of C:N, but 30:1 or twice as much brown to green seem to work the best. Just make sure to diversify your ingredients. Also depending on the ingredients, you can have a bacterial compost or a fungal compost. Bacterial composts are easier to create and most widely used for our plants, but you can still benefit from fungal composts in moderation.
9MM only works here if you want one to really beat the shit out of you.
.375 H&H is my answer & it gets things done.
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greensister
Well-Known Member
No meat, oils, or bread goes in the compost.
Shredded leaves, lawn clippings, chipped wood, and coffee grinds. The occasional raw bone is fine as are egg shells, but if you have scavengers in your areas, still to yard waste. Lots of dried brown plant matter and a small amount of green plant matter mixed well. Its the best stuff you could want. Screw Fox Farm or any other over priced organic growing medium. Im all about the compost i make.
Shredded leaves, lawn clippings, chipped wood, and coffee grinds. The occasional raw bone is fine as are egg shells, but if you have scavengers in your areas, still to yard waste. Lots of dried brown plant matter and a small amount of green plant matter mixed well. Its the best stuff you could want. Screw Fox Farm or any other over priced organic growing medium. Im all about the compost i make.
mjfriendly
Member
Great info guys ty, I was hoping to dump all my veggy clippings from kitchen into it. I have already been putting the ashes from the wood stove and egg shells into my gardens. The bear population here is high, I live in the woods, there are some real problems with them they r almost like lawn ornaments, lol. I think I will put it in the fartherest corner of the property and just go light on the household waste. I lke the tumbler idea, cuz I am all for easy to deal with stuff, way too much labor intensive stuff on my plate already.
greensister
Well-Known Member
Know that ashes lower the ph of the compost. Tumblers seem like a good idea, but they are a pain in the arse. (Mother in law has one) The door is small and above waist level meaning you have to do more lifting to get the stuff in and out. It also locks out access for worms which to me is crucial for good composting. Since they are enclosed, most greens stay green way too long and the compost starts to smell and burn without fresh air.
A pile at the foot of a big tree is a lot cheaper, easier, and more natural.
A pile at the foot of a big tree is a lot cheaper, easier, and more natural.
mjfriendly
Member
Doesn't it take way long with the pile? I thought u have to always turn it too?