Subject: Re: compost bugs?
From: "Susan K. Wehe" <swehe@ix.netcom.com>
Organization: ICGNetcom
Date: Wed, 30 Sep 98 17:26:14
Message-ID: <MOD$980930.21172@rec.gardens.ecosystems>
References: <MOD$980926.5337@rec.gardens.ecosystems>
Spunkie199 wrote:
> where do the bugs come from that help make compost?
The same place as the molds, fungus's and bacterias do that breakdown the
food you forgot in the back of the frig ;) Some are airborne and some are
simply present on nearly all surfaces. Some insects that appear can have
life stages that can fly, others are drawn by smell or favorable conditions.
> and how come it
> doesn't kill them when the pile gets hot. and how much water do i add
> (compost in a 50 gallon can on wheels) before some becomes too much?
Can't answer the first question but I wet my compost so that it's moist but
not sopping. A couple minutes with a garden hose on my large compost pile
when conditions are dry seems to be adequate. It helps with a pile to open
it up a bit (which you don't have to bother doing) since it seems to shed
water otherwise. I would assume you'd want the same degree of moisture.
susan