How I compost using a Tumbler

Simso 1/29/2023, 12:39 am

I see quite a few questions asked re how to make compost, been lucky never had a problem making it.

Thought I would share how I do it, pretty much the same as every one else at a guess,

But will show the before during and after

Simso 1/29/2023, 12:49 am

I just use a rolling tumbler

Simso 1/29/2023, 12:50 am

I have four chickens, so I take couple of shovels full of dried chicken poop and put that into the tumbler about 20 litres all up

Simso 1/29/2023, 12:52 am

I prune some of the trees for the mix

Simso 1/29/2023, 12:53 am

Run those prunings through a shredder, I typically will fill the container underneath two times, which gives me about 80 litres of tree prunings, which I add into the mix

Simso 1/29/2023, 12:57 am

Then I mow the lawns and add 4 buckets of fresh grass

Simso 1/29/2023, 12:58 am

The finally a 10 litre container of water

Simso 1/29/2023, 1:00 am

I rotate the roller twice a week, wednesday and sunday

After about 6weeks i have compost, sometimes it may take as little as 4 and other times up to 8 weeks

Simso 1/29/2023, 1:01 am

If i grab a handful of the mix, it clumps up

Simso 1/29/2023, 1:03 am

Then finally, I transfer all my compost into a container and everybody uses it as needed

Start process again

OhioGardener 1/29/2023, 8:27 am

Thanks for a good tutorial on your compost making activity. I do a very similar thing, but using food scraps from several neighbors, fruit & vegetable pulp from juice bars, coffee grounds, and pine pellets for browns. I have 4 tumblers which allows me to empty one tumbler a week into the storage bin, and then start re-filling that tumbler.

Soose 1/29/2023, 2:45 pm

Appreciate the step by step and photos.

Jjean59 3/8/2023, 10:08 am

Newbie here, and looking to start my own composter as soon as the order comes in.

How do you know when your compost is finished cooking and is ready to use in the garden (or store for future - and how / where is that done)

Thanks!

OhioGardener 3/8/2023, 4:09 pm

Jjean59 wrote:How do you know when your compost is finished cooking and is ready to use in the garden (or store for future - and how / where is that done)

When making compost it will quickly heat up, hopefully close to 160ºF, and then it is turned to distribute microbes into other areas where they will go to work. The compost will again heat up, and need turned again. As it nears completion it will decrease the heating process. Once it only shows the ambient temp it is "finished".

I store mine by dumping it from the tumbler and stacking it in a compost bin where it will age until it is needed.

**sanderson** 3/10/2023, 3:01 am

If one types in the word 'composting' in the Search box, 138 threads will be displayed.

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