43 of 44 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
It really works. Updated review, 3 years later., July 7, 2008
This review is from: ComposTumbler 02001 Compact 12-Cubic-Foot Galvanized Metal Compost Bin (Lawn & Patio)
Well, I'm on my 2nd batch of compost now. Adjusted the recipe a little bit for this one (more saw dust - less newspaper)
Pros: The tumbler blends into your yard. It really does work that fast. I had a 20 degree change in the core temperature from yesterday to today. In less than 2 weeks I had compost that I put on my garden and I also got alot of compost tea to use. It's easy to spin the tumbler.
Cons: It's not so bad when you're filling the tumbler (you have to FILL it to get it to work within 2 weeks) but when it's time to get it out it's a bit of a pain. the height is not good for dumping so you have to use a shovel. next time we're going to try dumping into a concrete mixing tray.
the tomatoes and peppers and zucchini were very happy. i think i hit the spagetti squash with too much tea though. i dont think i diluted it enough
this item is expensive but if you're serious about composting it really does the job. easy to assemble. (more plastic than i was expecting but it seems like it will last if you take care of it)
UPDATE: July 2011. I've had my tumbler for a few years now. It is holding up very well. In the beginning I would hose it out after every batch. Now, not so much. This means the inside isn't new looking any more but the device is staying together and not rusting out. I've never had to do any repairs.
Some things I wish I knew when I got started:
1. Nothing i've ever done to my garden has had as high a payback as using compost. I wish I had started earlier.
2. It seems to be all about the leaves (Mow/Shred Them First!) and the spring grass. In the fall we put mowed leaves in the tumbler and store them there all winter (zone 6). We add kitchen scraps, but in the winter there are not as many. Mostly making sure to always put at least the coffee grounds, egg shells and banana peels (holy trinity of compost). In the spring when you mow the first few times (no chemicals!) that's the highest in nitrogen and your compost cooks quick.
3. I recently bought a norpro compost keeper and filters with bags to use in the kitchen. The keeper on Amazon is $32.50 right now. I only need to empty it once a week. This has made life soooo much easier. When we first got the tumbler we would save scraps in a 5 gallon bucket (outside) along with grass and newspaper, sawdust or leaves to make sure we had a full tumbler full at one time. Having a full tumbler all at once does give you compost faster. However a 5 gallon bucket of kitchen scraps is stinky and awful to lift and get into the tumbler. I do not do that any more. I just relax and let the tumbler fill up slowly. If I need it to kick start and heat up I just add some dried blood and that works fine. My partner makes homemade beer and adding the mash waste to my tumbler works really well also.
4. Using a cement mixing tray to empty the compost into works really well.
5. Dont put hot compost onto plants. They dont like it.
6. Making compost tea takes alot of trial and error. Different plants react differently. Compost gook that leaks out of the tumbler and gets mixed with water isnt necessarily what experts are talking about when they say compost tea. Something to do with science. All I know is that I stopped trying after a disaster attempting to use pantyhose as a 'tea' bag in a bucket. Not pretty.
7. Besides using the tumbler, I also always start a second batch on the ground. No kitchen scraps. Hay, leaves, dehydrated manure, grass, couple shovels of regular dirt. Layered. Sometimes I water it. Mostly I dont. Sometimes I turn it. Mostly I dont. It turns out great.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
34 of 35 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Give it a whirl, take it for a spin, May 28, 2008
I am with out a doubt it is a good product. It is easy to load, turn and unload. It is also easy to move around the yard if you want to move it, full or empty by tilting the composter over on to the drum and rolling it to the new position. If it is full you will need to eat your Wheaties before attempting this maneuver. Just don't try this except on smooth ground or you will dent the shell.
Fourteen day batches? Not a chance if you need to add material to the composter in the middle of the cycle. Adding fresh material starts the clock over because the new material needs to be broken down. The bottom line is that 14 day batches to make compost are not normally practical be cause yard waste doesn't meekly wait for 14 days before it needs to be taken care of. If you want 14 day batches; buy two machines or one machine with two compartments.
If I had one wish it would be for a split compartment on this size composter so that two batches of compost can be run at the same time. Having two compartments allows for two compost cycles; one that is starting and one that is finishing. With a drum of this size that is not practical because the door would be too small for loading and unloading.
My only beef with this product is the time it takes to assemble. Some parts of the assembly are difficult for one person to handle which extends the assembly time. The assembly directions are fair and would be better it they contained perspective drawings to high light important details of the assembly process. Pictures are nice sometimes but a lot of detail can be lost in the shadows.
One last observation; follow the composting instructions and turn the drum daily. Failure to do so will make your neighbors unhappy if the composting greens go rotten.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
25 of 25 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars
not worth the money, March 2, 2010
This review is from: ComposTumbler 02001 Compact 12-Cubic-Foot Galvanized Metal Compost Bin (Lawn & Patio)
I bought this almost 2 years ago and have already had to replace one of the metal sides as a hole rusted right through it with in one year. I do not think this product is worth the amount that is charged. I would look for something made all of compost plastic as metal is a poor choice. There are other products that charge a lot less that I would consider also.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No