Compost tumblers

[oldie]

We are taking a long time to fill our Dalek type compost bins wondered if anyone had tried these smaller tumblers. Harrod Horticultural sell a 140 litre model which whilst expensive might be an investment if it does produce compost quickly. Any thoughts?

[bridget mc laughlin]

They look like a good idea but i have never used one myself

[bazzaboy]

Oldie, Two things have put me off, firstly the cost, some of these tumbling gadgets are approaching FIVE HUNDRED POUNDS....! Even the small one you're contemplating is £170 and isn't geared... On top of the price problem I believe they arrive flat-packed and you have to assemble..... I phoned one company (not Harrods) to enquire further and the chap cheerfully said (trying to encourage me to buy one!) "Oh if you get some help you could easily assemble it in a day..." WHAT?! For the moment I reckon a heap and a pitchfork is a better investment but like you interested to hear if anyone recommends... b.

[crichmond]

What about using one of those blue tubs that often turn up at allotment sites as they usually have a lock on lid, for easy rotation put your compost in it then put the lid on and tip it over then just roll the thing backwards and forwards.

[bazzaboy]

Sounds like a great idea, crichmond! I live at the bottom of a hill, I could put my teabags etc in a blue bin at the top of the hill, get the local kids to roll it down and hey presto! No seriously, the idea of rolling a barrel back and forth avoids all the mechanical nightmare of wheels, mounting, gears etc. - which is why the commercial gadgets are so costly The barrel might need baffles inside it to stir contents or it might become a sodden lump. You should patent this one and go on Dragons' Den!

[crichmond]

You should patent this one and go on Dragons' Den!

But surely it wouldnt be worth it, I would get on the show and they would try and rob 55% of the company.

I never thought about the baffles but you could always use pieces of wood and fastem them by screwing through the container, OR instead of rolling just tip it end over end.

[Eco-Chic]

I have one of the original Tumbler compost makers (head over heel type which are pre-daleks). It's fine tumbling it until it gets full, then it's very heavy and not too easy to get a good turn on it.

I don't find that the compost gets hot and it certainly doesn't rot down material in 10 weeks. Turning it out is a pain. There is nothing to hold it tipped at an angle so that the compost doesn't fall out and block the opening without scattering the contents all around. I prop up the bottom of it on a dustbin to angle it so I can haul out the contents onto a ground sheet.

The contents are usually quite wet and lumpy, not a lovely brown crumbly mix. A lot goes back in for another go. I'm going to add a lot more shredded material when I start it again in a couple of weeks. I actually prefer the dalek when all's said and done.

[bazzaboy]

But surely it wouldnt be worth it, I would get on the show and they would try and rob 55% of the company.

I'm afraid the bad news, Crichmond, is that further enquiries suggests half the gardening world is already making alternatives... I even came across one guy who says “I'm not too interested in gardening….. but I like composting” - and describes how to make one:
Compost Tumbler

There's a video how to make one on:
Build Your Own Compost Tumbler : TreeHugger

And how to make one from a plastic dustbin on:
In the Weeds: Making a Compost Tumbler -- I'll tumble for ya!

I have one of the original Tumbler compost makers (head over heel type which are pre-daleks). It's fine tumbling it until it gets full, then it's very heavy and not too easy to get a good turn on it.

Agreed Eco-Chic! Under the heading “so easy to turn” there's a demo of manual compost tumbling on:
Organic Compost Tumbler. World's Best Composter.
Looks anything but "easy" to me, once it gets half full it probably would help if you were also in training as a member of Six Nations rugby forwards...

Oldie, you might also want to have a look at mixed GYO opinions on
http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...not_13225.html

b.

[Johnny Appleseed]

Thanks for the links bazzaboy

I have just watched Treehuggers video and I'm very tempted to give that a try and save myself £500.

I've got an old blue barrel, which used to hold cherries in liquor, just sat there doing nothing at the moment.

I've always fancied seeing if I can make compost in 21 days.