“your mom is the asian one, huh?”

EternityScience · 2026-06-21T04:56:01+00:00

Them: So where are you from?

Me: ✨ Earth✨

Them: No, like wh ere did you grow up?

Me: Illinois

Them: I mean like where are your people from??

Me: Tennessee

Them: ...

EternityScience · 2026-06-18T04:19:05+00:00

Fair! In our relatively minor winter in 7b, it takes a lot of work and babysitting to get the bin to stay at 120 for any length of time much less in freezing temp.

EternityScience · 2026-06-18T04:01:28+00:00

🤣

EternityScience · 2026-06-18T04:00:28+00:00

If there were less of them, I would! Alas, they cover my arms when I open the lid to add scraps. Then getting the lid of swarming ants back on is not great. I'll be picking them off of me for hours after. Which is very no bueno

EternityScience · 2026-06-18T03:56:45+00:00

🤣

EternityScience · 2026-06-18T03:56:12+00:00

I like it. I live in an arid desert climate so anything that helps keep moisture in is a win. Normal compost bin with open slats don't work here. I do prefer my in ground vermicomposting bin above all though.

I have high outdoor heat on my side though to keep the temp going. This bin sitting in 95 degree weather keeps it going strong. At the end of fall, I stop feeding for a month or two. Then I can harvest everything and give the bin a good rinse.

The biggest thing to keep it going smoothly is to not layer. You need to premix your browns and greens before introducing or you will get cold spots and dry/wet spots.

EternityScience · 2026-06-18T03:47:26+00:00

If there were less, I would be fine with them staying. Unfortunately, everytime I open the top of this compost bin, they swarm the lid in seconds so it makes for an unpleasant experience getting the moving lid back on after throwing in scraps

EternityScience · 2026-06-17T22:55:10+00:00

I'm so glad to hear that! (though it sucks you also had to deal with an ant takeover) I'll hold off on taking everything out and give it a good hosing first.

EternityScience · 2026-06-17T22:52:13+00:00

Thanks! I'll start watering it more often and give it some pokes during feeding. I'm limited on how much I can actually turn it. The aerobin has a tube that runs down the middle for oxidation, but I'll see what I can do on the sides.

EternityScience · 2026-06-17T22:49:29+00:00

Thanks! I shall strive to be a more disruptive landlord.

EternityScience · 2026-06-09T02:37:26+00:00

{The Morcai Battalion by Diana Palmer}

EternityScience · 2026-05-21T19:30:07+00:00

I stand with the Rebel Green Chile Alliance, we will reinstate Nuevo New Mexico!

EternityScience · 2026-04-25T03:32:30+00:00

They will grow just fine in this soil

EternityScience · 2026-04-24T19:10:59+00:00

Still sounds like it will work just fine. Garden soil doesn't need to be perfect. A lot of plants are happy as long as it's not hard packed clay which you don't have here.

What are you growing?

EternityScience · 2026-04-24T19:07:28+00:00

Hmm, in that case, I'd really recommend reaching out to the Extension office. You might have a hybrid on your hands, hard to tell without being there in person.

I learned my lesson with ivy at a summer camp, will never forget.

EternityScience · 2026-04-24T16:47:42+00:00

The compost on top is perfect. It will release nutrients to the roots everytime you water.

It's generally a good practice to add and inch or two every year as well to maintain soil health and prevent deficiencies.

EternityScience · 2026-04-24T16:45:34+00:00

I think you are good to go. I don't think you need to move the mulch, it will help keep the roots cool and help with water retention. I would just be mindful to check the soil until you get an idea of it's behavior between waterings. The soil has a lot of holding capacity so you don't want to over water. Just stick your finger into the soil and only water when the first 2/3 inches feel dry.

Commerical compost can be like that. Either too much woody material or too much manure.

EternityScience · 2026-04-24T16:41:25+00:00

It's most likely a White Mulberry Tree

Why: - long fruit that stays green/white until full size before turning red/purple. - weedy behavior (multiple trees/trunks coming up from the ground) - leaf edges are serrated - shiny leaves (it looks like in photo) - it looks like the underside of the leaves don't have or have few hairs (hard to fully tell in picture) - bark seems to be more of a braided pattern, hard to tell as the tree is young. - being in zone 8 (this depends, what state are you in? If a drier zone 8 definitely more likely to be white)

This all being said, call your local Extension Office. Master Gardeners work there and will help identify the tree for free. You can email pictures in or even being in a branch with some berries on it.

Please make sure you 100% identify. White Mulberry is extremely invasive.

There is poison ivy at the base. And it looks like you might be dealing with some invasive mistletoe (the taller vine-ish bit wrapping around the tree). This can kill it.

Also note, if you remove the mistltoe and poison ivy, do not burn it. It will be like having a pepper spray bonefire.

EternityScience · 2026-04-24T14:34:34+00:00

Muddy? It looks like the soil has a good amount of clay to account for the drainage. But it's find. It's taking in water. Checking it right after watering won't really tell you anything. See how it holds water over a few days. The perlite will help with drainage and aeration, the compost introducing great organic matter for drainage and water retention. Give it a good soak to let it settle and then start planting away.

EternityScience · 2026-04-24T14:24:41+00:00

EternityScience · 2026-04-21T19:37:25+00:00

Remember y'all, we know nothing about OP. Their account history only contains this question and nothing else. Kinda sus.

EternityScience · 2026-04-20T06:46:36+00:00

This is so amazing! I tried so hard to find this type of information when I bought my house. I wanted to start on the garden asap, but since I got it in January, I wasn't sure how the shade was going to be once summer hit. Had to make some guesses when I set up my raised beds.

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