Keeping ants, etc out of a passive composting pile?

Question

I'm starting just a passive composting pile (until I can build/buy a real bin) -- is there anything I can do to keep the ants and other critters out of it? I live in an urban setting so I know once warmer weather comes that it'll be mighty appealing for those guys -- especially the food scraps. Right now, I just have it covered with a tarp and it's mostly leaves and plant matter.

Answer 1

surely they are doing no harm, and aiding the composting process. they will bring in fungi and stuff, can only be good.

Answer 2

Unless you have the compost in your living room, there should be no reason why ants can't live in it. If you want a more orderly composting method for food, get a worm bin. If you want regular compost and don't want rats in it, put metal mesh at the bottom, so they cannot burrow up. I consider the varmints in my compost a "plus". When I used to let my cats out (they stay inside now), they'd stare at the compost bin for hours. I found out that there was a family of field mice living in it. Free kitty dinner theater!

Answer 3

Ive heard that if you put cornmeal around, they will eat that and then die because they cant digest it. So, just make a small circle around it with the cornmeal.

Answer 4

Some herbs that will keep ants away are catnip, pennyroyal, peppermint, sage, and spearmint. Scattering the leaves of these plants in areas of your house where you've seen ants may keep them away. Tansy will work on sugar ants -- the ones you see in your kitchen.