Every now and them it is time to give that ole compost a bit of a turn. I had picked-up some fresh stall mest out in the countryside, so I wanted to make a hole in the compost in the darlek that Eileen gave me donkey’s ears ago. So put a shovel-full of it into the middle of the still uncomposted material in the hope that it would accelerate and stay active throughout the winter. I can tell you we were shocked when the first fork moved the upper layer aside: A closer look. That mass of worms were quick to wriggle back down under the surface. That means that there were more than we can see on the foto up above. This compost id destined for the veggie plots and greenhouse. We will add this to the other bags full behind the garden house. Remember those?
Thanks Daniel and Jewell— It is so good to see them. Now I can hardly wait to spread them out in the veggie beds. I do have to say when I go to plant things in the spring, the mulched beds look just like this…thanks to the very thick mulch layers (and if there are no moles present). I am very happy today.
Very cool, Sjoerd! I have 3 worm boxes in my basement for food scraps. I mix in the cardboard-ish egg cartons, so they get a, "balanced" diet. I started out with 1 and kept splitting them. The compost out back is yard waste. I don't put food out there because of rats. I've seen a hawk eating one, up the alley and there's apartments at the end of the alley that have a dumpster. I don't want their rats coming my way.
Oh thanks much, Willow. I wonder if they have rolled themselves up for a good sleep, or if they are still eating. It sounds like you are having success with your worms.
Yes, I've been doing worm boxes for many years. These guys are very happy! In the 80s and 90s, when I lived in Washington State I went to different schools and started them.
@Sjoerd The worms pictured in your compost is funny . Well… sort of …tell you why later. But first the intended purpose for your compost piles are lots of those perfectly fine looking wiggly worms is a ‘Good Thing’ . That’s a good sign of healthy compost. Gardening 101 good healthy worms in compost = healthy plants. Here’s the catch…I put down tons , literally dump truck loads of compost on my garden beds with lots of worms. But…No one told me there was a down side to all those ‘delicious’ worms in the soil . I can’t help but chuckle after all the years and time I spent trapping moles because they are attracted by those fat juicy delicious worms. Ironic isn’t it. Of course worm elimination has been my entire focus all summer but for totally different reasons. I have developed a whole new meaning for the word ‘Worms’ which equal ‘Mole holes’ and miles of tunnels as far as the eye can see. I lost count after 220 holes and accompanying mounds. Besides , how many gardeners get to stomp their newly planted treasures back in the ground the next day because all the new plants are popping up and out of their planted spots propped up by the mole tunnels. They had taken over very early in my quest for a garden. It was an innocent mole claim at first just tunneling under plants in the early days. Until it became a full fledged defensive tactic to protect my precious plants. I had to take a stand and declared war. Out all day today mulching leaves which call on those lovely worms in the pastures and gardens. My many attempts to discourage them from moving in is to clear out all worm food. I know it sounds counter productive , but what’s a girl to do? In my little section of land worms are the enemy. Sounds very incongruent. But let me explain. I have absolutely nothing against those nice juicy lil worms , but they have created a nightmare in my little neck of the woods. Still many , many years later I am determined to keep the moles from turning my garden and pastures into a huge mole habitat. I’m still mowing mushrooms to and fro in absolute horror. Each one is as poisonous as the next and of course where they are growing is over areas where the moles latrines / living quarters were located. Which is for all intense and purposes literally wall to wall. Inside their tunnels the mushroom spores are sprouting up like white headed monsters tempting the dogs and horses . It took me 4&1/2 hours to mow and mulch the pastures today. Lucky to have a nice long sunny break , but very chilly , saving those ski cloths for warmth is a ‘Good Thing’.
Well Pac— that is a different perspective alright…plus, the massiveness of your area of operation there.Let me know how your lumbricide goes. What a story that was. I had never thought about dealing with moles in that way.
Today I had a little hen funeral. Buried the White Leghorn hen, deep in a raised bed. She did a great job, supplying all those big eggs. When her job was done, that was her end. Then I spread chicken house cleanings on the top of the raised bed. I hope those break down before Spring. That's about 5 months away. I dug up a huge Rudbeckia that I "temporarily" planted in one of the veggie beds, three years ago. I thought Rudbeckias were short lived. This one has spread to a clump about eighteen inches across. I moved it to a spot in the flower border. Hard job, the wet soil supporting that clump must have weighed thirty pounds. Now the cleanup for that raised bed is about 75% done. I also removed all of the bean plants. That's enough for this old gardener today. Hope for rain tomorrow to keep me indoors.
@Sjoerd It seems I have surprised you on my experiences with worms in the soil . It wasn’t intentional , well maybe just a little. Most gardeners haven’t the slightest idea of the appetite of a mole. Which is a, “Good Thing” ! I have little choice using lumbricide along with many other methods preventing the moles from moving back in next spring. After all the tunnel network system is still in place from those um-mm stinky engineers that have torn up the pastures with the speed of a tiny animal tunnel machine. The speed of this animal has the ability to travel underground in no particular direction yet every step taken is higher than the last. This species is called the Townsend’s mole the largest talpid in Oregon west of the cascades . This mole tunnels with the velocity of a super charged micro bullet at the rate of displacing soil into hundreds of mounds in several directions. Velocity is a vector quantity as it has both magnitude and direction while speed only possesses magnitude but not direction. And Townsend moles are the king of both direction and velocity. The proof are the 100’s of mounds and tunnels that have heightened the property altitude by several inches higher changing my growing zone and zip code.
@Daniel Sorry to hear of your loss. You are a brave soul to cope with some of the difficulties having animals can pose . Your rudbeckia story is a good one. I have had dahlia tubers get that large and heavy . The pitch fork and the tractor bucket lifting it out came in handy. lost the pitch fork…in the struggle. The garden is always full of surprises and sometimes the simplest chores get so complicated real fast. It was a tug of war for sure and I can see how that part of digging and replanting can be exhausting. it’s always something… Tomarrow is another day… Daniel I think the world is a better place with you running around in it . Even if struggles get the best of us sometimes.
Oh Pac—you just won’t do ! I so enjoyed this posting of yours. — “changing my growing zone and zip code”. Lord luvva duck, I liked that! Rolling with laughter here. You do have a way with words, ma’am. Daniel— condolences mate. Sorry to hear about madam Leghorn. Hats off in respect of a long tenure of service.
Glad you enjoyed the pasture and garden mole saga . Chapter 214. It’s a long way back to solid ground. If you find it interesting walking on top of a roller coaster literally. The ground levels that pop and groan with every step. And… “OH Yes Sir “…. This is how the west was won way out here in the pasturelands with moles , gophers and ground squirrels . Just waiting on those covered wagons to pass with cowboys traveling along those rutted trails to mining gold those golden ‘taters’ that grow along the veggie patches leaving no tater unturned. So many stories through out time and the struggles of gardening. Why aren't there more chapters to share !
