Ideas for improving this second-generation home composting method

[Dan Espen]

Adding chlorine to house air is a bad idea.

Keep the container sealed. I put coffee grinds, spent flowers, pistachio shells, and leaves in mine. Nothing smells. The actual compost is 99% yard waste. You mentioned pulling weeds and not composting them. That does not seem logical. If you give it enough time the seeds won't survive.

[Danny D]

After googling, as suggested, I decided to experiment adding that new liquid element into the compost:

[DirtBag]

Danny D said

I apply such liquid after dark - when I take the dogs out for a wee.

The wife is none the wiser.

[Danny D]

I'm sure mine wouldn't use the compost ... if she knew.

[Danny D.]

Tonight, I was working on the pool equipment after dark, about a dozen feet from the compost area, when I see this cute rat walking calmly along the pool plumbing.

I couldn't snap a picture quickly enough, but I did set out two traps and continued working on the pipes under the light of the moon, although one of the traps got the better of my finger in the process:

I wasn't back working on the wires, only two feet away, for more than five minutes, when I heard the tell-tale snap. rat died immediately as I was there within a couple of seconds and it wasn't moving at all, as I gently removed it and set it aside to see if it was breathing: felt really badly for the little guy, but I can't have them chewing on the wires in the heater (which might be why the heater isn't working).

Can't prove it was eating the compost or not - but it could have been, as it was a small one, that could easily get inside the wire mesh fence.

[Danny D]

Looks like it was identified elsewhere as a (big) deer mouse.

[Natural Girl]

1 down .. probably a large family to go ..

[Tekkie®]

Danny D posted for all of us...

And I know how to SNIP

[Danny D]

Naaah. Something with a bit more natural nitrogen in it.