This is a public-interest archive. Personal data is pseudonymized and retained under GDPR Article 89.

Re: Compost & Meat Scraps


     

Helen wrote:
     
That will not stop the problem.  Raccoons and possums are omnivores and will 
happy dig to get what delectable wastes they smell.  To take care of this, you 
can get a compost bin that has a cover that locks on, or you can take the 
attitude that if the 'coons and possums eat it, they'll "process" the wastes 
and possibly share the processed result with you ;-)  If you're in a city, 
though, I would be cautious of rats.  Otherwise, as long as you keep the pile 
stirred up every week or so so that the air circulates and don't put in so much 
that you get a bad odor bothering you or your neighbors, I can't see a good 
reason not to put in meat scraps.
     

Helen and list,

I may not be complete here, but I think the reason you do not add meats or fats 
of any kind to a compost pile is because they break down too slowly, and the 
rotting protein attracts flies and maggots (bad stuff for the other good bugs) 
as well as smelling awful. I think it may be the same reason not to add a lot of
bread, rice, flour, etc., since these are all processed starch, as opposed to 
potatoes which rot quite nicely. I should know - I tried adding a cup of bacon 
fat I had, and the pile stunk for a month. Just my two cents.

Shawn
swestaway@smtplink.coh.org
Claremont, CA  USDA9b Sunset19
     


--
To unsubscribe, send a message to: majordomo@lists.umsl.edu
with the single body line: unsubscribe sqft
Contact owner-sqft@lists.umsl.edu with any admin questions.
Other Mailing lists | Author Index | Date Index | Subject Index | Thread Index