Sun-Mar Garden Compost Tumbler Review

[@MarshallrN]

Composting is so easy to do and with this information, it gets that much more affective and saves a fortune. Thanks Jon.

[@MyBodyIsMyTemple]

I swear u have videos of everything I look for :)

[@billh8643]

Great Video. I had the JK270 a while back, Oct 2012 , I could never get the compost hot enough to where it would start steaming, until I saw Johns video secret ingredient, the pine pellets. Now my JK270 is steaming outside. Thanks again John for your helpful tips!!!

[@oregonk91]

I have had my Mantis Compost Tumbler (their original) for about 22 years. Handle and gears for turning and it has held up well with no problems (other than a branch crashing down on top of it & my husband had to punch the dent back out of it!) Still works like a charm. 22 cu. ft. Holds up to 18 bushels (168 gallons). II put all my big stuff in it (seasonal pruning, neighbor's grass clippings, fall leaves etc), and put most of my small kitchen scraps for a small compost tumbler near my back door. Love the Black Gold I get from it!

[@chicofrijoles]

Excellent video! Informative and practical, not to mention an enthusiastic host. I loved seeing all the models of composters in use, and how they operate. I also appreciated all the tips and suggestions, the paper model, breaking stuff up, pellets, rock dust. Wow! Excellent on the visual demonstration A++. Keep up the great work and I really appreciate you for making the video! You're making the world a better place!

[@GloriaBerrisch]

I love your passion. Thanks for sharing lots of videos here. I am learning through them.

[@lisachase2717]

Thank you, this was very informative as I want to get into composting. However, since this is the "Sun-Mar Garden Compost Tumbler Review," I would have loved a follow-up at the end as to whether or not it ended up being a good product.

[@organizersrus]

PLEASE write a book, John. We need a book from you with all of your great advice!

[@FieryWench77]

Wow! What a great video! I just found a used sun-mar and was trying to figure out how to use it properly. But now I’m excited to learn all the things from you!

[@messenjah71]

Dude, you rock. I bought a juicer based on your advice and now I'm buying a composter (Joraform) based on your advice. Cheers!

[@jameslong5762]

Bought the Joraform last year and love it, thank you!

[@growingyourgreens]

feed stores. they are used for horse bedding. usually around $7 for 40 pounds.

[@waltk420]

I gather leaves in the fall mostly maple leaves and compost all spring and summer. I use my fresh grass clippings and mowed up leafs from the fall and add to my pile and turn the new weeks batch into the middle. Once Ive reached 4 ft high I cover it and let it sit I end out with a large pile of compost by fall then I start another pile thats ready for spring. Ive been looking at a tumbler like this for food scraps and so forth now I just put them on top of a pile in the yard but thats wear I dig my fishing worms so just feeding the worms✌

[@strimples]

I have the sunmar 400, and you really need to keep it moist, like a damp rag or the compost just drys out in there. And turn it one full rotation once or twice a week, don't over spin it or it will all fall out.

[@oceanosteopathy9305]

Thanks John I am thankful for your videos, I especially like your style of sharing information as you are easy to follow and personable. Do you recommend to put humic shale in the composter, as a side note I only have the dutch standing style of composters (which are hard to dig out), and I use vermiculture (the red wigglers)? Yes, I have rats which have chewed holes and now have tunnels in the compost itself.

[@alan30189]

Suggestions for the Sun-Mar 400. Put it up on concrete blocks to raise it up a little. Just to get the right moisture, I think you should premix and wet the material down, before you put it into the composter. Then let it sit for a while and allow it to heat up weeks before turning. If turned too much and too soon, you wind up with unfinished material coming out. If it doesn't work, take out that center tube, seal the end where the material exits, and use it like you do the Swedish-made one.

[@ECOHEALTHLAB]

Very thoughtful video John. I sent it to a dear friend who loves making compost.

[@vladc3327]

Great video- some of the best information I have seen on tumbler style composters!

[@growingyourgreens]

not working as well as the joraform. while it is working, it has a much lower sustained temperature than both the joraform and the lifetime tumblers I use.

