Compost Tumbler

[goeduck]

Anyone have opinions on compost tumblers? I am looking at something specifically for kitchen vegetable scraps, coffee grounds, etc. for compost to be used in potted plants and raised gardens. I think that I would want a reasonably heavy duty, at least two sided tumbler. While I fill the one side the other is finishing off.

I have started burning my larger debris and am wanting to create lower volume, higher quality compost for tomatoes, herbs, seedling trees, flowers, etc.

 

[tomplum]

Well, we had two when we lived more urban. One of the big green Compost Tumbler brand and one Mantis twin which was the two sided one. We still have the Mantis. I built a smaller tumbler for my MIL and learned that the larger the better as far as building good compost. It isn't a joy to crank these things around. At least I didn't look forward to it. We put them both on pavers to keep the frames healthy. For what you are doing, it could be a good tool. They do compost well and I'm sure keep rodents from actually feasting on the goods, though juices drip out. The best tool since already been sliced bread, probably not.

 

[Industrial Toys]

I got a free plastic barrel that sits on a plastic base with four rollers. I turn it every now and then, which there is no easy way to do, but the contents are just a solid block. I have thought of ways to turn it possibly electrically, but I just have too many projects and it's not a priority.

 

[jaxs]

I am looking at something specifically for kitchen vegetable scraps, coffee grounds, etc. for compost to be used in potted plants and raised gardens.
I have started burning my larger debris and am wanting to create lower volume, higher quality compost for tomatoes, herbs, seedling trees, flowers, etc.

Vermicomposting will turn out higher quality since you don't need a great volume. Here's what I do. Torn up cardboard,shredded office paper,grass clippings and chicken litter go's into a bin with opening on side at bottom where I can use square point shovel to remove oldest material and throw it on top or if material is broken down pretty good, into a second bin with same opening to flip material or transfer it to a tumbler. My tumbler lay's on the ground where I occasionally give it a roll with my foot. Before material is completely broken down,it's moved to a plastic box similar to a 15 gallon tote except has lids on top and bottom. Worms live in the compost and fed kitchen scraps and coffee/tea grinds. Surplus scraps and grinds go to bins and tumbler. When material is totally broken down,top is left open and covered with screen to keep birds out. Within an hour,sunlight drive's worms from near surface and material can be skimmed off and into an identical box and kept moist for a few days. Eggs that were transferred with material will hatch, the open lid-skimming is repeated and material is used or stored for future use. As layers of material are removed over 1 to a few days,worms retreat, form a ball and can be harvested. I sell some,gift some and put some in bins and tumbler. Other than keeping everything moist,I spend very little time managing compost. Winters are mild in Tx but if worms aren't indoors during a rare hard freeze,when weather warm's,eggs hatch and population reestablishes. Decayed material is often removed from bins to be used as mulch.

 

[RalphVa]

I put our kitchen compost into an old (1970ish) plastic garbage can that we had in NJ. Start off with one urinal of urine in the bottom of my little plastic bin I keep in the kitchen in the basement. Empty bags of compost from the main kitchen into it and either pee into it and/or pour more urinal urine into the garbage can. Throw in some "brown" material from my main compost pile beside it. When the garbage can is full, it's pretty much black compost that I then put into the middle of my main compost pile by lifting it and dumping it with my FEL. First scrape off the top of the main compost pile and then remix it all when the kitchen compost gets dumped.

Never felt the need for one of those turning machines. Think they work pretty well though. Don't turn my garbage can, and it turns pretty much into black compost by the time it's full. Just need to do the lasagne layering.

Ralph

 

[jaxs]

After reading Ralph's post I realized I might have left a key element out of my composting method. My old dog routinely lift's a leg on my bins. That may also account for why rodents don't mess with my bins.

 

[GirlWhoWantsTractor]

Anyone have opinions on compost tumblers? I am looking at something specifically for kitchen vegetable scraps, coffee grounds, etc. for compost to be used in potted plants and raised gardens. I think that I would want a reasonably heavy duty, at least two sided tumbler. While I fill the one side the other is finishing off.

I have started burning my larger debris and am wanting to create lower volume, higher quality compost for tomatoes, herbs, seedling trees, flowers, etc.

They work great! It's a smaller volume of compost for sure, but I was really impressed with how fast everything composts compared with the big compost pile in the yard. Don't even think you need the two-sided. We have a large compost pile of yard waste also, but the barrel is way more convenient for dumping vegetable scraps, etc., from the kitchen, as you can put it outside near your kitchen door. Plus the critters can't get to it. I think it's great to have both (the "big pile" and the barrel).

And while we're on the subject, they make a nice little sink-side container you can dump your kitchen waste into (the charcoal filter prevents odor). Then just dump it in your barrel every few days or so.

Here are a few:

Compost Bin

 

[goeduck]

They work great! It's a smaller volume of compost for sure, but I was really impressed with how fast everything composts compared with the big compost pile in the yard. Don't even think you need the two-sided. We have a large compost pile of yard waste also, but the barrel is way more convenient for dumping vegetable scraps, etc., from the kitchen, as you can put it outside near your kitchen door. Plus the critters can't get to it. I think it's great to have both (the "big pile" and the barrel).

And while we're on the subject, they make a nice little sink-side container you can dump your kitchen waste into (the charcoal filter prevents odor). Then just dump it in your barrel every few days or so.

Here are a few:

Compost Bin

Do you have the rotating barrel style? If so, what brand?

 

[jaxs]

"they make a nice little sink-side container you can dump your kitchen waste into"

Frugal old farts like me call them two pound coffee cans.

 

[goeduck]

"they make a nice little sink-side container you can dump your kitchen waste into"

Frugal old farts like me call them two pound coffee cans.

Equipped with the original plastic lid they would probably work pretty good :thumbsup: