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I think they stopped making the Earth Machine
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Posted by
bug_girl Z10 Sunset 17 (
My Page) on
Fri, Jul 22, 11 at 23:52
| I have been looking for years to get another one. I ended buying a look a like, which was ok, but I am just wondering why they are no more of them for sale. If anyone knows an online source for the Earth Machine Post it here. I am looking now for a friend of mine. |
Here is a link that might be useful: Photos of Earth Machines
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: I think they stopped making the Earth Machine
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| Appears to be still around. |
Here is a link that might be useful: The Earth Machine
RE: I think they stopped making the Earth Machine
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| I guess this means you like the Earth machine. I have recently aquired and started using one. Do they work? Can you put anything in it that you would a open compost pile. Do you leave the lid off? Tell me what you like about it. Thanks for any help or suggestions.... |
RE: I think they stopped making the Earth Machine
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- Posted by pt03 2b Southern Manitob (My Page) on
Sat, Jul 23, 11 at 10:05
RE: I think they stopped making the Earth Machine
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| That site has been around for years, but you can't buy one, it may direct you to places to buy, but they don't have them. I called the number on the site once years ago, and they could not direct me to where or how to buy. In re to the above question, you need to fill them with bagged browns to make the fruit peeling decompose. If you just put food in there, you will get a huge mess. If you add soil instead of browns you will only get soil back, not compost. It's a lot more work then you think it will be. It should be turned twice a week. |
sorry half asleep here
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| I had two of them one broke, I now have something else,an eco compost bin, which almost looks the same. Don't leave the lid off or flies will lay eggs in there. The maggots will hence forth eat all your compost. |
Here is a link that might be useful: I have my photos of them here compost bins
RE: I think they stopped making the Earth Machine
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| You do realize that if maggots eat your compost, eventually they will poop it out too. Maggot poo can make good compost. |
RE: I think they stopped making the Earth Machine
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| The manufacturer is still selling them.... |
Here is a link that might be useful: Norseman products
RE: I think they stopped making the Earth Machine
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I can't figure out, by looking at the site what is so special about them. Is there something they do that other composters don't?
I have several composters and most work the same way. You either turn them by hand or by twirling. My most recent and favorite is in sections, so that you don't have to dig way in to turn, you just take a section off, move it next to the other and fork into the next bin. The bin grows as the other gets smaller. Much less strain on the back.
I also have an old one I got at the dump for $5 that you push one side to twirl. Hard to explain. It looks like a bullet and tumbles end to end. I use this for more course materials and browns for a month or so, then, when it seems that things are starting to break down, I tip it into the main bin to finish. Makes things happen a lot faster. Nancy |
RE: I think they stopped making the Earth Machine
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| I just like them because they fit my style, but they did stop making them. I only want to know when they stopped now, so I can figure out the age of used bins. I knew someone with a tumbler, and it was awful. I could not turn it all, too heavy and it filled up with water, so it had fungus gnats. Some people like tumblers, but I think this kind. There is one you can buy new right now, but it's not a earth machine. They are better then the earth machine, but the door edge cracked right away, so they need to redesign the door. They are better because they is less segments. The segmented earth machines are terrible, they pop open. The lid is much easier to open also. I like these better even, but my friend was looking for a cheaper one then this. I suggested she buy this one anyway. It is worth the money even thought it is almost 200 dollars. These look prettier and less chucky ugly in the garden, but are still black. Black is better for heating. |
Here is a link that might be useful: Eco compost bin (like earth machine)
RE: I think they stopped making the Earth Machine
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| They did call me back from the Earth Machine website, but I found out. They still sell Earth Machines out of Canada but you have to buy in lots of 20 which brings the price down to 50 dollar each, but you have go get them in Canada or have them shipped which is so expensive it can't even be done. The shipping is more than costly then the earth machine. So for all practical reasons you can't get them in the US right now. |
I also found this bin but
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| I found a similar bin on amazon and you can buy on the company website sun joe or snow joe, for the same price. But, what is up with the pleats and ridges? The price is much better then eco bin with the cracking door, but I think those pleats are ugly and I don't see what benefit they have. There are no reviews for it yet. |
