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Location

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Date Posted

western PA

I know there has been a mention of the compost tumbler on here and a buddy of mine has just bought one. I was wondering if anyone had any thoughts of using a 55 gallon plastic barrel as a quick composter? Just filling it up a little and rolling it on the ground to get it mixed up. And then filling it up once it got started. I just checked at a local barrel place and found one could be purchased for 15 bucks. They have the screw on lid type.

I know at one time we had some on the farm that we put feed in for the steers in the barn. We had to keep it in the shade away from the barn doors because the feed would get heated up.

I just figure i would see what all your thoughts were on it. Plus it would really piss off my buddy if i could get close to the same result for 15 bucks.

4/3/2007 9:29:28 AM

Montoursville, PA

You can save the fifteen bucks too. Just make a pile not higher than four feet and about five feet in diameter. Barrels are a pain in the butt. Piles work fine given time and a few turns to get the oxygen in there.

4/3/2007 8:38:15 PM

western PA

wouldn't the barrel make it quicker????

4/4/2007 9:16:58 AM

Indiana

I did the homemade barrel thing a couple years ago. I dont htink a 55 gal barrel has enough volume to get heated up well. you will probably do better mixing on the ground. with a larger pile

4/5/2007 10:01:30 AM

Montoursville, PA

I too love trinkets sometimes but...........I view those expensive barrels as image trinkets. Anyone can do ten times the work with half the labor used playing with barrel compost devises.

4/5/2007 10:49:19 AM

southwest MO

55 gallon... 1/2 of that in finished material.... You should shoot for yards of compost, not shovelfuls. Leave the tumbler for the folks who are restricted in the suburbs, by space and rules.... Not trying to offend.

4/5/2007 11:37:45 AM

western PA

Well I just got 10 of them from the cafeteria here in the complex were I work, for free. So I guess I will see how they work. Thanks all.

4/5/2007 2:18:36 PM

Ctpumpkin@optonline.net

Cut some vent holes in the barrels so that the compost can breathe.

4/5/2007 11:46:42 PM