Composting 101 - how to get started if you want to compost

[@jmom5735]

Wow! You packed that super tight! I was under the impression that, like a washing machine, the stuff inside needs some wiggle room - so the compost gets some air circulation for the aerobic process. I fully admit that I do not have a tumbler and so cannot speak from actual experience - it was just my first thought. Will continue to follow to see what you get. Thanks for posting as I’m learning a lot - especially about bees - first year bee keeper in Northern Illinois and hoping my 3 hives make it through winter! Also, love the honey house and wish I had one! 🐝. Best wishes.

[@BrookHillHoneyMrGsHoneybees]

Despite it being very tight, there is still lots of airspace in there. Normally I wouldn't necessarily pack it so tight, but I misjudged how much material I had, and I really want to put my entire garden waste into it. Unfortunately I have been adding clippings and various items all summer... There is definitely air in there, in between all of the materials, so I am not too worried about it going anaerobic. My background is in the solid waste industry, so I have seen lots of composting, but with thousands of tons of material at a time, so this tumbler is something of a new process for me. Thanks for your comment - I spun it mid week and while I didn't open it up, clearly, it had settled and already cleared quite a bit of space. That is my biggest surprise so far. How much it reduces during the process.

[@ChrisColbjornsen]

love this one. i took a 55gal food dum and made one. looked like R2D2. Aluminum top lid. And i drilled in side ports ith screens for air.

[@jumpoffa5011]

1st to comment. Looks like you might need a bigger compost area. :-)

[@BrookHillHoneyMrGsHoneybees]

LOL Yeah, probably should get two of these, so you can have one composting while you add new stuff to the other one.