Compost Tumblers Make Composting Fun

by Vicki Duong

Before you start on your first composting project of the year, have you thought about what you were going to place your compost in? I don't mean, "In my garden," or even, "In my houseplant's soil," those are all moot points. I mean, have you considered whether you were going to compost out in the open for anything and everyone to see, or perhaps in a compost bin or compost tumbler? After all, these are important points to consider and they may hold the key to a successful composting project.

There are quite a few methods when it comes to composting; some use the open composting method by building a pile of compost out in the woods or yard, others use compost tumblers and bins. I prefer the compost tumbler method out of all of them mainly because I lead quite a busy life and can't commit to watering down my compost constantly if it's out in the open in addition to turning the pile on a regular basis. However, that's not to say that a compost tumbler is better than open composting; both methods produce the same amount of compost in the same amount of time so long as you keep your compost heaps aerated.

Moving forward, compost tumblers have a lot of great benefits, the most obvious being that if you're a busy person all you really have to do is toss all your food scraps and/or yard waste into your tumbler, turn it or flip it (depending on the design) about every few days and you're good. Tumblers of course, keep your compost aerated which is very important; you never want your compost to stay stagnant because that would bore the little microbes in your heap. They should be actively eating and decomposing all the matter in the tumbler or bin!

Another reason I prefer tumblers over other methods is that it keeps animals and rodents away from your compost. Your pile will stay securely in the tumbler until it's ready to be removed, which can be easily done. But the big reason why I like compost tumblers is because they're fun! Sorry to the folks who have open compost heaps, but I don't find using a pitch fork to turn my compost appealing at all. Something about spinning or flipping my compost tumbler while on a steady axis sounds easier. Call me lazy or what have you, but know this: my compost heap is still just as good as yours!

For a wide selection in compost bins and rain barrels be sure to stop by Composters.com.

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Finding the Right Compost Bin

by Richard H.

If you’ve begun to explore the wonderful world of gardening, you have probably started composting. If so, you may have discovered that the compost pile can become unsightly and awkward to contain when it is left loose. Many people find they have better control over their composting efforts when they use a compost bin. A compost bin keeps the pile tidy, contained neatly in one spot, and makes turning your pile easier. There are a number of options when it comes to choosing a compost bin. Which one is right for you?

Which Compost Bin is Right for You?

Some people choose to construct their own compost bins, building them from lumber and hardware, wire mesh or concrete bricks. These work fine, but unless you already have the materials, you may end up spending almost as much to build your compost bin as you would if you purchased a small commercial one. Consider how big your bin should be, how comfortable you are using tools, and if you have the time and energy required to build your own bin.

Types of compost bins include one bin systems and systems with two or three bins. If you do not have a huge garden and are generating an average amount of compost, a two bin system is a popular choice. Small areas may only allow for a one bin system, however, and that will work fine. Gardeners who find they can generate a generous amount of compost and want storage for their finished product may desire a three bin system. In a one-bin system, obviously the entire contents of the pile will be kept in the same place. With two or three bins, you can keep compost in its early stages in one bin and more advanced compost in the second. If you choose three bins, you would store the finished compost in the third one.

Besides keeping your compost pile neatly enclosed, commercial bins have a few other advantages. Some of them are able to insulate your pile and help keep the necessary heat locked in so your pile continues to decompose later into the season. Commercial bins are usually more attractive to the eye than homemade bins, and it provides the solution to your composting containment problem immediately. No waiting for someone to “get around to it” and build the bin you need. There are companies that sell compost bins made from recycled plastics as well. Choosing one of those products will allow you to take one more step towards protecting the environment.

There’s No Wrong Choice

As long as your compost bin is well constructed and allows proper drainage and ventilation, there are no huge advantages to choosing one compost bin over another. It boils down to which one is right for you and your garden. Size, price and functionality are the main things to consider. With just a little thought, you will be able to determine which compost bin will work best for your situation.

Find the right compost bins for you at Composters.com

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Blacklisted Items to Keep Out of Your Compost

by Vicki Duong

Believe it or not, there are a lot of people out there who want to compost but don't know what exactly they're allowed to put into their batches. Some even think that since it's their pile of compost, they're at liberty to put in just about anything they want. While it is a free country, you won't be guaranteed a successful batch every time. This is why there are rules and guidelines to composting that you should follow.

I'm sure you've all heard before that adding food scraps to your compost is a good thing. Albeit this is true, you really want to avoid the meaty stuff like meat, bones, and grease because they don't decompose properly, not to mention they smell bad. In addition, adding meat to your compost is like having an open invitation for rodents and other wildlife to feast in your backyard's compost bin. Dairy products, oils and grease are also on the banned products list for the same reasons.

Adding manure to your compost pile can be a good thing, but adding human, cat or dog manure is a bad thing! First of all, that's disgusting; think of the diseases, parasites and who knows what else lies in the dark depths of that kind of waste! If it's not good for it to stick around in your or your pet's body, then chances are it's not good for your garden and compost. When thinking about adding manure to your compost batch, you want to stick with the kind that comes from grass eaters like cows, llamas, chickens and sheep. Try not to think about it with your nose in the air; manure is very high in nitrogen and can heat up your compost since it's considered an activator, kind of like coffee grounds or powdered meals.

