How to Make a Compost Rotator

Organic gardens depend on a regular supply of compost. For best results, compost should be mixed or tumbled to keep the decomposition process working. Compost that is compacted in a pile loses oxygen, which is vital to the breakdown process. A compost rotator assures that everything is mixed well. The simplest compost rotator is a box with rollers. You should place the compost barrel in the frame and rotate it by hand every few days.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Never-used 50-gallon drum, with lid
• 10 feet of 3-inch PVC pipe
• Four 3 1/16-inch PVC pipe caps
• Four pieces of 2-inch by 4-inch stock wood 2 inches longer than barrel height
• Four pieces of 2-inch by 4-inch stock wood 2 inches longer than barrel diameter
• Four pieces of 2-inch by 4-inch by 18-inch stock wood
• Box of wood screws
• Power drill, 1/8-inch diameter drill bit
• Countersink bit
• ¼-inch diameter drill bit
• 3-inch diameter hole saw bit
• Axle grease
• PVC adhesive

1. Build a frame for the barrel using 2-inch by 4-inch stock wood. The length of the frame should be about 2 inches longer than the height of the barrel. The width of the frame should be 2 inches longer than the diameter of the barrel.

2. Use the 3-inch diameter hole saw bit and a power saw to cut a hole about 2 inches from each end of each long side of the frame made in Step 1, using the diagram which accompanies this step as a guide.

3. Cut two pieces of PVC pipe, 4 inches longer than the width of the box frame from outside front edge to outside back edge. Wipe each hole in the wood frame with a little axle grease. Slide the PVC pipe through the holes, leaving an inch or so sticking out on each side of the box frame.

4. Coat the ends of the pipe with PVC adhesive and allow to dry until tacky. Cap the ends of the PVC pipes. Allow the adhesive to dry overnight. You have now created a roller frame for your compost barrel.

5. Fill the compost barrel half full with a combination of grass clippings, leaves, a few shovels full of garden dirt, coffee grounds, tea bags, shredded newspaper and kitchen waste which does not have meat or bread scraps in it. Seal the lid.

6. Drill air holes in the lid and in the barrel bottom. Lay the barrel in the frame and roll it several turns every few days for six months. Wash your hands with soap and water after each time you roll the barrel. Open the barrel after six months and apply the compost inside to your garden. Refill the barrel and repeat Steps 5 and 6 as needed. To start a composting business, make enough barrels to supply the daily volume of compost needed to fill your orders.

Resources

• Small scale composting information
• Source for compost Tumblers