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.

Compost Bin Tumbler

In the previous post on the urban compost tumbler we looked at how surprisingly quickly the compost bin tumbler can make compost. I was very dubious about the claims that the rotating compost bin can produce a fine compost ready for use within a matter of 2-3 weeks. It seems that you really can. Considering with a conventional compost bin it takes a matter of months, this is an extremely rapid process indeed. Read moer about whether I think they are good value for money in the post the urban compost tumbler.

What Are The Benefits Of The Compost Bin Tumbler?

There seem to be numerous benefits to using a rotating compost bin. The end result being of course that you can make compost so quickly. Lets take a closer look at how the benefits of a tumbler compost bin stack up.

The Compost Bin Tumbler Is Cleaner

Conventional compost bins, normally made out of recycled materials, can be messy. A large pile of decomposing vegetable matter can be off putting to some people. Personally I have never been too concerned. This is probably due to the amount of land space I have. The compost bins are never too close to be much of an eye sore. For those with limited space, or who like everything to look much tidier then an urban compost tumbler is probably the answer.

The Urban Compost Tumbler Is Compact

Whether you want a vertical or a horizontal compost bin tumbler they all have one thing in common. They are nice and compact. Ideal for putting in a corner of the garden, they will take up very little room in comparison to a conventional compost bin. You can put a surprising amount of waste material in to a rotating compost bin. A 200 litre bin, such as the Tumbleweed Composter will hold a quite vast quantity of materials.

Perfect for hiding away in a corner, or even on view, these tumblers are quite pleasing aesthetically.

A Compost Bin Tumbler Saves Money

For many, the option of having a compost heap in the conventional sense is simply not a very viable option. Lack of space or the problem of animals and rodents may simply mean it is not practical. To this end, many gardeners end up purchasing bags of soil to use in the garden or for potting plants. These bags soon add up in value. If you add up the cost over a year or two it is surprising how much you can spend.

By purchasing a compst bin tumbler, especially the Achla CMP-05 Spinning Horizontal Composter you will be saving money very quickly. I mention this product as it may be the best for some people. Which brings me to the next advantage.

An Urban Compost Tumbler Saves You Energy And Time

With a normal compost bin it is recommended that you periodically turn the heap to activate it quicker. This is not something I ever do as the effort need simply is not worth getting compost a few weeks sooner. With a compost bin tumbler, especially the horizontal one just mentioned, it is the simplest thing in the world to turn your compost.

It is simply a matter of turning of a handle or a quick spin and you have mixed the contents very effectively. No effort and it takes no time to do.

Composting Tumblers-The Main Advantage

By far the main advantage of a compost bin tumbler is the speed in which you can make compost. Once the bin is filled you can turn the tumbler every few days with ease and get compost very rapidly. It will be a matter of two to three weeks only. To me this is still astounding but all the composting tumbler reviews confirm that this is how long it takes.


Summary

In conclusion there are many benefits to the urban compost tumbler over conventional heaps. This is especially so for those with limited space or dislike the untidy aspects and hazards of conventional piles.

Urban Compost Bin Tumblers-Composting Tumblers

I live with plenty of space around me and use a traditional method of composting. This involves having three large compost bins that are made out of wooden pallets. We continually add to one of the compost heaps until it is full. Then we move on to the next and so forth. Normally it takes a minimum of three months before we can then use the compost from the first heap.

I always thought that this was more than reasonable and much quicker than most who make their own compost. Lately, however, I have been hearing more and more about the compost bin tumbler which really is the best value composter. In an effort to find out about these tumbling composter machines I started to do a little research. This started because I had heard that with an urban compost tumbler you can have very good compost in only a matter of weeks! Claims run from only 14 days to 21 days. Either way, if true it is extremely fast. Follow this post as I explain what I have learnt about the compost bin tumbler, where to buy them, how efficient they are and can you really make GOOD compost in 14 days! Don't forget to read more about the urban compost bin tumbler in the next post, and all about what to add to the composting tumbler, and if they are good value for money in the post the urban compost tumbler.

Urban Compost Tumblers

How do they work?

Compost bin tumblers are efficient at producing compost quickly because of the ease of mixing the contents. Each time the tumbling composter is turned it mixes the contents, thus increasing the speed of decomposition. By mixing regularly the contents will get much more uniformly hot which turns the contents in to great compost at a much faster rate.

The Compost bin tumbler, like traditional heaps, works by easily and efficiently aerating the contents. One thing I have found is that to make them super efficient and to speed up the process you should add a compost activator.
You can purchase these from a number of stores. I have never used these, but if they mean you can get compost in 14-21 days then I certainly think they are well worth the money. For the price of a small bag of potting soil they are more than worth the money. The Organica® Compost Activator has good reviews and if you can get an organic compost activator then I strongly suggest you do.

What To Add To A Composting Tumbler?

