This includes fleas, mites, lice, ants, millipedes, earwigs, cockroaches, silverfish, bed bugs, crickets, cockroaches, centipedes, pill bugs, sow bugs, most beetles, fungus gnat larvae, and some grubs. While it doesn’t outright kill them, many snails and slugs do not like to crawl over DE (and it slows them down), so it can be used as a protective barrier or deterrent. We add a light dusting of DE under the wood shaving bedding in our chicken coop to prevent mites and lice.  Diatomaceous earth is not effective against caterpillars such as cabbage worms. Because of their thick gooey mucus layer that helps them travel safely through gritty soil, DE does not harm earthworms either. That means you can safely use a light dusting of DE in a worm compost bin that has become infested with mites, fungus gnats, or ants. Diatomaceous earth is considered relatively safe for bees – when it is applied correctly, in moderation, and not in direct contact with them.  Is DE Safe for Humans, or to Use Around Pets? The good news is, DE is proven to be almost completely safe around humans, mammals, and wildlife! Chemically, DE is pure silicon dioxide (SiO2) and is non-toxic. In fact, diatomaceous earth is commonly used in the food and beverage industry for grain storage and beer or wine filters. It is often fed to dogs, cats, and…

Making compost is one of those things that’s an art and a science. But believe me, it’s really not that difficult especially once you’ve decided what type of composter you are going to use. Even if you don’t follow the strict layering and greens to browns ratios (which I don’t), you can still get perfectly good compost. Making Compost: Quicker and Easier Here are some general tips that will help you out: You don’t want a bin with too many or large holes; the compost will dry out at the edges. You don’t want a completely closed bin either (unless you’re using a Bokashi system) or else your compost heap will not be able to breathe. If making compost in your own wood enclosure make sure the wood isn’t chemically treated; especially if using pallets – use the ones with the letters HT (heat-treated) not MB (chemically treated). You don’t want all those chemicals leaching into your compost then into your garden. If using wood to make an enclosure for the pile, line the bottom with bricks not wood. Because the wood on the bottom will eventually rot. It’s better if your pile sits on soil and not a hard surface. This will help it get colonized faster by the necessary critters and prevent smelly and staining buildup on the floor. Making Compost: Trouble shooting compost problems If your heap becomes too…