Do It Yourself: Compost Tumblers

The biggest task when composting is turning the compost to keep the pile hot and "cooking." To make the job easier, tumbling composters rotate the compost for quicker breakdown of the materials, resulting in faster use for your garden. While you can spend hundreds of dollars to buy a commercial tumbler, there is a cheaper and easier way to make your own compost tumbler.

Compost Bin

To make a simple bin, you need a 55-gallon barrel, either plastic or metal. Cut a 1-inch hole into the center point of each end of the barrel and run a 1-inch diameter galvanized rod through the center of the barrel. The rod needs to be at least 5 feet long. With the rod in place, cut a few additional 1-inch holes on each end of the barrel for air flow and a few smaller holes along the body of the barrel for liquid to escape.

Along the side of the barrel, cut a door approximately 10-inches square. Reattach the cut-out door to the barrel with two hinges along one side of the door. Attach a padlock-style latch along the opposite side of the door. Use an actual padlock or a piece of leather cording or other material to hold the door securely closed when turning.

Compost Stand

A compost stand can be made using six 2-by-4-inch boards cut to 4 feet long. Lie two boards perpendicular to each other and line them up so they cross in the center of each board. Drill two holes into the intersection and secure the boards with bolts so they don't shift. Make a second set of crossed boards in the same way. Once the two "X"-shaped pieces of the frame are complete, stand them up and space them four feet apart. These pieces are the sides of your frame.

Place the next 2-by-4 about four inches off the ground, running horizontally so each end of the board is touching the side "X"s. Screw or nail this board to the sides. Along the other side of the frame, place the last board along the bottom, holding it roughly four inches off the ground. Secure the board. If you want to add additional support boards along the top in the same manner, you may.

To complete your compost tumbler, set the barrel over the top of the frame with the galvanized rod catching at the intersection of the side frames. Every few days, as you add kitchen scraps or yard waste to the composter, turn the bin on the rod around about four to six times to stir the contents and speed up the process. Even if you have nothing to add, turn your compost every few days to keep it "cooking."

References

• The Rodale Guide to Composting; Jerry Minnich and Marjorie Hunt; 1979

Resources

• How to Compost