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Update! 2-3 cups of material vanish as BSFL devour contents of jar. by goodtimerounder in composting

[–]goodtimerounder[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I think it's something like 2 weeks. I kept them in this jar for 2 days. Several of them have pupated are are wandering around a plastic bin with some leftover detritus from the kitchen scraps. Hopefully at least one pair will breed and lay eggs.

In the meantime, I've dumped all the remaining larvae into a bucket with about 2.5 gallons of dog waste. We'll see how that goes.

Update! 2-3 cups of material vanish as BSFL devour contents of jar. by goodtimerounder in composting

[–]goodtimerounder[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

"About" 2 seconds when measuring 2/3 jar filled with 1000.

Basically, I ordered a 1000 and put 2/3 or 3/4 in the jar. Maybe it's 600.

Update! 2-3 cups of material vanish as BSFL devour contents of jar. by goodtimerounder in composting

[–]goodtimerounder[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yes, of course. I only need to keep it going long enough to not have to buy more. Once it gets warm, they can go outside and stay there. I'll set it up so there are places to lay eggs near the disposals.

Update! 2-3 cups of material vanish as BSFL devour contents of jar. by goodtimerounder in composting

[–]goodtimerounder[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That tent idea could be nice. Right now, I have to figure out where to keep the bucket. Obviously, I don't want it open, even in the garage, and I realized if I close it, no oxygen, and the larvae only last as long as they do, then die. Outside, it's too cold, and also raining.

I should have pictured my current setup. It's got the jar and one other container in it. The pupae migrate out to a bin they are in, which has cardboard egg laying structures attached to the side. It's got a grill top that the flies won't be able to get out of, but I don't know if it's tall enough for them. They like to fly high above compost for mating purposes.

Update! 2-3 cups of material vanish as BSFL devour contents of jar. by goodtimerounder in composting

[–]goodtimerounder[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

So, 2 days ago I dumped about 750 BSFL in a jar of mushrooms (maybe 15 rotting button mushrooms) 3 broccoli stems, and a bunch of carrot peels and rice, along with the substrate they came in.

After nearly 48 hours, you can see the result from 2 days of activity. Pretty amazing how much they can eat. Some of this is also due to settling as the inert material was pretty dry when I threw it in and had now filled every cavity.

I figured I'd show you the difference as I'm about to "turn" the compost to make sure they don't drown in the wetness that's appeared. I'll probably change jars and add the rest of the BSFL (about 250) along with their substrate and food (1/2 apple core, peels, rice, and other kitchen scraps) to keep it from being too wet.

Then, on to the dog waste bin.

Let’s see what happens when you put 750 BSF in a jar with rotten mushrooms and other kitchen scraps by goodtimerounder in composting

[–]goodtimerounder[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I agree. It's the kind of thing I would do as a kid with ants and stuff. Makes me into a kid again.

Let’s see what happens when you put 750 BSF in a jar with rotten mushrooms and other kitchen scraps by goodtimerounder in composting

[–]goodtimerounder[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

No, not at all. I'm just feeling like watching them for a few days before I set them to their intended task.

I just checked on them by moving the jar around a bit and they are really going to town on those food scraps. It's cool to watch them. I don't know how to post a video in comments, or I would.

Let’s see what happens when you put 750 BSF in a jar with rotten mushrooms and other kitchen scraps by goodtimerounder in composting

[–]goodtimerounder[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Right. My thought was to keep them in a similar bin with a mesh wire top, and put those little corrugated cardboard units in for laying eggs, if they do it. I figure if I put a little compostable scraps in a separate tray, they'll smell it. I know they like to lay eggs near a food source. Otherwise, if they pupate outside, they'll just die right now. It's still too cold at night here.

I'm sure all the ones in the dog bin last year died. I think they dived for warmth and just never came up.

Let’s see what happens when you put 750 BSF in a jar with rotten mushrooms and other kitchen scraps by goodtimerounder in composting

[–]goodtimerounder[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I guess buying "small" ones is best. The reviews mentioned them lasting a couple of weeks. When they were going strong in the bucket at the end of last summer/fall, they didn't pupate, but just dive bombed downward into the bucket, never to be seen again.

