Anyone used the E-Composter?

I know many just work with chicken wire, old pallets, and found items but has anyone used the E-Composter that can be found at the big box stores? Made from recycled plastic it seems and might be the ticket for someone looking for a more finished appearance for their compost bin. Just curious if anyone has any feedback on it.

Jason,

I don't know if you have gotten a composter yet, but last year I bought an Earth Machine for $40 from Metro Nashville Public Works. (I wanted a Compost Tumbler, but it is too expensive for me right now.) It has worked well and I am very happy with it. Last week, I moved it to the other side of my landscaping so I could plant my SFG. I bought some of the compost activator at Lowe's to see if it will help break everything down a little faster. It's taking about 6 to 8 weeks, or so.

I bought a 5 gallon bucket with a top at Walmart and put all of my veggie scraps, eggshells, etc. in to the bucket. When it gets full, I dump it into the Earth Machine with some shredded junk mail and mix it up. My daughter has four guinea pigs, a hamster and some mice, so we have plenty of bedding that can go into the compost too. I'm constantly fussing at my kids for not putting things into the bucket... Just yesterday, I smelled orange peels in the kitchen garbage and started fussing..."Who threw away these orange peels? Put them in the bucket! And who threw these egg shells in here!" (as I'm picking through the garbage...) "Sorry, Mom" my kids say. Okay maybe that's a little overboard...but oh well.

Lydia

I wonder if they will let non Davidson County residents purchase one? Can you share how you heard about it or when they sell them?

I would prefer the tumbler style myself but all the barrels I can get at work are steel. I have been trying to get one of our suppliers to get a plastic barrel for me but so far no luck.

I also have an Earth Machine and I love it! I bought mine through the county (in Ohio) a few years ago. They have sales twice a year here. Check your county's solid waste management website. The Earth Machine works quite well. And my 6-year-old daughter is so well trained that she brings home not only her own banana and orange peels, but other kids' peels, too!

I live in Sumner County. My husband said that when he went to pick it up, they didn't even ask where he lived. Here is the link to the information:

http://www.nashville.gov/beautification/compost/index.asp

Looks like the cost is $45--that might be what I paid.

Excellent, thanks for that link.

You're very welcome.

By the way, across the street from my neighborhood is a shopping center, that contains a DQ, Chick-Fil-a, and a Panera Bread. I went to each of them today and asked if I could have some of their thrown out veggies, coffee grounds, etc., and got a positive response from all of them. In fact the General Mgr at DQ told me to come back on Monday and they would have something for me, and the manager at Panera gave me a card and told me to give them a call on the day I want to pick something up and they would gather things up for me.

The Earth Machine is pretty big, so I need a little help getting it filled up.

Dog gone it! That exact earth composer was on sale at Fred Meyers for $34 two weeks ago. I was looking right at it and thought, it doesn't even have instructions. I hadn't read enough to know how it worked by then. Now I wish I had bought it! Funny thing is, I can tell you took that picture at a home depot not because of the price sticker, but because it is laid out exactly the same as ours.

I have that on my wish list. Seems as good a free standing composter as any. It is neat enough for my suburban yard and larger than any other container I have. In my mind I would like to buy 3 of them to keep for finished, finishing and new.