I still gave it a good cleaning and multiple rinsings. The drum only had a small hole at the top for putting in a pump, so what I did was took my jigsaw and cut a part out to make a door by putting a hinge and handle on it. I then drilled about 50 holes on the sides. I hold the door closed with a tarp strap.

I filled it half way with fresh horse manure, 1/4 with fresh buffalo lawn clippings, and the rest with shredded paper, coffee grounds, eggshells, banana peels and other fruit trash. I also have put in about 3 or 4 dozen red nightcrawlers as they are all over in my soil. I put in some compost starter and water and now I go out and lay the barrel over and give it a good rolling and also take my garden claw in it to mix it.

Does this sound like a good way to do it, I have never really composted before, but I figured that a black barrel would be good for heat and since it is not as full each time I go to add to it it must be breaking down.

My new idea is I got a box made of plywood from an auto parts warehouse that was not used to ship anything harmful, just cheap tools. I am thinking about putting a hinge on it and a top to make another compost bin. As far as resisting rot on the ground, it is mounted on cedar so the skid steer could lift it will this work well too?

I had to dry out my compost today, even just the greens create too wet conditions. I had added small amount of water, because it was too dry, so then it got too wet. It is a very difficult balance. When it get too wet, the temp goes down. The coffee grounds from Starbucks seem to contain water also, and maybe things like fruits have moisture in them. I use the compost thermometer to check all the time now.

I think it's great that you are hand turning with the garden claw. I sort out things using disposable gloves and mix them up that way. I may put all the compost out the ground out of the bin and then put it back as a way to turn it. Or I can just transfer it from one bin to another. That is why I don't need to use a tumbler, and turning too often creates a lose of heat. So, if you get into the habit of measuring the heat, you may notice a heat lose upon turning, which can be your guide as too how much you want to turn. I think every two weeks works best.

The wooden bin can be used to store finished compost until you are ready to plant something or decide where you want to use it. With a tumbler you need to take out the done compost and leave the undone compost inside. If you don't the compost is never finished. The finished compost also creates heat lose. When you mix new stuff into finished compost you get more heat lose. Heat lose slows down the process. Adding soil to the bin or not removing finished compost slows it down because only the fresh greens and browns are going to create heat.