question for the internets

[ladyotterfae]

Mom's on this kick of getting me some sort of composter, because she doesn't want me trying to turn compost piles by hand, with my back injuries. I appreciate the thought, but looking through them is eating my time and what little patience either of us had. The reviews are generally all over the map, and I can't get a feel for what's really going on half the time.

Does anyone have, or know someone who has, a turnable compost bin? What do they like about it? Hate about it? Would they get it again? Is it practical for someone with a small garden, and a large container garden, with a moderate amount of compostable waste due to eating a lot of veggies, having a fairly large yard (for in town), and being quite willing to raid the office for paper waste as needed?

I'm leaving this unlocked for ease of sharing around, if you want to pass a link to someone who might be able to help.

Comments

[stoda.livejournal.com]

Well, I've made a couple, out of 55 gallon drums... they work OK.

The big advantages to my mind are that you get complete turn-over, it's relatively easy to achieve that turn-over, and everything's on a level that's easy to deal with.

However, they can't hold nearly as much as a normal bin, or pile, can. They tend to dry out if you don't watch it. And since you're constantly adding fresh material, it's hard to really get 'aged mulch' out of one.

My solution to the last problem is drilling pretty big holes, and capturing the fallout in a pan, or just letting it collect underneath, which is basically the last-stage.

[darkdanc3r.livejournal.com]

I'll share this with my girls. I know they have one, and seem to be happy with it.

[jcbanner.livejournal.com]

my uncle Ted uses a turnable composter that he made from a heavy plastic barrel. he cut a big hole in the side of it to fill it up, then used hinges to reattach the cut out section and a latch to hold it closed while turning. (that part almost looks like the keg bbq grills the people make.) then he rad a rod though the center to act as an axle. then the rod is held up on either end by some metal pipe legs. its a simple build, but he says it works great. and he does a lot of gardening and tries to compost what ever he can.

so buy one or build one, I'd say they sound worth getting.

[jcbanner.livejournal.com]

bahh, I hate typos. part of the above should read "Then he *ran* a rod though..."