Here’s how to tumble your way to rich compost for your garden and plants.
WHAT YOU’LL NEED
WHAT YOU’LL DO
Prepare the Barrel
1. Wash out the barrel and drill two 7⁄8-inch holes halfway between the top and bottom. These holes are for the 3⁄4-inch galvanized pipe.
2. Drill 1⁄2-inch holes evenly spaced around the barrel.
Build a Sturdy Frame
3. Cut the 2-by-6-inch boards and assemble the frame as shown, using the hardware listed. The feet should be almost as long as the legs are high.
4. Drill 7⁄8-inch holes at the top of the legs and pass the 3⁄4-inch steel pipe through the hole in one leg, into the barrel and out through the leg on the other side. Screw on the pipe caps.
5. If the lid needs to be held in place, drill small holes around the lid to hook bungee cords.
COMPOSTING BASICS
Layer yard waste into the tumbler. Alternate green materials like grass clippings with brown ones like hay or fallen leaves. Put in some garden soil and kitchen waste such as veggie scraps, fruit peels, cereal, bread, crushed egg shells, tea bags, and coffee grounds and filters. Never use meat, poultry, fish, dairy or pet waste. That stuff can attract unwanted critters.
Bacteria breaks down the materials in your tumbler and turns it into rich organic compost. The decomposing material will become hot as the bacteria does its work. The material in your tumbler should be about as moist as a damp sponge. Spin your tumbler one or two times a week to mix the contents and keep it aerated.
HOW TO FIND A BARREL
Food barrels are used for things like juice or pickles. Try checking with large restaurants or food distributors. Also, there are companies that sell used food barrels.
my dad and I built a composter and it works great!
How long does it take for the compost to breakdown and is there a way to separate the newly added scraps, etc from the already broken down compost that is use-able?
The compost tumbler that boys life put on pintrest works great.I made one this
weekend i had all the material except for the pipe and the two end caps that cost me 11.89 + tax not bad. Great idea.
Thanks Degreaser
I live in the mountains. I would really like to build a compost tumbler but I am wondering if I have to put so many aeration holes in the tumbler. I don’t want the bears, lions, variuos creatures to smell it. Any advice? Thank you.
If you don’t want critters in your compost, don’t compost cooked food,{such as meats, anything with butter on it, ect}, only compost raw vegetable scraps, paper, yard waste, coffee grounds, eggshells.. .. you get the picture.
I dont think there is anyway that a bungee cord is going to keep the lid on when its upside down cause those cords stretch
Thank you for creating the composter. I will make one for my composting need.
have a great life
Looks pretty simple! Gonna try it!
cool
i just built mine today using these plans. its pretty awesome.
How often do you turn it? Daily? How long for chicken, horse or goat compost is ready? Any Recipes for it?
Thanks
The tutorial states that you should turn it 1-2 times per week. I’m not sure what you mean by “chicken, horse or goat compost”, but again, it clearly stated that you should NOT PUT ANIMAL WASTE into the compost. Hope this helps and is not too late!
Actually, it doesn’t say not to use animal waste. It specifies “pet” waste/ This is because dog and cat waste can contain pathogens harmful to humans. Composting cow, goat, sheep, horse, chicken, etc actually improves the output.
Actually all animals (goats, dogs, cats, cow, horses, etc) can potentially carry parasites that can be harmful to humans; especially if proper deworming protocols are not used.
S/He means poop.
do you drill holes in the top of the barrel also?
cool gonna try
i just made 1 how many vent holes do i need if any?
what dos this thing do
polish rooks
what is the little half moon looking cut out near the lid of the tumbler?
It Appears to be molded handels in the barrel
It’s Easy TO Make. I love it.:)