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[email protected]

Without getting into the disaster that my season is turning out to be, I would like to discuss my latest acquisition, the compost tumbler. I would love to know how long it takes to make the compost, as well as what to add to make it "cook". I started out with a barrel full of grass clippings, added some potato peelings, and would like major league advice as to what each of you add to the tumblers and how often you turn them.

I recieved the tumbler from a fella on my mail route who I discussed it with last year when he got it. Today he said he no longer has much use for it and decided to give it to me, and for that I am thankful. Now I need to know what you all put into it to make it cook and how long does it have to go before it is viable compost.

5/26/2005 9:40:49 PM

Brillion Wisconsin

The right amount of moisture and oxygen is the key to make compost quickly. Add a product called compost starter and follow the directions. Turn the compost tumbler once daily or every other day.

Check out www.composters.com/main.shtml?k=gardenshredders
for every type of composter ever invented.

5/26/2005 9:59:52 PM

Menomonie, WI ([email protected])

Fresh grass clippings to make it cook. Rotate it daily. should be complete in 14 days.

5/26/2005 10:31:21 PM

Omaha, NE (N41-15-42 )

Keep us posted on how it works for you. I've been looking at those, but seen mixed reviews.

5/27/2005 12:40:31 AM

Indiana

do they have an industrial sized version that can handle about 10 yards of scraps and clippings at a time?

That would be great!

Tom

5/27/2005 1:03:25 AM

Eugene, OR

LOL Tom. I think they call that a cement truck.

5/27/2005 1:10:24 AM

Belgium

Shannon, in a tumbler it really composts in 14 days? Mabye I need to get one, lol.

Jake

5/27/2005 6:04:37 AM

[email protected]

Thansk for the advice and help, Dwaine has sent me a nice email on a balance of greens to browns of 8 to 1, along with molasses and some of the soil from the garden to get the microbial effects working with the molasses to get it cooking.

Still open to more suggestions, I will try to take some pictures and show the progress, that could be educational for those who have, or want to get one of these things.

5/27/2005 6:43:06 AM

Follansbee, Wv

First of all, it is impossible to recommend a green to brown ratio without knowing the nature of the materials being used. Different greens have a different C:N ratio. An ideal ratio of 30:1 is recommended. That is not a 30:1 ratio of greens to browns, but rather a Carbon to Nitrogen (C:N) ratio. Since materials differ in their C:N ratios, it is necessary to know the average ratios for the materials you are using. There are many sites on the web that offer C:N estimates for various materials.
With that being said, there is a mathematical formula you can use to determine the correct amounts of each material to use to obtain an ideal ratio. I won't bore you with it, unless someone asks for it. Instead I'll give you a couple of links that will help you:

http://www.klickitatcounty.org/SolidWaste/fileshtml/organics/compostCalc.htm

and

http://www.compostinfo.com/cn/index.htm

They are both pretty good, but the first is better, since it takes into account the carbons that are not available to the nitrogen for composting purposes (such as certain complexes in straw). Anyone ever wonder why the straw never broke down in their compost pile?

I don't use a tumbler because they simply don't make one large enough for my needs, although the cement truck is a good idea :)

5/27/2005 7:34:35 AM

Grandfield Oklahoma

Throw the green stuff on the ground, use your tiller to push it on down.

5/27/2005 10:08:49 AM

Paradise Mountain, New York

PGPGA Rock, I have a Tumbler Compost Maker that was also given to me three years ago. I have the booklet that has all kinds of info in it. Plus many different ways to make compost. I can copy it and send it to your home if you like. Just let me know. PumpkinBrat

5/27/2005 10:09:20 AM

Thornhill, Ontario, Canada

A cmposter that works in 14 days seems like a great product. But, how much waste can you actually acumulate every two weeks? Over the winter I got about a garbage can full. And, that included the 105 pound pumpkin that I chopped up.

5/27/2005 11:45:23 AM

Menomonie, WI ([email protected])

We have three large compost piles. Each one gets an new helping of grass clippings each week. You must have neighbors or relatives...lol A compost tumbler would not meet our needs.

5/27/2005 10:44:42 PM