Compost!

Today we built a compost bin! Hooray, no more storing compost in the metal trash can that got all stinky and full of fruit flies. Despite some disagreement on the design (see creative use of found wood), it turned out okay, I think. I did accidentally disrupt an Argentine ant nest in the process of moving my small pile of yard clippings and leaves into the bin. I feel about 5% bad about that.


Really, I only feel 5% bad about killing a bunch of ants and ant larvae (and disrupting their home) because I read Elizabeth Kolbert's review of Jonathan Safran Foer's new book about vegetarianism. Of course, I don't eat meat (and less and less eggs & cheese, these days) but, well, there is this awkward question about where to draw that line, right? I've seen video of Argentine ants interacting with other insects, waging hostile takeovers, etc, so, how bad to they feel right now? What about when I go to turn the compost?

But, honestly, if they invade my house then it's war.

In other news, lots is going on in the garden. Anything that looks noteworthy on flickr is a start from the nursery, but the seeds are coming along. Who knew that hours of sunlight was such an important factor? Oh, wait. I did. Doh.