Tumbling Composters

A compost tumbler is a cylindrical container made of durable materials such as plastic, metal or wood with a rotating mechanism that allows you to easily mix and aerate your compost pile. These rotating bins make it easier to turn. Just need a small spin to get it rotating. It is ideal for faster composting and aeration, but it has limited capacity. It’s faster than all other composting methods. If you’ve been curious about the work or the mess from making compost, tumbler is the perfect solution for you.

How to do it

• Depending on your compost needs, choose the size of the compost tumbler that suits you.
• Then, select an appropriate location for your compost tumbler. Ensure that its on level, well-drained or gravel and allows sunlight to warm and accelerate the composting process.
• Add shredded paper or cardboard to prevent wetness and smell from the start.
• The next step is to add your first green waste- your first kitchen scraps. Follow the rule of adding a number of greens and browns at a ratio of 2 to 1.
• Add water and ensure there is sufficient moisture to help with the composting; ensure its moisture and not dripping wet.
• Spin the tumbler every 2-3 days after adding new scraps to prevent matting and keep the process aerobic, which prevents foul smell.

Tips

• Decomposing is fast in summer and spring therefore are regarded as peak composting sessions.  You will need more browns to balance out fresh garden waste and maintain a good level of moisture.
• Collect leaves during autumn and keep them in bags because greens are scarce during winter.
• Decomposition slows down during winter and therefore keeps adding scraps, allowing aeration and allowing adequate sunlight.
• If decomposition seems slow, add a few more greens like grass clippings. Chopping or breaking larger materials into smaller pieces before adding to the compost can help fast composting.
• To harvest your compost, stop adding new material to one side if you have a dual-chamber tumbler. Or you can empty the whole batch into a bucket or bag, then shift any unfinished chunks and put them back into the tumbler as a starter.

See this video for more information.