To learn more, see Compost Tumblers: Comparing different compost tumbler models. As for adding something to your compost container to speed up the composting process, I'd tend to avoid that at this stage in the collection process. Turn the center of the pile out towards the sides, and turn the material on the sides into the hot center. You can pop a pair of these guys on the patio and get started composting right away! However, moisture may still penetrate the tumbler during the winter months. Take a pitch fork, shovel, or special compost tool and literally twist and sift the compost pile, allowing oxygen in. A compost tumbler is a simple device that is used for composting. If you add too much green the decomposers will work too fast and use up all of the oxygen, causing the pile to smell. ", "Your instructions make it sound perfectly easy and doable. They are designed to slightly speed up the composting process and make it easier whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned composter. Instead buying fertilizers and soil every year, compost is a great way to not only have access to a constant and free source of nutrient-rich dirt, it also helps cut down on the amount of garbage we throw into landfills. A basic two-compartment compost tumbler provides enough space for a family’s food waste without taking up too much valuable outdoor square footage. I thought that was the way it was, until I found out that, under proper conditions, compost can actually be made in a month or two. Thank you. The design allows you to speed up the decomposition of the compost. Worms and other soil organisms are crucial for making good quality compost. Smaller sized pieces are better. Also, you should shred your brown materials before adding them. You can also build your own. $ 9.95 Read more. Premix the brown and green material together. Give your tumbler a chance to work well by paying attention to these composting tips. Some people find the smell of compost to be unpleasant. To encourage oxygen-rich, smell-free microbes, turn your pile often to aerate it. There are no worms or bugs in the pile. A wet, oxygen-poor pile encourages anaerobic bacteria growth (microbes that do not need oxygen to survive), making your pile sour and smelly like a swamp. Piles larger than five cubic feet are too big, as they do not effectively allow air to reach the center. Help the worms help you . Many composters use a modified version of this method, by turning their pile every few weeks or months in order to speed up the process. That’s when I decided to get a compost tumbler. Compost Tumbler - How Do You Speed Up the Composting Method by Using Tumblers Here is a preview: Compost tumblers have been around since gardeners learned to appreciate the significance of compost plus the necessity of compost to set air into it. Compost piles that are about 1 cubic yard (3 ft square by 3 ft high) get hotter quicker. Here is a preview: Compost tumblers have been around since gardeners learned to appreciate the significance of compost plus the necessity of compost to set air into it. unlocking this expert answer. Think of it as inoculating your pile. How can I speed up the composting process? Make sure you position your heap on a level, well-drained area of soil. Providing shredded sticks and other debris that creates air spaces in your pile will speed the … Please help us continue to provide you with our trusted how-to guides and videos for free by whitelisting wikiHow on your ad blocker. Compost Tumbler: How Do You Speed Up the Composting Method by Using Tumblers eBook: Nelson, Shaquille : Amazon.com.au: Kindle Store This could be caused by a lack of brown materials to soak up the moisture produced by the breakdown of the green materials. Then turn the compost. Compost Tumbler book. In simple words, it is a sealed box where one puts the remains of biodegradable waste, which then changes into manure. The main advantage of a compost tumbler over a standard compost bin is the speed with which you can make finished compost. Maggie Moran is a Professional Gardener in Pennsylvania. Load it up, spin once a week, and you’re done! Normally, composting material doesn't become usable soil until the following year. ... Includes the microbes needed to speed up the decomposition of raw organic materials. Use whatever ratio is convenient, then add water as required. ", Unlock expert answers by supporting wikiHow, https://www.planetnatural.com/tumbling-composter/, http://www.the-compost-gardener.com/compost-ingredients.html, http://www.the-compost-gardener.com/composting-tips.html, consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. Follow these steps to maintain moisture and oxygen levels and your pile will heat and decompose quickly. Compost is too wet or too dry. The tumbler method is simple. Plus, it seals tightly to keep out the pests. Since the composting process is hastened by effective aeration, you should place your compost tumbler in an open area where air can easily flow through and around the tumbler. second one with improvements/ideas from the first one that didn't work so well to make it better. Compost tumblers are tightly enclosed so rain should not be a detriment to the composting process. ", "I received lots of great information here. When you make some tiny bites for the available microbes this helps to speed up the composting process. Tumblers store your compost at an elevation. Copyright© This article was co-authored by Maggie Moran. Remember that larger tumblers will take more strength to turn, but you will be able to compost more material at one time. A great thing about composting is that it can take as much or as little time as you want or need it to. If pests are a nuisance, consider buying a compost tumbler. Many people get compost tumblers because they promise to help you get finished compost more quickly. During the colder months, the microbes in the compost must be kept active. A proper mix of Carbon and nitrogen in the pile is a prerequisite that will increase the speed of decomposition. Each chamber holds 18.5 gallons of compost, and when you’re using both sides, it makes the tumbler incredibly sturdy. As for adding something to your compost container to speed up the composting process, I'd tend to avoid that at this stage in the collection process. Support wikiHow by Your compost is ready to use when it is dark, earthy smelling, and crumbly. Maggie Moran is a Professional Gardener in Pennsylvania. When adding new materials, sprinkle water on them if they are not damp, and then add some extra soil from your garden to introduce more microbes already in the soil. If it does, just mist it down gently until you get the moisture you need. To maintain this at all times, your pile needs to be at least three cubic feet, or about three feet tall by three feet wide (the size of a large garbage can). For example, it improves soil structure while also feeding your plants with important nutrients. Before adding it to your compost, chop, shred, crack, whack, and smack organic matter into small pieces. Avoid adding meats and dairy to your compost. You obviously spent a fortune in buying and getting the compost tumbler ready. In dry times of the year, water the compost heap while you turn it. If that does not produce compost as quickly as desired, turn it more often. You can find guides that give you the relative carbon and nitrogen content of different compost materials online. 8 / 10. Vermiculture (a.k.a. For those with a little bit of outdoor space like a patio, but maybe don’t want to devote too much time to composting, a tumbler composting bin such as this one on Amazon is probably your best solution. 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