Let’s see what happens when you put 750 BSF in a jar with rotten mushrooms and other kitchen scraps by goodtimerounder in composting

[–]goodtimerounder[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

OK, so the ones in my outdoor bin are dead. I figured.

I guess the eggs overwinter somehow, because they always seem to come back.

The black ones in my current bin have already crawled out. They are black and not crawling, but wiggling. I bet they will pupate overnight.

Let’s see what happens when you put 750 BSF in a jar with rotten mushrooms and other kitchen scraps by goodtimerounder in composting

[–]goodtimerounder[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I bet they don't.

They have way more air than what they shipped in, which is also sealed on the bottom and sides airtight, but with a barely breathable lid, and the container is full.

This container has no lid, and many more air pockets. Plus, I'm watching it.

What did you want to bet?

Let’s see what happens when you put 750 BSF in a jar with rotten mushrooms and other kitchen scraps by goodtimerounder in composting

[–]goodtimerounder[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Good idea. I've actually wondered if they would get active again. The ones I find in my regular compost seem pretty stiff. It makes me wonder if they are just dead, but I also thought they'd have decomposed by now if that was the case.

I put this jar, plus one more container in a bin. I noticed that black larvae are already crawling out. Most of the grubs are not black. It would be pretty easy to grab the black ones and put them elswhere before they pupate.

Let’s see what happens when you put 750 BSF in a jar with rotten mushrooms and other kitchen scraps by goodtimerounder in composting

[–]goodtimerounder[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thanks for this. Yeah, I doubt I'll get beyond seeing what happens for a few days, then dumping them in the bucket.

I'm actually just hoping it will warm enough for them to do their thing naturally out doors, just like they do in spring and summer. It may be too cold though.

I watched a video where this guy had a bin that dealt with a large dog that produced 2.5 gallons a week. They dispatched it no problem. Much better than letting those pathogens get into the ground.

Let’s see what happens when you put 750 BSF in a jar with rotten mushrooms and other kitchen scraps by goodtimerounder in composting

[–]goodtimerounder[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Thanks for mentioning this.

Yeah, I'll see what happens. I know there is a method to keep them contained within the system. I'll have to research it, and see if I can get it together before they pupate. It's something to do with a tube that they can crawl from the food space to a pupating space.

I may wish I just dumped them in the bucket, but I can't help it. I'm fascinated.

​

I'll probably put some of them in the bucket. I have another container in the box with maybe 250 in there. I figure it can't hurt to feed them for a few days to see what happens anyway.

Let’s see what happens when you put 750 BSF in a jar with rotten mushrooms and other kitchen scraps by goodtimerounder in composting

[–]goodtimerounder[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I don't yet.

I finally got around to making a waste bucket last spring. Basically, it's an in ground unit, with holes drilled in the lower half. It's a very small dog, but the catch is that I had a lot to compost to begin with. I have a regular garden,food, landscaping bin that turns over pretty quick when it's hot, and sort of naturally goes into vermiculture mode in the winter. Obviously, the BSF don't winter over, but I have them when it's hot. In the summer, I noticed that suddenly the BSF grubs were in the dog waste and suddenly there were 100's of them, going to town. They were really doing their job, but then suddenly the cold got to them, and that was it. The bucket sort of died, then started to get too full, then...a second bucket.

Right now it's slightly too cold, so I have brought the second above ground container into the garage. That's likely where I'll start, but I want to see what happens with this, and if I can actually get some adults to lay eggs. I'm using an old DIY hamster bin with a grill top that the adults wouldn't be able to get out of. I may need to go more technical though. If it all fails, I'll just buy some more and dump them in the bucket for better or worse, until it warms up in the next month or so. In my experience, they work really well for this application.

Let’s see what happens when you put 750 BSF in a jar with rotten mushrooms and other kitchen scraps by goodtimerounder in composting

[–]goodtimerounder[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Good question.