As these urban compost tumblers are designed to rapidly create compost it is advised that you only use soft clippings and cuttings and easily broken down materials. If you add anything too woody then it will drastically increase the time taken to produce very good compost. The ideal elements to add to a tumbling composter are:

• Grass clippings
• Leaves
• Weeds
• Kitchen waste
• Any soft green organic matter

By only using soft green organic matter the process works much quicker. You should also add a little bit of garden soil to get the microbes and bacteria working quickly although everything I have read so far recomends using the compost activator we just talked about.

What To Do With A Compost Bin Tumbler

Looking in to urban compost tumblers they seem remarkably easy to use. It is simply a matter of rotating the drum every 5 days or so to keep the contents aerated and to increase the speed of making the compost. You simply add to the contents as you need to and then, once full, keep tumbling it for a few weeks and hey presto! That, at least, is what the manufacturers claim. I shall look at whether the 2-3 weeks timespan is actually true in a little while.

Compost Bin Tumbler Reviews

I have been searching around to try to find urban compost tumbler reviews and the only place that has any in any number is Amazon. Just as well really, as they are by far the cheapest source if you are going to purchase one. As for so many things you really won't find cheaper products with better service. The most popular, probably because they are also the least expensive, is the Tumbleweed Composter in the US. What I am surprised about with all these composting tumblers is that they have so many good reviews.

If you are looking to buy one, I would certainly read through some of the reviews to get the one you think will be most suitable. The composting tumbler reviews on Amazon are very honest and you can certainly pick an urban compost tumbler easily after reading what people have to say.

The Best Urban Compost Tumbler?

As you know this is as much a journey for me as it is for you. I have been looking in to the world of the composting tumbler in an effort to see how they work and if it is suitable for me. So far I am both pleased with the prices, at least from Amazon, some other sites were extremely expensive. It seems you really should have a compost activator to aid the process, or at least add some soil, although it seems this may not be as effective. I have also learned that it is very simple to rotate the tumbling composter a few times a week to keep it working at the most efficient way it can.

But what are the best urban compost tumblers? I looked to see what is both the most popular and the best value. The Envirocycle Composter is a nice compact design and has FANTASTIC reviews. It also has the added bonus of making manure tea which is invaluable as a rich feed for plants and veggies of all kinds.

Next is the Achla CMP-05 Spinning Horizontal Composter. This spins on a horizontal axis so will take up a little more room but the Achla CMP-05 Spinning Horizontal Composter comes highly recommended. One owner was well on her way to having compost within a week by using it!

There are many tumbling composters to choose from. There are the average family sized ones up to what seems like a great purchase if you are serious about making quality compost in larger bulk. The Mantis 4000-00-02 ComposT-Twin Composting Bin is a serious bit of kit indeed. This is more what I will be going for I think. Something a bit more expensive but a real quality design.

The Benefits Of A Twin Composting Bin

The Mantis 4000-00-02 ComposT-Twin Composting Bin is a dual chamber compost bin tumbler. For me this would be ideal. Here is what the product description says:

The Mantis Compost-Twin 2-chamber rotating composter is the composter's dream come true. Now you can "cook" one batch while you add organic scraps to another with no mess, no odors, and no hard work. It is built with a sturdy tubular frame and features fully enclosed chambers and four aerator vents. The easy-to-turn handle and gear system makes for easy mixing. The composter's chambers each have a 10-bushel capacity.

This is perfect. It means you can fill one chamber and start the final composting process without having to wait for it to finish composting before you can add anything else. It is more expensive but let me tell you a little story.

My Mother is an avid gardener but has never been a composter. I am always buying here an odd bag of gardening soil, or potting soil, on numerous occasions throughout the year. This year I said to her again, start composting properly or at least buy in some good soil or compost. What finally convinced her to start composting was when I added up the cost over a year of the bags of soil she had purchased. Try it for yourself, you will probably realize that an investment in an urban compost tumbler, even the dual chamber one, will fairly quickly pay for itself. If nothing else, get a smaller one and at least make some of your good quality soil.

Now, back to the most important qusetion when it comes to these compost bin tumbler mechanisms, but first don't forget to read about more benefits of the compost bin tumbler.

Can You Really Make Compost In 2-3 Weeks With A Tumbling Composter?

This to me is very important. If you get your composting tumbler from the cheapest source possible, which is via the links to the side, you are in for a rela treat.

All the information I could find leads me to believe it is possible. It seems 14 days may be pushing it a bit but, if done correctly, you can get good compost using an urban compost tumbler in about 21 days.

I have to say I am very impressed. Considering the time it take to make compost conventionally is about three months, these composting tumblers seem fantastic.



I really would recommend that you browse the urban compost tumbler reviews and choose the one most suitable for your needs. Don't forget my little story, if you buy in soil (ever) then you will save a lot of money in a year or two if you start making your own compost. If it only takes about three weeks as well, it sounds perfect.