Comments on: Testing Home Compost Units: Part 2

By: OrganicTexas

OrganicTexas — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 10:19:06 +0000

Informative & helpful review. Thanks!

By: ghelton55

ghelton55 — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 10:09:08 +0000

Thanks so much for posting. Extremely helpful to see these different units in action before buying, or not now. Helpful also to see the finished compost.

Suggestion, how about a series on what to compost and in what quantities. I have the hardest time getting my heap to heat up without grass clippings.

By: WoundedEgo

WoundedEgo — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 09:12:05 +0000

The capacity on all of these systems is miniscule. I dumped about 10 huge bags of leaves in with my chickens and the scratched around in it and quickly turned it all into gold. I think it would have taken 10 years to process it in these “systems.”

By: edlo1965

edlo1965 — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 08:27:09 +0000

The idea for this test comes from the fact that not to much is known about these systems and how to get the best results from them. These tests are not directed at someone like yourself that has room for 10 huge bags of leaves to throw in with their chickens. The results will aid the average homeowner with an average size yard that wants to be more responsible and recycle.I have a Large tumbler and collect and store my leaves( at least 10 bags) and compost them using the tumbler in 1 season .

By: gaiatechnician

gaiatechnician — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 07:42:04 +0000

Actually, I used to let the chickens in to my compost piles when I rented a larger lot. They certainly helped the compost rot quicker as they dug through it!

By: BrotherMalcolmW

BrotherMalcolmW — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 07:32:11 +0000

Not everyone has chickens! Nor can everyone even raise them (zoning laws). Many people now live in these McMansions that are built on postage stamps…thus they need to make use of what little land they are leasing from the gov’t.

By: WoundedEgo

WoundedEgo — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 06:51:44 +0000

Actually, I’ve learned a bit since my last post. I’m building one from a 55 gallon drum that should turn compost around in 14 days. A small quantity, every 14 days adds up.
The simplest idea I’ve seen is just to dump stuff into a trashcan with holes drilled in it, that has a lid that holds on well. Then just roll it around.

By: Illisil

Illisil — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 06:29:13 +0000

It would have been nice to hear the prices on these units, how long it take for the material to compost, and the capacity of the units. Some of the simpler units looked like they might cost less that $100, and have quite large capacities. But I’ve read that the tumbler units are much faster and more thorough at comporting. The tumbler units are quite expensive though because of their moving parts. Some as much as $5-600.