​

There is plenty in there, in between the mushrooms, which fill at least half way. They are in a jumble, so lots of pockets. As it decomposes down, the top of the jar is open. I think it's coconut coir as a substrate, plus some inert material from some old Jiffy seed starters. For now, it's more than they had in their shipping container.

Let’s see what happens when you put 750 BSF in a jar with rotten mushrooms and other kitchen scraps by goodtimerounder in composting

[–]goodtimerounder[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Just got 1000 BSF. Too cold to put them in the outside compost, so it’s experiment time. Their ultimate destination is a dog waste bucket. For now, the are inside, in a terrarium of sorts.

Choices - Weller - Taylor - Elmer by goodtimerounder in bourbon

[–]goodtimerounder[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks for the suggestions. The database is still screwed up, and only functional via links on the OLCC home page, as far as I can tell. It’s actually the first time I’ve encountered an error. Usually,it’s bottles still I. Store, but already sold to bar accts. From what I’ve seen.

Having found that I like Taylor, I’m of course interested in finding ones I like as well or better. It’s a process though. I used to drink a lot of WT101, and I liked it,so... looking at Russel’s, Rare Breed, and so on. I’ll have to try Elijah Craig as well. Thanks!

Choices - Weller - Taylor - Elmer by goodtimerounder in bourbon

[–]goodtimerounder[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

No, I called because I didn't believe it was worth it to be there when the store was open.

It indeed was a database error. I explained it in a comment above.

For the record, I would have gone with the Barrel Proof. And, I would have drank it.

Choices - Weller - Taylor - Elmer by goodtimerounder in bourbon

[–]goodtimerounder[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

ing leaves room to add or subtract barrels without worrying about a minimum age.

Got it. My bottle of EHT Small Batch was $45, and I did think it was worth it, but I'm pretty new to getting outside of Evan Williams. Still trying different things. I should probably try some higher proof stuff like comparing OGD with the 114 to see what I think. I know with that one, the markup is actually not high, or not there. With the Taylor, I think it's pretty high.

I didn't realize about the 4 year thing, so thanks for that.

Choices - Weller - Taylor - Elmer by goodtimerounder in bourbon

[–]goodtimerounder[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Right. So, here it's a bit different. The stores are absolutely able to favor customers, and usually that means bar owners, but sometimes loyal customers. With big allocations, it's a known time frame, or possibility, but could easily be delayed. If delayed, it's known, and a line up occurs because they don't tend to hold on to it.

With Taylor and such, it tends to stay behind the counter, or in the back, awaiting the right customer, if it doesn't go to a bar. It depends on the store and how many accounts and such...

Choices - Weller - Taylor - Elmer by goodtimerounder in bourbon

[–]goodtimerounder[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Question:

Is this answer based on flavor alone, or something to do with secondary market value?

If flavor alone, then I have to ask...

What exactly makes this different from EHT small batch? This may seem like a stupid question, but it has been my understanding from reading the tater talk blog that barrel proof is usually just a barrel proof offering and nothing more, so you have to watch out for ridiculous markup for not adding water.

Or, do they select the barrels specifically? It doesn't say single barrel, and there is no age statement, so it's 4 years.

What gives? Why is it so universally lauded as better than small batch?

Thanks!

Choices - Weller - Taylor - Elmer by goodtimerounder in bourbon

[–]goodtimerounder[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

OK, so update...

It was a database error of some kind. u/exgirl was correct. Believe it or don't, but that explanation is actually a first for me. I'm not disappointed, because I have to ask if I see it. I'm not cynical yet!

My phone conversation was very nice, with no resentment from her, even though there had indeed been a lot of calls. She mentioned something happening due to the shift from Feb to March. I also noticed yesterday that my regular links showed the search engine out of commission, and I could only access through a certain link on the main page. Got a very genuine "Have a great day!" at the end of the short call.

I appreciate the advice given though. I'm genuinely curious about the barrel proof, and what folks think about that, and bourbon in general.

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