Compost Tumblers -- Is there one in your garden's future? (part 1 Why Buy?):

If you have a garden you likely know the value of "black gold," compost and the adds for the compost rs all seem to scream that "Now you cam have all the rich, dark compost you need in just a few short weeks!" Actually most claim that a compost r will give you finished compost in just two weeks with a turn of the crank or a roll of the container. Little work but lots of return. One might say that the compost just keeps bling out. Howe, when you find out that tests have shown the compost r does not make compost any faster than a well managed pile or bin set up, is this the rig for you?

Ey compost pile needs 4 things, nitrogen and carbon for food, water, and air. Here is where the compost r excels. Whene the r is d air is mixed into the material. If the r moves easily, one might add air ey time ey time the bin is passed or at least ey three or four days, depending on your mood. On the other hand a well managed and hot pile turned ey three or four days will produce finished compost just as quickly. Remember that the &quickly" will also depend on the environmental conditions since compost works faster in hot, moist conditions.

Well designed rs offer seal advantages o the hot bin or pile.

1. They are easier to turn than using a fork. Air tends to be added more often simply because the work is easier to accomplish. Thus the pile may be hotter and work faster than other methods.


2. They are generally neat, clean and tidy in the yard. With changing by laws goning what may or may not be in one's yard, this may allow a compost operation where a pile would not.


3. They are pest free as regards rodents and birds. Insects still get in and nothing will stop a determined raccoon who thinks there might be a tidbit left in the r.


4. Most odors are contained although the hot system tends to eliminate the worst ones any way.


5. Material is generally broken up by the action of bling and the compost may be a little faster and usually finer as a result.


6. Enclosed rs retain more moisture than open piles and thus use less water.

On the other hand, compost rs can be expensive to buy and restrict the size of the pile by their y nature. In certain circumstances though, they may make the difference between composting or not and one should compost. That is "black gold" after all.