What should you consider when buying a tumbler? Also, take care to make an excellent ratio of added material. How much time you will rotate your unit will depend on its model. Rainwater? If perfect finished compost is damp, does it hurt to dry it out before storing? What have they given me in return? It sounds like the problem is that you’re mixing too often. Shall I add soil? Often made from recycled plastics, the barrel is filled with organic yard and kitchen wastes. As if I couldn’t grow enough of my own…. For years, I composted in heaps. I am in Zone State 10 to 12 based on Seasons, the above ration works all year around for my compost bin. A compost tumbler is a sealed container that makes composting simpler and faster. Also, are you covering the compost with brown material after you turn it? The most ambitious gardener on our block has a commercial, multi-tiered home composting bin and he’s constantly comparing the results (my tumbler — the EZ Tumbler, see above — works more quickly, I suspect because I show it more attention; and delivers a larger volume of compost on completion, though he claims a constant, but small supply is always waiting at the bottom of his bin). Naturally, you’ll want to position your tumbler strategically so that the finished product is unloaded close to where it will be used. Galina I’d be shredding all the leaves etc through the lawn mower and add a shovel or dirt in there. Most barrels will take the grass clippings from a moderate sized yard with ease, depending on your mowing habits or how tall you let your lawn get. The darker the tumbler, the more it will heat up. Such results are obtained by turning the piles as frequently as the tumblers (every couple days) and constantly applying moisture to the piles, something tumblers don’t require. Excess moisture can then leak out of the vents. Take care of the carbon and nitrogen balance, moisture level, and the temperature, and you will be astonished by fantastic results. You have to check out this Compost Wizard from The Rain Barrel Depot. I’ve never seen so many parts. Or looking at ways to minimize food waste? And the temperature is low (not even in the active zone). To get the same results from traditional compost piles as from a tumbler requires significantly more work. Some tumblers load and unload from the same access. The compost tumbler does have some advantages over compost piles, especially for smaller yards in urban environments. Carbon-rich brown materials are needed to balance out the nitrogen-rich green ingredients in the compost tumbler. Collect your green waste. I’m getting a tumble composter tonight!! In a case that your compost cools too much, you should add manure or ingredients which can increase the level of nitrogen fast and provide more heat in a short period. Making small pieces of waste you want to use for composting will help the activity of the microbes and speed the whole… After that period, start with a regular spinning, especially if the temperature outside is low. There are a lot of reasons to use a compost tumbler, especially if you want to produce high-quality compost. Read your article and am starting the adventure. I collect my kitchen waste in a large bowl, when it is about half full I add water and use my stick blender to emulsify, then add that to the tumbler. The sealed container also helps contain the heat generated by the composting process, thereby speeding the process of converting kitchen and yard waste into compost. This ceramic container looks so good there's no need to hide it under the sink. Else? Even in cloudy weather. No longer do I wait several seasons to have rich, rewarding, garden-ready organic material to spread around my plants, add to my growing containers and enrich my precious, precious soil. But adding more material sets the process back and you might find unfinished carrot peeling or chopped celery garnishing your compost when it’s otherwise complete. A faster-composting process which is easier than traditional methods of composting, Less hard working since you just need to turn the material regularly by using a convenient handle, Effective elimination of waste from your house, Saving money for buying expensive fertilizers to maintain your garden. A household size composter for daily amounts of kitchen and household throw outs — finished compost in 4-6 weeks! If you’re composting mostly kitchen scraps and only small amounts of yard waste, you’ll want one of the smaller barrels or, again, because of the carbon-nitrogen ratio, you’ll choose to use another method altogether. Mine also sits outside all winter in Northern MN with no issues. Now’s the time to spread the results. I have the same type of tumbler as you and I’ve been churning out a good amount of rich compost with this method. — which can be a safe, nutrient-rich amendment when applied to the base of plants during watering. The original leaves, grass clippings and kitchen scraps have given up their identities to become dark, rich humus with good clumping ability (no too much moisture), texture and particle size. This is my first year of composting and will have a learning curve I'm sure, but it's been fun, and my co-workers are interested how it's working, so I might be encouraging more future composter's . First, how much compostable organic material do you produce? On the other hand, in the areas with lots of rain, you need a tumbler which will keep your compost away from getting soggy. Load it to capacity, add inoculant — something to jumpstart the process with the needed microbes such as a spadeful of garden soil, manure, a commercial activator or already finished compost — and turn it every couple days. No need for a pitchfork when you use a compost tumbler. Choose compost tumblers that are well-vented. I had tons of flies and started covering it with brown material after reading online and found that the flies went away really fast after that. Mantis compost tumblers require minimal maintenance. The content because high temperature will increase breaking down the compost didn ’ grow... — which can be rotated or turned quickly ( i do Wrong? ) Writer of the most physically aspects. A minimal amount of material monthly neighbors come over and want to pee in your tumbler but most tolerate! What difference does the compost with brown material after you stop adding new ingredients good how to use a compost tumbler will assure that compost... 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