Bear-Proof composting...is it possible?

[FirstLight]

I want to start composting and thought I had an easy way to make a normal plastic trash can into a starter bin...BUT I am deep in Bear country and it would just be a nightmare

so should I invest in a "screw-top" can and use that as my bin? or does anyone else have any ideas?

It will have to be something cheap and easy to make, because at this point all I have for resources are scrap wood and what ever else I can salvage from my folks' backyard, thrift store, etc..

I need a Rube-Goldberg solution! lol

[lapfog_1]

1. Might try these suggestions...

"are there bear-proof composters? Unfortunately, we are aware of no bear-proof compost bin on the market. Your best bet is to move your compost bin indoors, choose an indoor composter from our wide selection, or use a worm compost bin."

http://www.compostmanual.com/index.php?id=57&p=49

[dgibby]

13. maybe this will work

google "bear proof trash/garbage containers". I saw something the other day, thought I'd saved it, but guess not. Hope this helps.

[ConcernedCanuk]

2. Out of the box solution - male urine

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Go ahead, google it - but you won't find it on any government site.

Yeah I'm a guy, so it's easy

To the point

Bears won't hang around if they smell male urine

We had bears hanging around the farm last summer, and had heard that they robbed the garden from the previous owners years ago

I saved my urine daily (well, some of it) and spread it around the yard every day or two in the direction the bears were coming from

no more bears

I presume by your nic you are female -

female urine neither attracts or repels bears.

So if'n ya don't have a boyfriend

Invite some girlfriends with guys for some beer,

and show them where to pee!

[BeanCounting]

3. Bottled Ammonia works also

We have the same problem, solved it with pouring bottled ammonia (don't use the lemon scented) into some old coffee cans and setting them around the compost bin. Bears are really put off by this scent apparently. It may be cheaper than supplying the beer for you friends, but not as much fun either.

[FirstLight]

4. I love it! what a crackup..but I have no doubt it works...

Hmmm...I have a male teenager, I should ask him to mark his territory! lol

[ConcernedCanuk]

5. Oh it works alright, over 20 years of camping in bear country, no bears in my campsite

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I picked different spots to splash it around on the bushes, the higher the better,

as the higher it is, the larger the bears think the human is.

And it's not a problem to convince guys to pee outside!

I took kids camping on occasion, even as young as 6 years old, and they quite gleefully declared that they were off "to scare the bears away" as I phrased it.

So yup - ask him to "mark his territory"

or just go

"scare the bears away"

[formercia]

6. P-mail

they got the message.

[ConcernedCanuk]

7. No profile, PLUS an obtuse response - what the hell is P-mail?

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Am I supposed to know?

I don't do "ignore" on anyone

So I'll wait for your response

[formercia]

8. Let me explain it...

Pee-Pee-Mail.

Animals communicate with each other via P-Mail.

My parents were Canucks, so I can understand where you're coming from.

[NMDemDist2]

9. LOL, i got the reference. When our old dog stands and sniffs the wind

we always ask her "Any good smell mail today?"

[formercia]

10. Changing behavior

There was a pack of dogs that used to make the rounds of the neighborhood on a regular basis. One of their routes happened to be right through the middle of my garden.
I watched them and they would always stop at the Elm tree at the end of the driveway to sniff and leave their mark before proceeding through the yard and garden.
I saved up a couple of quarts of pee and let it ferment for a day or so before carefully covering the base of the trunk with a hefty dose.
What happened next was quite comical. I rose before dawn so I could watch the results of the experiment and when the dog pack arrived at the tree, they froze in their tracks, looked around, appearing quite concerned, and then headed off in a completely different direction than their usual path. They never returned.

[ConcernedCanuk]

11. Well that's cool, never thought of using my urine to keep wandering dogs away

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I got a new place to place my pee now!

Let you know how it works out.

[FirstLight]

14. Well, it has been a while, and it is working like a charm!

he "marks" about every other evening, and I have a half a can of compost bubbling in the proofed can (holes on the sides for airflow) and it's working!

*fingers crossed*

[Dont_Bogart_the_Pretzel]

15. pee in a bottle? too weird..

Since I grew up in the sticks, and moving back, I almost "go outside". Although there are no bears in these parts, I still do it. mainly to save fresh well water and I can't stand watching unnecessary waist going down the toilet/septic.

[hipneck]

16. Me too!

Between living in the city (NYC) and the country (Western OR), I spent a few months traveling in a VW camper. By the end of the trip, the idea of smoking tobacco or urinating indoors seemed kind of gross. Now my dog and I go out for a smoke n' pee several times a day (no, the dog doesn't smoke).

In addition to saving water, urine is a good nitrogen fertilizer! My friend lives in an ecovillage where they have signs encouraging you to pee in spots that will be future garden beds.

[Kolesar]

12. Vermiculture in a tub in your kitchen

Get some red wrigglers. I would like to start one next month.