Compost Barrel?

camprn wrote:

AvaDGardner wrote:What surprises me most about this thread is the need to chop up the stuff you throw even into a tumbler compost.

Of course...if you were patient, you could wait it out.

But gardeners = patient?





Ava

To every thing there is a season...

HAAHAHAAAHAAHAAA!

To every thing (turn turn turn) there is a season (turn turn turn)

Everyone turn your compost barrels!

Wolfheart-TN GARDENER is correct, there are two latches and two hinges on the door.

doneal- The pallet bin and the tumbler are two separate systems. In the bin, I just have horse manure from a local stable. In the tumbler I used leaves, grass clippings, a little manure, and kitchen scraps. It's not too hard to turn. I grab the lip on the right hand side of the barrel and turn it. Just have to watch that my fingers don't get pinched between the wheel and the barrel, it hurts a bit . I'll probably make some kind of handle when time permits. There are two baffles inside. One is a flat piece of wood 3" tall, a little shorter than the length of the drum, screwed in place like in a clothes dryer. The other is four pieces of 1/2" threaded rod, 4" long. I used 4 of the air holes to put the rods through with a nut inside and outside. I thought they might help to break up anything that clumps together. I hope all that makes sense, if not, just ask.

Too Tall- Thanks. It's not totally my idea. I searched around the web looking at different styles and took some ideas from each.

GG- No reason to make it any higher than what you need. Good luck building it.

You did a great job designing that, Rob. I'm sure you took other ideas and made it your own. I especially like how you designed the frame that the barrel sits on, so your wheelbarrow can roll right under it and you just dump the contents in once the compost is ready. Very ingenious! I WANT ONE!!! Someday...someday...just add it to the honey-do list...

I saw some plastic trash cans at lowes for fifteen dollars each. Could I use these if I drilled holes in the sides and when I rolled it around, attached the lid with bungee chords? Suggetions?

rschack wrote:I saw some plastic trash cans at lowes for fifteen dollars each. Could I use these if I drilled holes in the sides and when I rolled it around, attached the lid with bungee chords? Suggetions?

Yes, I have 2 garbage can composters. I also put some long bolts in some of the holes to help stir up the compostbles while rolling. There were instructions posted in late 2010 I think. I used 1 can full started last spring to replenish a bed before planting strawberries this spring.

Kay

Great Now I won't have to spend $100 on a container that I will be throwing rotten vegetables peels into, haha . Although if I did put a little more money into it, it would probably be much easier to manage.

rschack wrote:Great Now I won't have to spend $100 on a container that I will be throwing rotten vegetables peels into, haha . Although if I did put a little more money into it, it would probably be much easier to manage.

I found the link.

https://squarefoot.forumotion.com/t4557-18-compost-bin

You need at least 2, one for fresh stuff and 1 to just roll around after it is about 3/4 full until finished.

Kay

Thank you. Hopefully i will have the time soon to make this.

are you not concerned that the casters will rust?

Rob C wrote:Here's two pictures of my tumbler. I've only been using it for a few weeks but it seems to be working, things are getting hot inside. I turn it once or twice a week.
PS- That's my neighbors fence (not mine) that looks like it's ready to fall down

are you not concerned that the casters will rust?

They are cheap casters from Harbor Freight. They will eventually rust but I figure they will last quite a while before they become useless.

Rob C wrote:are you not concerned that the casters will rust?

They are cheap casters from Harbor Freight. They will eventually rust but I figure they will last quite a while before they become useless.

If you coat the castors with Vaseline they might get dirty but they will last a while longer.