How to Build a Tumbling Composter



Posted: Tuesday, April 21, 2009

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The bacteria need oxygen to carry out the aerobic respiration that creates rich compost. One way to aerate your compost is with a pitchfork or a compost turning tool. If you keep your compost in a tumbler, however, all you have to do is turn the container. Since most compost barrels can be expensive, you may be interested in building your own for much less money and an hour of your time.


Finished frame build a wooden saw buck to support the compost barrel. Create a mixing fin inside the barrel to help turn the compost when the drum is rotated. Fill your drum composter with leaves or other compostable material, and allow your new "garden helper" to do its job. You will want to rotate the drum a few times every day or so, depending on the outdoor temperature. The dark color will absorb light and raise the temperature of your compost. Tumblers also discourage wild animals from foraging in the compost you are trying to create. Tumblers also increase the chances that you will be able to maintain compost that is neither too wet nor too dry edit. Cut a hole in the side of the barrel large enough to accommodate a shovel to mix the compost. This basic tumbler can be rolled around after new compost has been added and every few days to increase the decomposition rate. However, this modest compost tumbler may not satisfy homeowners with large amounts of compost or those who regularly use their compost tumbler.

For these homeowners, they should consider building a compost tumbler with a few extra features. One great feature is a stand for the tumbler that allows you to turn, rather than roll the tumbler. Consider adding bars to the interior of the tumbler. Compost tumblers should be filled with a wide variety of organic matter. Lawn clippings, vegetable and fruit scraps, even newspaper can be added to create compost. Always add water after adding composting materials or after several days, add some water to add in the decomposition. The compost tumbler should drain quickly if you over water it, but try to avoid wasting water in this manner. A barrel that is too full will inhibit the quick rate of decomposition for which tumblers are prized for. Tumblers are used for safe and reliable alternative to tossing out household scraps. Occasionally there are tumblers that appear shaped like a keg of beer, they are a hard shape to describe in words.

Little tips

Such a barrier will do a good job keeping raccoons and skunks away, but insects and rodents will often be able to sneak through very small openings, and snakes may also move into the pile to feed on them. Instead, you may want to feed your sticks through a wood chipper to get the most surface area and the fastest decomposition. Animals and pests are often attracted to the smell of rotting garbage. If you put a lot of green waste into your compost pile, it can be a very good idea to put fresh waste near the bottom and under sticks or thorns. You can make nature's best, complete fertilizer from your own grass clippings, leaves and kitchen scraps. Now stop dreaming and get ready to start composting with your very own compost bin. For more information on gardening go to www.Teegoes.org


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