Ooo, great plot. Somebody needs to call John Carpenter. :^) Or
Dennis Avery.
> Does anyone have any suggestions on getting rid of the bees? I am an
> organic gardener and don't want to dump anything toxic on my compost heap.
> Do I just wait until the cold weather to turn the heap?
I'm deathly allergic to bee stings, so I've done these mechanical
things:
1. Put a layer of hardware cloth/mesh around the OUTSIDE of the heap
(so it doesn't get gobbed up with compost goo; these are technical
terms) and across the top, so it can breathe but critters can't get
in when the yummy fruit rinds, etc., are sitting there. My compost
heaps have always been pretty low tech--stakes n chicken wire,
mostly, so this has worked. Remove the hardware cloth before
turning; replace when done. I also have always tried to make pretty
big, heat-generating heaps to discourage colonizers.
2. I did garden once with someone who wasn't at all allergic to
stings. Sending him in to turn the heap was a viable option.
(Sharing the labor is a polite way to put it.)
3. Watched the compost carefully for the comings and goings of bees,
particularly in the early morning. If bees, and no labor sharing
(ha!) available,
4. Waited till cold weather to turn. Love those Wisconsin killing
frosts.
5. It's possible to do turn-less (turn-free?) compost heaps.
Good luck.
peace
michele
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Michele Gale-Sinex, communications manager
Center for Integrated Ag Systems/Ag Technology & Family Farm Institute
UW-Madison College of Ag and Life Sciences
Voice: (608) 262-8018 FAX: (608) 265-3020
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I'm a problem solver. --Xena