Hi, I've been thinking for a long time now of starting off a compost pile.Well, to be precise, getting a compost bin.The type that really appealed to me was the tumble bin, appealing because for an older person who's slowly but surely losing what precious little strength they have left in these arms of mine, is thinking it might be a heck of a light easier to turn the compost barrel once a day rather than getting in there with a pitch fork or such to aerate the goodies.
My question is, has anyone got one of these and are they effective! how effective! you know the sort, you can get at Bunnings or Mitre 10 or even the warehouse.Questioning only because I've just read somewhere that the compost must be in contact with the ground (to encourage worms).That makes sense to me and I'm sure will be way preferable to a rotating composter but. so if anyone has or had one, your advice on going ahead or not with a rotating one would be very much appreciated.If they're not worth it then its back to good old fashioned hard slog :)
lythande1,
Nov 21, 2:30am
Well, you know you don't HAVE to turn it. It rots down anyway, might take a bit longer is all. Yes, worms come up, so could be tricky having it off the ground. Why not just use a plastic bin, don't turn it, just lift it off after it's broken down, it does you know. meanwhile start another while waiting.
kateley,
Nov 21, 2:55am
I have to agree with lythande - I'm very weak in the arms, too and don't think I could turn the tumbler type bin. But I have 3 of the normal black plastic bins and my weeds and scraps decompose reasonably quickly.I never turn it but try to alternate between 'wet' and 'dry' stuff when I put it in.
annies3,
Nov 21, 3:01am
We only have a compost heap and it just gets turned once from one bin into the next at which time it is layered with dry stuff like rotting balage then wet stuff like grass then horse manure or cow manure then some lime, and watered thats it, when we open it there are millions of worms and the whole has made nicely into dark sweet smelling compost, it is quite heavy to use though.
mzmercedes,
Nov 21, 5:42am
Hmmm, thanks for that - you might be right there kateley, even turning the tumble bin might be a problem if not now then in the future, praps I'd better check out the normal bins.Are they bottomless then! I didnt know that. (Im a complete and utter total beginner, never composted before in my life.)I hope they are at least lol.
matthews4,
Nov 21, 6:00am
I have 5 of the black bins - have a large garden.They do not have a bottom, and I put vege scraps, garden weedings, some animal manure, as we have a 10 acre block, newspaper, cardboard, light schrub trimmings, contents cats litter box, ash from fire, All just when I have it, and when full, put some lime or Blood and bone on top, then newspaper, and put top on, and move to next one.Things break down, to compost ready to use in garden.No trouble at all.Main thing with compost, NEVER put meat in, or any plants/grasses with seeds.they will all grow when you put compost in garden.Meat attracts mice.Happy gardening.
samanya,
Nov 12, 8:42am
I bought one of those small 'tumbler' type composters & haven't used it much .way prefer the 3 huge bins I have. I have had good results from the bottomless types that kately described. The Suttons compost tumbler works well with grass clippings & a few additives & it is a lot larger than those black .Mitre 10 numbers. http://www.gardeningaids.co.nz/sutton-tumbler-1.html Howyou'd go turning it, I don't know
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