Take a look at the design and use of compost tumbler bins. How do they meet your garden composting needs? How are they put to use?

UNPACKING THE COMPOST TUMBLER: Out of box - 2 units, tumbler & base already to go. No construction needed. EnviroCycle - U.K. distributor EnviroCycle - U.S.A. distributor The EnviroCycle Tumbler Compost Bin is explained here... ALSO FEATURED ON THIS PAGE The Tumbling Compost Mixer (U.S.A.) explained here... Mantis 4000 Compost Twin Tumbler (U.S.A.) explained here... Down garden path to load weeds from heap Moldy buns & kitchen waste are added. Picture shows compost heap steaming after a few days. Then it cools off so add a newspaper sheets between turning. Base unit has wheels to carry the compost tumbler. Holes with removable stops used to drain or collect liquid compost tea. Envirocycle tumbler is mounted onto base unit from the side. Once on the base unit the Envirocycle tumbler is turned through 90 degrees My EnviroCycle compost tumbler mounted on its base

Check out the Envirocycle Composter U.S.A. Check out the EnviroCycle Composter U.K.

I compare 4 types of Compost Tumbler on these links below.

• EnviroCycle
• Tumbling Compost Mixer
• Mantis 4000 ComposT Twin Tumbler with Screen
• Revolving Bin Compost Maker

My notes on basic composting and types of composters are on these links.

Advice On Using Compost Tumbler Bins

As well as containment, a major benefit in some models is mobility, enabling a convenient and easily moved location. Smaller gardens with vegetable kitchen waste can make compost too. But I have some reservations about compost tumbler performance.

Compost tumblers are used in a different way to other compost bin designs.

• Compost is made in batches. The most recent additions must decompose before the composter is emptied.
• Compost tumblers benefit from adding compost activator. I favour dry activators like Garotta because excessive moisture can build up in plastic bins all too easily. A good helping of old compost or comfrey leaves will also activate.
• Some compost tumbler bins are on the small side and contain a relatively large air space above the material. This counts against achieving higher temperatures - insert paper or plastic sheets between turning.
• They have a useful role in small gardens for recycling kitchen and vegetable waste (not meat or dairy products). You can utilise small backyard or garage spaces to make valuable garden compost. But (the Mantis CompostTwin 4000 is considerably larger)
• Fully enclosed compost tumblers don't benefit from the activity of earthworms etc... to finish off composting nicely - i.e. unless you add them.
• The tumbler aerating process could favour composting a higher proportion of green matter than normal, but still avoid excessive lawn cuttings. These roll into smelly balls.
• Your compost tumbler bin (e.g. EnviroCycle) may collect the liquid compost tea separately.
• Shred tough brown material as finely as possible.
• Some compost tumblers are mobile and this is probably the best advantage of all.
• Turning is simple and enjoyable. It's impossible to turn any other type of heap as easily.
• Turning is easier when material is loose, harder if it all binds together. This is indicates the condition inside.
• Weight determines how much can be added to the tumbler.
• When heavy turning back and forth vigorously may help. Rake through any soft grassy balls with a grubber or hand rake.
• Storing organic material before and after compost making is hardly a problem due to mobility and smaller size. With the Mantis Twin Tumbler there's room to store in one of the tumblers.

Now I'll start individual reviews with the highly mobile - EnviroCycle compost tumbler - and finish with a very different 'kettle of fish' the Mantis 4000 ComposT Twin.

The EnviroCycle Tumbler Compost Bin

A MOBILE COMPOST BIN

You can wheel it to a pile of organic matter for loading. Likewise you can wheel it to the site where finished compost will be used. Unlike other composters you can easily move your heap around to accommodate changes in your garden layout.

So far, that saves a wheel barrow, an aerating tool or garden fork, and a lot of effort.

EASY TO ROTATE, AERATE, AND
GET COMPOST FASTER

The EnviroCycle's main value is to make turning and aerating easy and so accelerate decomposition. With an ordinary heap turning is an effort. So it gets put off and compost making is slow. With a tumbler you can turn the heap in 10 seconds! without opening the lid - it's easy. I spend 100 seconds a day turning mine (probably too much), that's during the first 2 weeks of composting.

The tumbler is easy to grip. The best position is to stand facing one side. Here you can push one side down while pulling the other side up. Nevertheless it will become harder to turn as the load gets heavier. When this happens, instead of completely rotating the heap you can settle for a rocking action. Do change the side of the heap you leave at the bottom.

COLLECT NUTRIENT RICH LIQUID -
COMPOST TEA

The EnviroCycle tumbler comes with a base to collect and store liquid compost tea draining from the heap. This happens through 2 slits in the tumbler that are left resting over the base or similarly through the door. 2 stops in the base container allow draining, and one stop can allow drainage straight to ground.