[@tvanbrown]

Looks like you're in Vegas John and the one thing that may be needed here is more moisture than the nitrogen products can produce. Without moisture you can't get the steam...especially in an open system...which I have a lot of problems with in LV. The closed, insulated system will always work better and especially in a low humidity environment. I ended up running a sprinkler head to my open system and while it's not the best...it's working better only because of that.

[@96leasmom]

John, have you ever tried the buried 5 gallon bucket compost technique? You remove the bottom of a bucket and dig out a hole in the ground and bury it half way and then put the lid on it. You can use it even in the winter time which is very cold and full of snow where I live. I haven't done it yet but I'm about too. I was direct composting all winter in which I tossed my scraps out into the beds even in the winter but now I need to create a compost area and thats my cheap solution.

[@espo1848]

John you do not know until you bought it, I find out my bin is very hard to turn when it is full due to my age, You gave us all the information, My compost bin is sit on the stand, So I took out some compost to put in my bed mix it in.

[@groovesme]

Nice score on that composter even if it doesn't work as advertised it looks well made and will certainly get the job done. I look forward to your updates on the compost progress. -Mark

[@PraveenSawh]

That Joraform composter looks really awsome.

[@OldGardenerGuy]

Perhaps you need to put some mesh over the hole on the inner tube so that only the finer particles get through and the larger ones are excluded.

[@timjturner]

Is it possible to put a wire mesh screen over the hole in second tube to filter the compost as it starts to break down? That would keep the big stuff from entering the finished tube before it is broke down...

[@GTM23669]

Hi John, Thank you for all the videos you are doing for us! I'm learning a lot. Had a thought about the Sun-Mar Com poster, have you tried putting a snug fit PVC pipe to avoid unfinished compost falling into the middle pipe? Also keep an eye on sprocket wheel, it can get damaged if something gets in between. My friend had a different one with sprockets eventually the handle broke off. Thanks again.

[@growingyourgreens]

It is possible to put a mesh over the second tube in the Sun-Mar 400.. That being said, its VERY difficult to get in there..

[@MrRichard261]

Learn Organic Gardening at GrowingYourGreens I've got two, sun-Mar 200, I found out accidentally that the centre tube /drum does come out, which means getting to the middle hole more easily, I decided to place a mesh over it which will not allow bigger twigs etc, and also more refined compost... Also just as you would wet down open compost piles, I found it not only heats up quickly and mine was producing compost with a month, personally I like these and would recommend them, especially if you can find them as I did for £5 and £10 each...

[@kjduford]

Does the finished compost still come out with the screen installed

[@richardsoto5560]

Hey john,Just curious at what time of year that you found the Lifetime Composter on clearance at Costco?

[@BryanKale777]

wow.. that joraform insulated tumbler really WORKS..., Hmmm I think OMRI requires 180○ and that'll do it quick...love it...

[@1972landcruiser]

What kinda of insulation was that in your Swiss tumbler, was it foam?

[@BryanKale777]

My buddy has a very large green "composTumbler" and I have to say of everything I've seen it's still 1 of the best he is disabled and can still crank it and turn the compost peace

[@jkmccandless9281]

Thank you John. Great video.

[@GreenPowerFarm]

I heard mushroom compost has to much salt to be good for vegetables :)

[@sann3119]

ok I have another idea for you, that works for me. I have been using 'Repels All' made by Bonide (it smells bad tho!) but it is ORGANIC. It has a yellow/lavender label. I would buy the small bottles & then one day I saw they had the gallon size on red tag clearance so I got it! Spray in the evening because it stinks real bad. I have squirrel, raccoon, possum, rat, neighbors cats, etc. which it DOES deter very well. It says it repels deer too, so I think it may be worth a try for you.

[@growingyourgreens]

all the tumblers I show are NOT air tight. there are air holes and small seams that let air in. Also the action of spinning introduces air into the composters. I enjoy spinning and checking my composters every day!

[@garthwunsch]

I just borrowed one of these SunMar units. I would not put wood chips in there and expect them to break down in one cycle. This compost will be bacteria dominant, and wood is broken down by fungi. You forgot to add water. It’s critical! Needs to be 50% moisture content. Sun Mart is not a thermophilic composting process. It doesn’t have enough volume to reach proper sustained temperatures. That only happens in a heap of at least one cubic yard/metre.

