Using a tumbler composter - Ask Extension
After reading your article about composting, as well as other information about composting, I have some questions. I have two tumbler composters. Afte...
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Using a tumbler composter #133908
Asked June 12, 2013, 7:04 PM EDT
After reading your article about composting, as well as other information about composting, I have some questions. I have two tumbler composters. After one is filled with food scraps, I start on the other. Since I'm constantly eating, I'm constantly adding new scraps. I turn the tumblers every so often—maybe once every month or two. If they start to smell like rotten eggs, I add some higher carbon things, such as straw. Sometimes I add dirt, which gets rid of the odor quickly. For the last two years, I've had a full bin that hasn't had any new scraps added for around six months or more. In late winter, I dump that out in my garden, spread it around, and turn it into the dirt. It's clumpy.
I know I'm not composting according to the article's instructions, but exactly how far off am I? Also, I'm confused as to how to add food scraps to the tumbler. I'm always accumulating new scraps to add to the aging scraps, but I'm getting the impression all food scraps should be added at the same time and then left alone for the decomposition process. However, that would not be possible in my case.
Also, I live in downtown Silver Spring. I'd like to be able to make a pile outside of a bin, but I think it might attract rats and other unwanted animals. Any chance I could be wrong?
One last question: I've read in other sources that it's actually good to add dirt to compost, but your article says the opposite. I'm wondering why.
I know I'm not composting according to the article's instructions, but exactly how far off am I? Also, I'm confused as to how to add food scraps to the tumbler. I'm always accumulating new scraps to add to the aging scraps, but I'm getting the impression all food scraps should be added at the same time and then left alone for the decomposition process. However, that would not be possible in my case.
Also, I live in downtown Silver Spring. I'd like to be able to make a pile outside of a bin, but I think it might attract rats and other unwanted animals. Any chance I could be wrong?
One last question: I've read in other sources that it's actually good to add dirt to compost, but your article says the opposite. I'm wondering why.
Montgomery County Maryland
Expert Response
Your "urban" setting does provide some composting challenges. Elevated tumblers are a good idea to prevent rodents. On the one hand, tumblers are designed for "hot" composting—that is, filling the bin with the proper mix of materials and not adding additional materials until the finished compost is harvested. What you may try is keeping a ready supply of shredded dry leaves, sawdust, or straw next to your tumblers. Use one of the tumblers for your daily addition of kitchen scraps, and add an equal amount of the dry, carbonaceous material. Check the moisture content and add water only if needed. Give the tumbler a half turn. When the tumbler is filled, continue turning it each time you go to the other tumbler. Continue the process until the second tumbler is full, and then harvest the first tumbler. Continue the cycle. You can store finished or nearly finished compost in a metal or plastic trash can until you're ready to use it.
Adding soil to a compost pile or bin tends to deny oxygen to the microbes responsible for decomposing the materials. You want aerobic decomposition to occur for a better quality compost. Some people add a shovelful of soil to a compost bin as a starter, but it is not really necessary. The microbes are all around us and will begin feeding and reproducing when you provide them with nitrogen, carbon, oxygen and water.
Adding soil to a compost pile or bin tends to deny oxygen to the microbes responsible for decomposing the materials. You want aerobic decomposition to occur for a better quality compost. Some people add a shovelful of soil to a compost bin as a starter, but it is not really necessary. The microbes are all around us and will begin feeding and reproducing when you provide them with nitrogen, carbon, oxygen and water.