Do keep hold of the plastic stops. If the container becomes full you need to replace the stops to drain the liquid properly. There's a design problem here, because when full and level you can't remove the screw cap from the pouring spout without spilling contents. Tilt the container back and rest the front on a brick to pour before opening the spout.

DIMENSIONS

Height 77.5cm, width 65cm, depth 51.5cm. I calculate the max tumbler volume at 179L (6.3CuFt); Note: I measured the maximum base contents, with entry holes open of course, to be 12.5L (0.0.44 CuFt or 2.74 UK Gals). When the base is up-ended with holes closed it probably holds nearly twice that.

MORE ON HANDLING

The compost tumbler does not have to be stored on its base (but do choose a level surface). The base has a hand hole underneath to make moving easier. The EnviroCycle compost tumbler comes as two moulded units already for use.

FINISHING TOUCHES

I position my EnviroCycle compost tumbler nearly outside the kitchen. You could also locate it in a shed, garage or out-house. As the heap inside compost tumblers is not in contact with bare earth there is greater need to add activators: - use already made compost, soil, comfrey leaves, or a proprietary compost activator. The latter will contain bacteria, fungi and nutrients to stimulate rapid decomposition.

Check out the EnviroCycle Composter U.K. distributor
Check out the Envirocycle Composter U.S.A. distributor

Tumbling Compost Mixer On Base U.S.A. Check out the Tumbling Compost Mixer On Frame at Gardeners Supply U.S.A.

The Tumbling Compost Mixer

There are two versions:
1 - compost tumbler rotates on moulded base. It can also be rolled around the garden to pick up and deliver.

2 - compost tumbler mounted on frame rotates end over end. Frame requires simple construction with nuts and bolts. An axil passes through the tumbler and fixes to the frame apex each side.

The compost tumbler bin is made of 100% UV stabilised recycled plastic. Internal ridges and the axil help to break the compost material. It is ventilated but there is no provision to collect compost tea.

The size of 7 CuFt is just about right to make it easy to fill and turn.

Mantis 4000 ComposT Twin Tumbler

STRUCTURE

This is a twin compost tumbler bin. The tumblers are mounted side by side on a frame. Therefore a more or less permanent and level site needs to be chosen.

Check out the Mantis ComposT Twin 4000 - U.S.A.

DIMENSIONS OF THE TWIN COMPOST TUMBLER BIN
Contains 4 times the capacity of the above with two 12.4 CuFt drums working side by side. Holds up to 600 pounds i.e. not more than 272Kg. The larger volume is useful in tumbler compost bins but it requires a crank shaft to make turning easy.

CONSTRUCTION

The Mantis ComposT Twin 4000 comes in 3 flat pack boxes. You need to be fairly comfortable with construction involving wrenches, screwdrivers, mallets and nuts and bolts. It is a job for 2 people, if only to safely lift the bin onto its frame.

The supporting frame is made from tubes. Axils with cog wheels are attached. The drums are constructed from sheets of galvanised steel.

USING THE MANTIS 4000 TWIN TUMBLER COMPOST BIN

Of course you would need plenty of stuff to fill the whole composter. But with twin tumblers one side can be composting while the other is being filled. In practise that means one tumbler gets a head start on the other. So you get the advantage of speedy hot decomposition and readily available compost after a month or so.

The crank shaft and gears enable you to turn the compost to easily bring the advantages of aeration and speedy decomposition.

A larger heap size should reduce heat loss while the cooler metal panels help internal condensation and water conservation. But there is no way to collect a compost tea.

A shovel is not required to empty, as a wheel barrow fits neatly underneath the tumbler. To empty, remove the door from one compost tumbler first, then rotate to allow the contents to fall out see accessories below.
When you've got the stuff for seriously good compost check out the Mantis ComposT Twin 4000 - U.S.A. . .

SOME POINTS TO CONSIDER

Do ensure that small children are not playing around underneath the tumbler where they might trap their fingers in the gears. I suggest you tie the handle tightly to the frame if that's likely. Also, don't provide any means by which a child could climb into the tumbler see accessories below.

ACCESSORIES

A water-proof vinyl cover accessory is available for protection when the Mantis 4000 is not in use, although it does not cover the handle.

A compost sifter screen is available to replace the door of the Mantis 4000. This allows finer compost to be harvested for potting or seed sowing. The remaining course debris can be either left longer to decompose, harvested seperately for mulch, or taken out and recycled in the adjacent drum.

Compost activator is recommended. These contain the micro-organisms and nutrients composting needs to start well. For U.S.A. gardeners A.M. Leonard makes Compost Plus. For U.K. gardeners Garotta. Both are dry powders for spreading over the material.

Another type of compost tumbler is to be reported on here very soon...

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