[@fredeb67]

How does air/oxygen get into your insulated Swiss Tumbler? Seems like you would have more anaerobic bacteria with a small oxygen supply if this is the case. Looking at what was inside looked very light in color and really moist.

[@organizersrus]

Just learning about composting. Didn't know that I could compost my orange peels as I thought I'd heard not to. ??

[@leasmith6804]

Hi appreciate what you have shown so far but I got a 200 Sun Mar 2nd hand and I need to know if yours produced any usable compost? I've been trying for 3 months and nothing now what? Winter will be here sooner than you think and I don't know what to do.Thank you for any help

[@jaythompson9510]

hey John i have an idea that might help keep your compost from coming out before its ready. the end where the compost goes into the center tube if you raise it up by placing a brick or two under that end it will help keep the compost from traveling down the length of the barrel. OR you could put some kind of grate over the hole that allows the compost to fall through to the center tube so that only broken down material goes through.

[@stephanieweis5094]

Do you use worms in your rotating bins?

[@jonmcallister6710]

John, You mention that some municipalities offer free compost. Would you trust to use this in your garden? Any concerns about waste from chemically-treated lawns in that compost?

[@mcmastertube]

What is the ventilation on the Jora-form like? I didn't see any vents on it, or in the video of construction of it...

[@ericnichols888]

Have you cut the center tube out yet? Use as a tumbler single batch ?

[@intuitiveinspiredart4366]

Sounds like you like the Swedish one best. What's the brand of it? I've seen people build them out of trash cans, but they put holes in them, and worms. Do you not use holes, in the desert?

[@Corne661]

Hi Sir great video's but saw that you use one that is isolated, well as far as i now if you put something hot in it it wil gif a small chemical reaction and some chemicals in the isolation will get into you compost.

[@growingyourgreens]

absolutely. Its great stuff.

[@beccasbythebay]

Hi john did you ever do an update on how the sun mar worked out? Thanks

[@BlackCat_2]

01:52 - Now what's wrong with screwing? :P Good video. :) - Heidi

[@benshuetrim9640]

I think John was living in a desert location in this video. You'd think the local councils there would be most keen to produce compost given their climate??

[@freedomfields5569]

i have SO many browns! a ridiculous amount. i have trees that constantly drop leaves, chickens that use saw dust in their coop, my trees even drop whole limbs. i only have a small patch of grass because of all my trees. what is a free way to get some greens?

[@kjduford]

Did you have a follow up to Sun mar composter?

[@ENRIQUEGOITIA]

HEy john how come the composters are all air tight or at least they look like they air tight. isnt air important for the bacteria? Would holes to add more air increase compost rate/speed

[@NotWatching666999]

I thought Citrus was a No No for compost piles. I would expect the Sun Mar will spit out green stuff until about 30 days. You might have to run it twice. Or even better that what comes out of the sun mar and put it into your other tumbler doing a double compost.

[@Brettjnash]

What video is he talking about @18:30 ? Compost delivered, I've searched his channel and nothing specific comes up. Unfortunately as spring is here I do not have time to watch all the videos right now.

[@VanAvakian]

is it bad that I have tons of flies in my compost... its a home made tumbler composter. I put quit a bit of holes around the whole thing.

[@alan30189]

I usually see the mix recommendations of 1 part high nitrogen material with two to three parts brown, carbon material. Too much green is not a good thing. Thoughts?

[@sann3119]

have you tried deer netting to put over your plants & smaller trees?

[@danteF7o7]

Yo Farmer John, thanks for the heads up on that joraform, I had been wanting to get into the composting game for a while now and thats exactly what i was looking for here in the burbs in Santa Rosa.I got one shipped out and coming in today the thing is all i have is nitrogen sources so unfortunately I'm going to have to get an external source of carbon for the time being. Where did you pick up those pine pellets? Because I'm guessing you probably already scoped out and found the best price aha

[@joel31093]

John - can I use only mushroom compost with rock dust in my raised bed garden?

[@BlackCat_2]

ha ha ha. Somehow I knew you would say something like that. *grin* - Heidi

[@growingyourgreens]

Closest one I have so far is: watch?v=arvdAANh1To Once you get your garden set up, would love to come by (if) im ever in the area and show others what could be done to help people with physical challenges.

