It isn’t always easy for me to convince my husband to go along with my ideas. Vince grew up in a city; I grew up with wide open spaces. Can you see how those backgrounds have shaped how we think .. even today? It isn’t always easy to convince my husband that my ideas are really the best ideas but I can be pretty convincing . . about most things. Vince always thinks of all the negative things where I always think of all the positive things. That’s not bad .. we kinda keep each other balanced. In the end, I never try to talk him into doing something but I try to convince him that it’s his idea and then he’s on board!
When I discuss the the idea of wanting many acres, Vince just looks at me.
Me: No neighbors
Vince: Too much land to keep up
Me: I can have goats
Vince: It’s easier to sell a house in town than a house out in the middle of no where
But, when he thinks . . maybe I can find land with a lake and I can fish . . then he goes along with my plan to look for land.
When I first wanted chickens, he just looked at me.
Me: We could get fresh eggs
Vince: It costs way less to buy eggs
Me: They’re so cute
Vince: Someone has to take care of them when we’re gone
I can’t remember how I convinced him it was his idea to get chickens but . . well, you know how that ended up. He loves the chickens!
For years I’ve asked for a compost bin.
Me: We’d get good organic mixture to add to our garden
Vince: We don’t have a garden
Me: It’s so much better than throwing it in the trash
Vince: It attracts rodents
Vince and Chad finally fixed me a compost bin. They put it way back at the very back of our property. At first I thought about complaining that it was too far away. I figured they put it way back there because they didn’t think I would walk that far with my bucket of vegetable peelings and egg shells. I was determined to prove them wrong!
Yesterday as I walked out there with my little bucket, right at the edge of the woods, near dusk, being the chicken that I am, I was thinking . . I wonder what time the coyotes come out. Then I was thinking . . I should tell someone I’m walking out here because if something gets me, no one will know where I went. Vince was out of town; Chad would probably be happy if I disappeared . . til he needs a tuition check!
As I dumped the bucket into the bin . . the world’s largest rat jumped out. It wasn’t a mouse . . it was a full grown rat! He was huge . . I know he was bigger than Speck. He climbed out the back side of the compost bin and ran into the woods . . with a corn cob in his mouth!
On second thought, I’m liking my garbage disposal more and more. Who needs a compost bin . . we don’t even have a garden! 🙂
Sandy says
I was thinking a compost pile would be a good thing to have. Ditch that idea. I love my garbage disposal too.
Thanks for pointing out the negatives of a compost pile. Who would have thought of rodents?
Judy says
I was just fine reading about Vince’s awesome ideas until I had to scroll down. Shame on you Judy for posting that nasty, icky, gives me the shivers all over, right in front of my face, horrid picture! Eeeeekkkkkkkkk
Nothing, anywhere, is worse than the rodent! yukkk So far I have been lucky that I haven’t seen a rodent at my compost bin but I think my crazed dog keeps them away.
Evelyn says
Compost bins are good things – when they are way far away from your house! I wouldn’t want one on my back step, that is for sure. Don’t put any meat in it – that will attract the rats for sure. Also, my sister always shovels a bit of dirt on the top of hers when she puts new stuff in there. I don’t know why – she just does. So if I ever get a compost bin I will do the same thing! Maybe you should just use your compost bin during the daytime hours when there are less rodents about.
Linda says
Must have been one heck of a rat. Guess I’ve never seen one run with something in it’s mouth…………do you think maybe your neighborhood needs a few cats?? Course if the rats are that big you’d need cougars. LOL
Eileen Keane says
OMG!!! EEWWWWW!!! That is so gross on so many levels. I love my garbagemen; they come twice each week.
Linda H says
Oh, yuck! What an introduction to composting.
You know, I’ve composted off and on for years and not had that happen to me. Of course, most of my compost materials came from the yard in a balanced assortment of dry leaves, green trimmings and the kitchen trimmings. If you are short of dry stuff, you can even use your shredded bills. Yes, keep it away from the house because it will attract the bugs that aid in decompostition, too. Once the earthworms find the pile, the raccoons and skunks might become interested, too. Always something.
Now, if you could imagine a fluffy tail on that rat, you could call it a cute little squirrel!
Julie H. says
Forget the compost pile now that you have chickens. All peels and fruit and veggie scraps can go to the chickens. They’ll be healthier for it. Don’t give them the egg shells. It encourages egg eating.
You can compost the “cleanings” from the chicken coop. Do layer it with weeds/grass clippings and soil (microbes). Evelyn is right, never put any meat/meat byproducts in the compost pile.
Cindy says
I guess the cat could be used to keep the rodents away, but I’m sure against letting a cat roam the neighborhood. I guess it’s different on a farm, but in town it’s just criminal (or ought to be).
I’m half afraid of cats. Unlike dogs, you never know what they’re thinking. He might be THINKING about killing you.
Roberta says
Your chickens will love your vegie peelings. My daughter lives out in the country in Idaho and recently obtained some chickens. On my last vist I made several trips out to where the old girls are to give them treats. I was surprised at how much they loved the potato peels. They made very little work of them.
Pat Wys says
I’m surprised you didn’t have a heart attack…OH MY..get rid of that compost bin…….
Pat
tracey brown says
EEEEEEEEEEEEWWWWWWWWWWWWWW. We could have done without the rat picture, Judy!! Now I feel like I have to poke a fork in my eyes.
pdudgeon says
i’d agree. give the vegetable stuff to the chickens and they can recycle it for you, and put the corn cobs safely in the garbage.
fresh grass and leaves would be ok to compost so long as you keep the pile turned and layered with dirt and chicken coop cleanings, but it has to be worked, turned and fluffed very often to keep it hot and active.
Christine says
STOP! Do not get rid of the compost bin. No meat and no processed stuff goes into the compost. Every few times you dump a pail of peels, eggshells and coffee grounds, throw in a bag of shredded junk mail and occasionally a shovel of dirt. I shred cereal boxes, junk mail, anything paper based and I get the most amazing compost from it. In the fall we run over fallen leaves with the lawn mower to shred them and then layer them into the compost pile. I have one that is a closed 3X3X3 with a lid and then I have my overflow area that is chicken wire on three sides. As the main unit shrinks (composts) I add to it from the auxiliary pile. I slide up the little door on the unit and shovel out this beautiful rich black compost. You can’t buy stuff like this. We don’t ever have rats (knock wood) but we do have raccoons, chipmunks and mice that dig through occasionally but as long as they don’t come near the house who cares. It is worth the trade off to get this beautiful nutrient rich soil for my flower beds and garden.
ruth anne shorter says
Thanks Christine, I didn’t know I could add paper shredded!
dawn says
poor guy has to eat too. Guess you need a cat. LOL