The Urban Compost Tumbler

In the post titled Urban Compost Bin Tumblers we learnt just how effective the urban compost tumbler can be. We then looked at the compost bin tumbler to see just what the advantages were over a traditional compost bin, and, surprisingly for me, there are quite a few. The tumbling compost bin is very effective at what it does, and that is make compost very quickly indeed.

I now want to turn my attentions in a little more detail to just what is right to put in a compost bin tumbler and are they worth the money. I touched on it briefly but if you are going to make compost in record time, and by that we are talking about 2-3 weeks, then you need to be quite precise about just what you put in the composting tumbler. There are a few things to bear in mind, but most importantly from my research is that if you want super fast quality compost you must use a compost activator. They are part of the reason why you can produce compost at such amazing speeds, but not the only reason.

What To Add To An Urban Compost Tumbler

If you want to use your compost bin tumbler to full effect then you must limit what you put inside. The better quality the materials and the better suited they are to composting rapidly, then the quicker you will have your compost. Here is what you should be adding:

• Grass
• Leaves
• Coffee grounds
• Tea bags
• Vegetable waste
• Weeds
• Rotten fruits excluding citrus
• Small amounts of poultry manure
• All organic peelings

As you can see anything that is soft and organic in nature is ideal. The finer the better as the urban compost tumbler will start turning it in to compost that much sooner. A tumbling composter works best if you can add matter that will break down as quickly as possible.

From years of experience with traditional composting bins I know that the finer the matter and the softer it is, the quicker it turns in to a crumbly compost mix. For very rapid compost you must limit yourself to these type of materials.

What Not To Add To A Tumbling Composter

As just stated, for fast compost from your composting tumbler you must use soft and small organic matter for maximum speed of results. Here is what you should not add to the tumbling composter:

• Anything woody
• Any thick stems of vegetables such as cabbage
• Any very dry matter such as straw
• Thick dense materials like hair
• Any fabrics
• Cardboards (especially coated ones)

You just need to think how much longer anything too dense or coarse will take to break down. The finer it is the better, and the coarser it is the longer the time it takes to return to compost like matter. If you can stick to making sure you only add very fine organic matter when possible then you can make compost in a matter of weeks with an urban compost tumbler.

Is The Urban Compost Tumbler Worth The Money?

I am always loathe to spend money when I don't need to. I have happily been composting for years using traditional methods. I thought my methods would never change. If you have been reading these articles then you can probably see I have changed my mind. I was dubious about the claims and I wanted to do a thorough investigation in to whether or not they were founded. I am very sceptical, especially when it comes to parting with my money.

Have I changed my mind? Yes. I am thoroughly convinced by my research that the tumbler compost bin does indeed live up to its reputation. There are loads of reviews and all pretty much confirming the claims. I really do believe that they are worth the money. This is why I have written this site. To give an unbiased opinion on what they are about and to see what I could find out about them. All the research has led to the fact that if you use them correctly the compost bin tumbler will make compost very quickly. Added to this is the fact they are nice and compact, they will not make a mess of the surrounding are, as a compost heap often does, and very importantly, they are not as expensive as I imagined. The basic models are very reasonable indeed.

If you ever purchase bags of potting compost or have to import organic matter then I would certainly buy one. Will I purchase one? Absolutely. For a quick compost fix in times of composting shortages, these tumbling composters would be a fantastic resource for me. For those with an average area of land they will be all that you need. I have added various buttons and images so you can go direct to amazon and read about them and decide which one you would like. Check out the urban compost tumbler reviews and pick one that is best suited to your needs.

Happy composting.