Wood ashes, barbeque charcoals and limes are another set of items you should avoid. Reason being is they contain way too much alkaline and that's bad for your batch's pH level. Plus some plants wouldn't take too well to the high amounts of alkaline, so instead of helping your plants and garden have a sustainable life you would just be harming them.

Other items that should be blacklisted from the compost pile also include seedy weeds, anything contaminated or pesticide infested, large batches of wet and soggy matter, large branches and wood, and glass, metal and plastic (these should go in the recycle bins). Keep in mind that as long as you avoid these blacklisted materials, you'll be sure to obtain the black gold soil you desire through the composting process.

*Referenced from Home Composting Made Easy by C. Forrest McDowell, PhD and Tricia Clark-McDowell, 2002.

For a wide selection in compost bins and rain barrels be sure to stop by Composters.com.

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A Guide On The Compost Bins Types To Recycle

by Michael Selvon

Composting has become a popular means of recycling organic materials so that they can be used in beneficial ways instead of adding them to a landfill. In addition to being a great way to participate in recycling efforts, composting is also a great way to generate rich organic materials that can be added to soil for organic garden projects. Compost bins provide a simple and easy way to help people get started composting and are particularly good solutions for people who have limited living space.

There are a number of different types of composters on the market to meet a variety of needs and situations. Bins for composting can be built from materials that you already have around the backyard, or they can be purchased from garden supply stores, especially those that specialize in organic gardening. In some municipalities, the recycling centers provide bins free or at a reduced cost to encourage people to recycle their organic materials themselves.

One variety of compost bins are called holding units. These bins are very low maintenance and are probably the best solution when the amount of space for the home composting project is very limited. With holding units, the compost pile is not turned and therefore not aerated, so the overall process of decomposing will take anywhere from six months up to two full years.

Portable bins are another common type of bins and they are very similar to the holding units but they are able to be taken apart, moved and rebuilt. Different types of materials can by used and mixed with this kind of bin. Many types of plastic portable units are available on the market to purchase or they can be constructed out of wood and wire fencing.

One of the best types of bins is the variety called turning unit composters. These are specifically designed to facilitate easy turning of the compost pile which helps to aerate the heap. Turning units will produce fully decomposed material in a shorter amount of time because the composting process is accelerated by the improved aeration, allowing the bacteria to better do its job in the decomposition process. In addition, people like turning units because there are less odor problems because of the improved ventilation.

Turning unit composting bins can either be a set of bins or they can be a device that easily rotates or tumbles such as a barrel or a ball-type of unit. The drawback is that turning units generally cost most, are harder to build and require more space. The organic materials to be composted also need to be collected separately until enough has been gathered to fill the unit to the correct level and once it is full and the composting process begins, new materials cannot be added.

Simple heaps are an alternative for people who do not want o purchase or build composter bins. Turning a compost heap is always optional, but it should be kept in mind that the process of composting is accelerated when the waste material is turned at least a couple times a month.

You will want to locate your compost bins according to the functional needs of your family and also taking into consideration the aesthetics of the area. You should not place your compost pile near an area that you frequently use for entertaining, even if you have it screened with fencing or plants. It should be located where it gets plenty of air circulation, in a partially shady spot and near the garden area if possible.

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Compost Bins vs. Compost Tumblers

by Vicki Duong

When starting to compost, one must ask, which exactly is better the compost bin or the compost tumbler? Really, it all depends on who you ask and what their current lifestyle is like. For instance, does this person have the time to commit to their compost and garden? More importantly, do you? Whatever your answer will be may well dictate whether you'll go with purchasing a compost bin or tumbler. Let's take a few factors into considerations to help you decide:

Compost bins are easy to use and are just as easy to put together with little parts or none at all. Popular compost bins like the Garden Gourmet and the Expandable Worm Tower, both which can be found on Composters.com, require little parts and take no more than 20 minutes to put together. Those who use bins find it both therapeutic and satisfying to be personally turning their compost with a pitchfork; no one ever said that a little bit of the outdoors could hurt you! For composting bins like the Expandable Worm Tower, it's the worms that do most of the work. All you would have to do is take the finished compost that the worms have produced (known as worm castings, black gold, or even just rich soil), distribute it around the soil of your garden, fill up the trays with more organic matter and dirt and repeat!

As easy and efficient that compost bins are, they can get a bit messy at times. What if you happen to have a compost bin unlike the Expandable Worm Tower or Garden Gourmet where it's easy to evacuate the finished compost? You may have to manually dump the finished compost into a wheel barrel, where it can get a bit chaotic and messy. Unless you have no other commitments and plenty of time on your hand, compost bins may not be the way to go.

A bit more expensive but perhaps worth the extra cash, compost tumblers are ideal for those who don't have as much time but would still love to have the resulting rich soil for their garden. What's great about having a compost tumbler is that there's no need to manually turn the compost. The whole point of a tumbler is that you can easily rotate it via a crank or just by spinning it, therefore aerating the compost inside. The con about tumblers, however, is that they too can get messy especially if you have to roll it around the yard when the compost it not yet ready. Additionally, you may have to purchase the compost tea collector separately, depending on the model.

When it comes down to it, it's really about personal preference. I've mentioned repeatedly that things could get messy, but that's the beauty of composting; you're allowed to get down and dirty! Whatever the decision you make, be sure to take your lifestyle and commitments in consideration to ensure a successful composting experience.

For a large selection of compost tumblers and lawn sweepers, be sure to stop by Composters.com.

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