Re: Possible danger in your compost heap Hi Roz, if cross posting, can you tell us where from? Thanks
Re: Possible danger in your compost heap I think it's generally a good idea to keep pets out of a compost heap. I go a step further and keep rats out too with a nice, clean, big plastic tumble bin.
Re: Possible danger in your compost heap Of course .... sorry. It was a Facebook comment - will go back and trace it down
Re: Possible danger in your compost heap No worries, I just like to give a reference when offering medical information. This one Tremorgenic mycotoxins will do
Re: Possible danger in your compost heap Well, that's not where I came across it so many thanks for tracking it back!
Re: Possible danger in your compost heap These are more associated with raiding rubbish bins and rotting/spoiled food, than more tradiitional compost heaps. The two main culprits are penitrem A and there is one other (the name escapes me..). These cause the ataxia ( wobbly, drunken movements) and neurological tremors
Re: Possible danger in your compost heap Watch out for compost spread on flower beds in parks too :-\
Re: Possible danger in your compost heap I had a problem with rats in my garden (they spread leptospirosis) and after calling in rodent control the source was traced to my neighbour's compost bins. I was told that the disease had become more prevalent due to fact that more people are composting. Also beware the compost bins with a lid and open bottom as rats are capable of burrowing through the soil and making their nests in the compost. Roger
Re: Possible danger in your compost heap Absolutely, rats and compost heaps - nightmare. I have 4 big, round plastic bins that rotate, get super hot when the sun shines on them, and no animals can get in. For a reason that I do not quite understand though, a healthy worm population lives in the bins. I guess the worms get in on the soil around roots in the garden waste and things like that.
Re: Possible danger in your compost heap [quote author=JulieT link=topic=5131.msg64717#msg64717 date=1396175618] Absolutely, rats and compost heaps - nightmare. I have 4 big, round plastic bins that rotate, get super hot when the sun shines on them, and no animals can get in. For a reason that I do not quite understand though, a healthy worm population lives in the bins. I guess the worms get in on the soil around roots in the garden waste and things like that. [/quote] But are you sure that the base is not open to the ground? I find a piece of wire netting with small holes which allows the worms in but keeps the rats out does the trick! Roger
Re: Possible danger in your compost heap I'm even more pleased I got rid of my compost heap last summer now.... Finding 2 HUGE rats munching on my veggie peelings (in my covered bins dug 1 foot into ground) was enough for me to stop!
Re: Possible danger in your compost heap [quote author=Morwenstow link=topic=5131.msg64729#msg64729 date=1396177275] [quote author=JulieT link=topic=5131.msg64717#msg64717 date=1396175618] Absolutely, rats and compost heaps - nightmare. I have 4 big, round plastic bins that rotate, get super hot when the sun shines on them, and no animals can get in. For a reason that I do not quite understand though, a healthy worm population lives in the bins. I guess the worms get in on the soil around roots in the garden waste and things like that. [/quote] But are you sure that the base is not open to the ground? I find a piece of wire netting with small holes which allows the worms in but keeps the rats out does the trick! Roger [/quote] No, they are not open to the ground. They are completely enclosed, apart from tiny drainage holes, which drain to an enclosed base (which also holds the wheels on which they rotate). The liquid is drained off and stored for plant food. Here: http://www.envirocycle.com/
Re: Possible danger in your compost heap Wow, I am impressed, that has to be the Rolls Royce of all compost bins! Pity you can't use the heat generated to warm the house/kennel? Roger
Re: Possible danger in your compost heap I had no idea you could buy something like that. Very interesting.
Re: Possible danger in your compost heap That's cool ! I keep meaning to compost but never quite get round to it :
Re: Possible danger in your compost heap Our problem isnt actual compost but our neighbours who keep chickens and ducks , they just chuck kitchen waste onto the earth for them . We had a terrible rat problem a couple of years ago , spoke to the neighbours about it and for a while, they stopped leaving food down but they are now at it again , if I so much as see a rat in our garden I will ring EHO , hate the blinkin things
Re: Possible danger in your compost heap If you turn them, and they are in the sun, you get compost super fast.
