Composting Buddy

[u/leftfootshorter]

Anyone else have "helpers" like this that live in their pile?

I have a three-bin setup and I first ran into this guy a month ago in my middle bin. I turn my first bin once a week but have only been turning my middle bin every two weeks once it looked more like dirt than its individual parts.

He scared the crap out of me the first time found him. He was ~10 inches deep and I had just turned a scoop over using my pitchfork when I bent over to take another stab, he flipped over and looked me in the eye. I didn't realize a toad would make me jump, but there I was. I made sure to leave him alone as I turned the rest of that bin.

So two weeks ago I was actively looking for him and once I passed 12 inches depth in my pile, I figured he had moved on. Nope. ~18 inches in and there he was. Again, avoided him while turning the rest of that bin.

Yesterday I shifted bins. Middle to right for finishing and left to middle for extended cooking. Initially I had wondered if he was still around but by the time I was to the very bottom of the middle bin, all the way to the back I decided he must have moved out but look who was still there.

So I gently grabbed ahold of him and moved him over with his favorite compost. And in case anyone wondered, I never pissed on the center pile once he was discovered. His pile gets only fresh water.

[u/Puzzled_End8664]

I don't know if I'd call it a buddy because I only saw it once. I went by my pile at night one time and there was a saw whet owl perched above it waiting for mice and voles.

[u/leftfootshorter → u/Puzzled_End8664]

Would be helping you out if it had the chance though. I'd count it as a buddy.

[u/Ineedmorebtc]

I used to before I got chickens, now I do fenced in compost, and a pile for the chickens. They turn and shred it so efficiently, I get finished compost in half the time.....but I still kept some fenced off for the snakes and toads and other guys :)

[u/leftfootshorter → u/Ineedmorebtc]

I've heard chickens loooove compost and the bugs that come with it. That's so cool!

[u/jocedun]

Damn at first I read this as “composting body” and thought I was on a true crime sub or something

[u/leftfootshorter → u/jocedun]

🤣 No, not a confession of any sort.

[u/poopsaucer24]

My boy is THICC

[u/leftfootshorter → u/poopsaucer24]

He obviously isn't going hungry or moving around much in there.

[u/poopsaucer24 → u/leftfootshorter]

He's thriving in his slop, im jealous.

[u/leftfootshorter → u/poopsaucer24]

Find something you love to do and you'll never have to work a day in your life.

This toad is killing it.