Here is a link that might be useful: amazon link to similar bin
Looks like the earth machine but it's green
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| I don't if this has a bottom that you can remove. I don't like a bottom screen, all the worms get stuck in the grill and its horrifying. I am very skeptical about the so called two part lid. I don't think that will do any good. But, it comes in lower then the eco at 156, but more then the sun joe pleated one. |
Here is a link that might be useful: rapid compost bin
RE: I think they stopped making the Earth Machine
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| I wonder how EM handles warranties? I sent Norseman an email about this as I have 3 EMs and the lids are developing cracks letting water in when it rains and the cracks will continue to get bigger from more rain seeping in eroding the plastic and the UV rays breaking down the plastic as well. I prefer my Soil Saver bins from Sam's Club I bought in Dec.2008, but I do still want the EMs to last and new lids would be great. Here's hoping they live up to their warranty. |
RE: I think they stopped making the Earth Machine
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| How old are those earth machines? This is why I would always go for younger plastic if possible. The plastic does age. Given a choice between a older bin and a younger bin always go younger. They can't last more then 10 years, I don't think so. So one should plan on replacing them. |
RE: I think they stopped making the Earth Machine
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| The EM warranty says it is 10 years free of cracking, and my 3 EN bins are 4.5-5 years old. |
RE: I think they stopped making the Earth Machine
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| Mine all lasted at least 10 years, but one of them, the lid cracked, because I dropped it. The plastic becomes brittle as it ages. That does seem very younger however to be cracking. But, maybe as it is hotter in Florida then in San Francisco? San Francisco has such a mild climate that it most be the ideal place for them to live a long time. The warranty is one of those things. If you have to ship it back to them, then it will be easier to buy a new one. Electric blankets have 10 year warranties, but they never last a year, however, no one actually mails the blanket back, they just buy a new one. So companies can get away with offering a warranty without anyone ever collecting. You should try to take them up on it, because that is just wrong. |
RE: I think they stopped making the Earth Machine
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| Yeah well since I have 3 of them and they all have the cracks developing, you'd think they'd be accommodating considering I've purchased several units. In any event not hearing back from them makes me feel they will probably just ignore my email completely. |
RE: I think they stopped making the Earth Machine
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| Bummer, so far the eco bin is great, the plastic is more flexible soft and less brittle. Brittle plastic cracks. I am composting full steam. I collected fallen apples from my neighborhood. |
RE: I think they stopped making the Earth Machine
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| Hi, if you are looking for a good quality composter - you can also find out where the Earth Machine composters are sold at a subsidized prices by local municipalities by calling the county/city. See for the complete list of counties/cities - http://www.earthmachine.com/municipal/home_composting_programs.html#to
p. All you need to to do is call the environmental dept of the county or teh public works dept of the county and ask if earth machine composter can be purchased. Just bought composter and the wing digger compost aerator for $35 at Kendall county env dept in Illinois. They have 15 more in stock as of Dec 2011. Good luck! |
RE: I think they stopped making the Earth Machine
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| I got one of those, free, from a municipal program. It came in segments & would NOT stay together no matter what we did. In addition, it was way too small for my needs. We finally through it away. Sorry, but I can't imagine anyone actually paying for one of these. |
RE: I think they stopped making the Earth Machine
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| You can make one for a fraction of the price. |
RE: I think they stopped making the Earth Machine
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| If anyone wants to buy a new one, I found them now on woodland direct. They were out of stock for a long time. It looks like they replaced the 3 segmented body one with a two segmented body one. I don't know if it falls apart like the others do. I decided not to buy a earth machine in flavor of a bin with less vents. Vents let the bad things come into the bin such as fruit flies and small rats. They want to sell you a segmented bin, because it cost them less money to ship it you in segments. The reason these bins cost so much is the shipping. But, you can get a one piece construction bin for the same price, so why get a two piece construction bin? Look for no segments and no vents. If you want to dry the compost out you can take off the lid in the sun for a few hours. |
Here is a link that might be useful: earth machine at woodland direct
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