Planning a Vegetable Garden

Posts Tagged ‘Compost Tumbler’

A compost bin is an excellent idea if you have the garden space.  The bins can be anywhere from a beehive style to a full 3-bin system.

In general, compost bins are the largest of the composting tools (tumblers, kitchen-style and vermicomposting).  And if you have a larger garden, they are almost a necessity (unless you prefer to buy compost or have a free source elsewhere).  And as I stated in the what is compost posting, this stuff is black gold for your vegetable garden.

Types of Compost Bins

There are three main types of bins; they are:

• Beehive or pyramid style.
• Single pen bin.
• Multiple pen bin.

Each has advantages and disadvantages; what you choose will depend on the size of your garden, how much time you have to tend your bin and the yard space you have available.

Beehive or Pyramid (Enclosed) Bins

This type of compost bin is totally enclosed, sides and top.  There is usually a small door at the bottom where you can shovel out the finished compost.  The top opens up so you can add material (such as kitchen scraps) on an ongoing basis, once you have initially filled the bin and started the process.

The biggest advantage is that this type of compost bin is neat and looks better than an open bin.  Because it’s made of a dark plastic (usually), it warms up quickly.  As the compost is finished, you can shovel it from the bottom door, ready to put in your garden.

The disadvantages are that you can’t easily turn the compost as it’s cooking, to mix it well.  Also, the door at the bottom tends to be smaller than I’d like, for easy of shoveling out the finished compost.

This type of bin is suitable for a small to medium garden, where looks are important and/or you don’t have a lot of space available.

Single Pen Bin

These are probably the least expensive of all bin types.  They can be round or square, and are generally made out of a wire fencing type of material.

The advantages include being inexpensive and easy to move around the yard as needed.  They can be made small enough to easily lift the fencing, so you can move it to the side.  You can then take the existing compost pile and flip it into the new location, which aerates the pile well.  In addition, you can made the bin as small or as large as you like.

The disadvantages are if you don’t have the space to put the bin in another location, or you are physically unable to move the bin, you have to flip the compost in place.  Depending on the style of bin, this can be relatively easy or pretty difficult.

A single pen compost bin is good if you need more compost than is available in a beehive or pyramid container, or don’t want to spend the money for such a container.  Garden size:  small to medium, depending on the size of the bin.

Multi-Pen Compost Bins

If you have a large garden and the space for it, a multi-pen compost bin is what you want.  The most common are 3-pen bins.

The biggest advantage is that you can easily segregate the finished product from any “cooking” compost, and you can also be building a whole new pile at the same time.  You can generate a whole lot of compost with this style of bin, on an ongoing basis.

If your pens have an open front or a gate, they are super-easy to shovel the finished compost out, flip the cooking compost and add to a new pile.

The disadvantage is the space they occupy in the yard, which can be considerable if you have large pens.  Since I haven’t run across any ready-made multi-pen bins for sale, you’ll have to build one yourself.  Or have it built for you.

A multi-pen compost bin is wonderful for a medium to large garden.

Where to Buy a Compost Bin

If you’re looking for a beehive or pyramid style pin, you can check out this list of compost bins. You’ll also see some round single-bin pens.

As to building your own multi-pen system, I’d recommend a book on the subject. Actually, a good composting book that includes instructions to make pens is great, like The Rodale Book of Composting. This way you get information on making bins and also the best ways to use those compost bins.

A compost tumbler is an excellent idea if you don’t have the yard space for a compost bin (or just don’t want a compost bin).  Tumblers can give you plenty of sweet-smelling compost for your vegetable garden, with vitually none of the toil of a traditional bin.

How a Compost Tumbler Works

So, how do these tumblers work, and how long does it take to turn organic matter into rich compost?  What makes it easier than a standard compost bin?

A tumbler can either be flipped end-over-end (vertically) or horizontally in a rotating drum, depending on how it’s designed.  Here’s how it works.

Load organic matter (lawn clippings, leaves, sawdust, wood shavings, kitchen scraps, etc.) into the tumbler, usually until it’s 3/4 full.  Some tumblers recommend that you also add a small amount of compost bacteria (usually in a powder form) to get it all started.  Dampen the matter in the bin, but don’t get it soaking wet.

Then, it’s just a matter of  rotating the tumbler a few times each day.  Depending on the temperature, you can have finished compost in 4 to 8 weeks.  (Warmer weather lets the compost “cook” faster.)

Once you take all the compost out of the tumbler (there is a handy door for this), you can load it again and work on your next batch.

Advantages

For best results, compost piles should be turned a few times every couple days.  With a bin, this means using a shovel or pitchfork to move the compost around.  A compost tumbler lets you do it far more easily; just rotate the tumbler a few times.

Disadvantages

The majority of compost tumblers are meant to be loaded all at once, not a little bit here and a little bit there.  That means you need to have all your “ingredients” ready to load.  This may mean that you have to save up the kitchen scraps, which can get somewhat aromatic if you don’t have the storage container tightly sealed.  Of course, you don’t need to put in kitchen scraps, but it is part of the whole recycling idea.

Cost

Compost tumblers range from around $150 to $500, much of which depends on the capacity of the tumbler (the larger the tumbler, the higher the price).  However, you can make compost year around, a batch at a time.  In the winter, you’ll want to protect your tumbler, though, so that the ingredients don’t freeze up.

With minimal care, a compost tumber should last you years, and can pay for itself quickly with wonderfully rich compost for your vegetable garden.

Where to Get Tumblers

Here’s a list of some compost tumblers for you to check out (they are one of my favorite suppliers).