Been playing with getting a closed terrarium going in a large glass growler. I put in the various layers of substrate "by the book" but I'm winging it as far as populating it. I tossed in a few grass seeds and they all sprouted. There is some moss and some small plum and cedar branches, some oak leaves and pine needles, a few rose hips, and even some lichen, all gathered from near my house. Oh, and a kidney bean, because beans sprout anywhere and I want to see what happens.
There is already a springtail population getting established. I may toss in a few isopods, though I'd likely have to buy them and I'd prefer to gather what I can over bringing in foreign life. Gonna give it a few weeks and see what else appears.
It was pretty dumb to make my first attempt such a large container, especially one that's only got a one inch hole to put everything in, but it's all for fun and for learning. I'm finding myself spending more time than expected staring into it, watching tiny little critters crawling about.
While out gathering the moss I walked to the edge of the valley and looked right into the face of a deer, calmly staring back from maybe 35 feet away in the brush on the hillside. I said hello and asked how she was doing. After a little while she calmly turned and, in just a few steps, disappeared into the trees.
Have I mentioned that I love my life in the boonies?
There is already a springtail population getting established. I may toss in a few isopods, though I'd likely have to buy them and I'd prefer to gather what I can over bringing in foreign life. Gonna give it a few weeks and see what else appears.
It was pretty dumb to make my first attempt such a large container, especially one that's only got a one inch hole to put everything in, but it's all for fun and for learning. I'm finding myself spending more time than expected staring into it, watching tiny little critters crawling about.
While out gathering the moss I walked to the edge of the valley and looked right into the face of a deer, calmly staring back from maybe 35 feet away in the brush on the hillside. I said hello and asked how she was doing. After a little while she calmly turned and, in just a few steps, disappeared into the trees.
Have I mentioned that I love my life in the boonies?