[@thefaeryman]

what about the ashes from the wood stove, this winter I have been putting near some bushes, but can it be put in compost

[@arashshukran8788]

yes

[@elHippieSupremo]

+Rev John O'Toole Wood ashes are really alkaline. Maybe you could offset that with something acidic like coffee grounds. If you're near a Starbuck's -they give away their used grounds. Gas stations and restaurants just throw them away.

[@arashshukran8788]

Ashes is best for when adding to soil for plants

[@charlesjacques750]

Hey what is the name of the "this guy" metal insulated Swedish composter??

[@louniggel7079]

Juraform Compost Tumpler 2 models available 70 gal & 33 gal models $ 475 to $ 250 Expensive

[@GraceFrankHerman]

How do you recommend storing finished compost?

[@JayStarr102722]

I'm sure you have answered this before but, what do you do for a living?

[@Randomguru]

you have a nice collection of composters! ;)

[@garthwunsch]

How does that insulated unit get air into it to keep from going anaerobic... deadly to a garden.

[@robertpreston9707]

Check out the 5-star review in amazon. It seems the English instructions do not go far enough. The reviewer claims to get compost in about 1 month.

[@pulquedelmejor]

Is it true that compost has high salinity?? if so how do you fix that?

[@rocbola]

Hey John, have you ever made your own vermi-compost? (Worm castings)

[@darnell2010ada]

Turn it fewer times, once a week or more...

[@KatieDubow]

LOVE THIS! How can I get a review of my composter? Let's chat

[@joel31093]

Thanks london! I'm having a hard time sourcing organic compost? Any ideas?

[@1775novten]

Hmm, so no need to add water? Guess that's a rhetorical question at this point, since it seems to be doing fine. Maybe that has been my issue.

[@charlemangnekehi7083]

Merci pour votre vidéo, je suis prêt à mettre en pratique le compost tumbler chez moi

[@benice3117]

thank you good sir.

[@growingyourgreens]

As I mentioned before, I don't like screwing around unless its with a hot girl :)

[@MyMPPM]

great videos

[@GraceFrankHerman]

USA made ComposTumbler rivals the European made JoraForm composter in every way, including the insulation. BUY AMERICAN!

[@benice3117]

Where do you normally get wood pellets for cheap?

[@IamEddieLee]

But... doesn't the insulation inhibit the aeration?

[@espo1848]

where did you get at metal compost with the lock?

[@georgewashington8338]

thank you

[@nicolamiller9487]

Im in jamaica how can i get one of these tumbler

[@faeriegardener84]

I think the deer repellent is actually coyote pee in granular type form. So should be natural..

[@FlyGirl7221]

John do you ever add water to your compost.

[@nicolamiller9487]

Love that insolated one

[@benice3117]

Also how did the mar 400 work out for you?

[@MikeOrosco]

Can you use chopped up humans in your compost?

[@chrisso4869]

no, you cannot put meat or bones in your composter it will attract vermin (police)

[@dmfc593]

Do you add worms to your compost bins?

[@lonepalm486]

I live in subtropical Florida so it is too hot outside for my red wiggler worms and I only use them in the indoor stacking composting bins. Outdoor tumbling composters work by heat generated ideally between 120-130 F which will bake your worms, not to mention it would be cruel ;) to tumble them before you cooked them. I love my worms and they are great for indoor or outdoor composting but they digest organic material and it is not good for them to be hot, in sun, etc. Composting bins that work by heat do not use worms and those are put in sunny locations and are often dark colors to absorb heat. So, two different strategies.

[@JimTcarver]

Hey John,....compost delivered..1830? Its ok we know you meant Azomite.

[@sethregan2247]

does anyone add hair to the compost?

[@borisbmx]

#1

[@fkmbt21]

interesting, someone who wants to sell a sun mar composter 400

[@growingyourgreens]

Already have several update videos to edit and upload to show the progress :) Be sure to subscribe to my channel for all the updates.

[@morganmoody7241]

is nobody gonna talk about 2:25 orrrr??

[@justiniart]

Take a shot everytime he says compost or composter.

[@sann3119]

Haha! Say something incredibly shocking & then see what happens around you! ;-)