How to compost in a tumbler for beginners?
Simply add your “green” (fresh leaves, grass, food scraps, coffee grounds, tea bags, anything wet and pungent) and “brown” (dry leaves, grass, shredded paper & cardboard) waste, close the lid, spin the compost tumbler a few times to mix it all up, and leave it alone until you have more to add. That’s it. Open the bin to fill it with your green and brown materials. Make sure you have the right ratio of green and brown. Add water if the mix is too dry. Finally, rotate and mix the compost to allow for oxygen flow.After the pile reaches around 80-90 degrees Fahrenheit, you want to stop adding greens and limit the amount of browns so that the compost can cure. Keep turning the piles regularly to add oxygen. If you have two bins, you should fill one completely, then start filling the second.After the pile reaches around 80-90 degrees Fahrenheit, you want to stop adding greens and limit the amount of browns so that the compost can cure. Keep turning the piles regularly to add oxygen. If you have two bins, you should fill one completely, then start filling the second.
Is it better to have compost in the sun or shade?
The composting process happens in sun or shade (think of the forest floor — lots of composting happens there), although the process occurs more quickly in a sunny spot. Compost in the sun also tends to dry out more, so you may need to moisten the pile more often. Good compost is produced by blending compostable materials like leafy ‘green’ matter with harder ‘brown’ matter. Green’ matter includes grass clippings, kitchen scraps, and soft green prunings. Brown’ matter is shredded woody branches, dry leaves, straw and shredded newspaper.Materials such as wood and leaves are high in lignin, which is harder to break down, especially when this material is large in size. Other materials, such as grass clippings, compost a lot faster. By ensuring you include some easily digestible materials, you can speed up composting.Hay (15 to 30:1): All types of spoiled hay make an excellent addition to compost piles. Leaves (50 to 80:1): Dead or dry are considered brown materials.
How long should compost take in a tumbler?
Under ideal conditions, you can convert waste to finished home compost in as little as three weeks in a sealed compost tumbler. Outdoor temperature, time of year, and the correct balance of carbon and nitrogen matter are factors that influence the speed of composting. Compost is ready to use after anywhere from one to 12 months, depending on the size of the materials placed in the compost system, the degree of management, and the intended use. Compost that will be used as a top dressing or mulch can be applied after the least amount of time.Under ideal conditions, you can convert waste to finished home compost in as little as three weeks in a sealed compost tumbler.Water should be added only when necessary and the tumbler should be turned every other day or so to keep all ingredients, microorganisms, and moisture evenly distributed. Within a few weeks, your Tumbling Composter will transform your scraps into this natural fertiliser named compost.This section describes how to maintain your pile over the weeks or months it will take to generate finished compost. The more often you water and turn the pile (1-2 times per week), the faster material will be composted, but don’t be discouraged if you can’t maintain it as frequently as is ideal.It has taken you about 2 months to fill your tumbler. Great! Now the composting begins. And if it is a small tumbler that is less than the needed 1 meter x 1 meter x 1 meter mass, it will take at least 3 to 6 months for that compost to finish.
How to speed up composting in a tumbler?
Frequent turning of the tumbler ensures adequate oxygen supply for the microorganisms, promoting faster decomposition. It is recommended that you turn the tumbler a few times each time you add material and several times a week. The correct moisture level is crucial for optimal decomposition. As a rule of thumb, actively decomposing materials should be turned every three to four days. Materials with slowed microbial activity can be turned less often. In tumblers, turning two times a week resulted in higher temperature and faster decomposition than turning once a week or once every other week (Figure 1).
Should a compost tumbler be in sun or shade?
Too much heat can quickly dry out the compost and kill off the vital microorganisms needed for decomposition. To avoid these issues, choose a partially shaded area that allows for some sunlight while protecting the compost tumbler from overheating. Location: Place your tumbler in a sunny spot, as the heat will help speed up decomposition. However, if your tumbler has plastic components, dappled shade is best to prevent the plastic from becoming distorted.