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Fri, Dec 7, 12 at 19:07
| I am a first-time composter trying to get a tumbler batch going. I notice that the ratio is 1:2 for the tumbler, but the ratio is 30:1 for a pile. Why the big difference? Is it necessary that I try and get a 1:2 ratio exactly? Thanks. |
Follow-Up Postings:
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| I have an evirocycle tumbler that was recently set up. Looking through the owners manual, it mentions a 50?50 mix of browns and greens. I have a large open piles inn the back I just throw everything in, usually set it up in the fall after leaves are done, it's always ready in June or July. I screen everything and put the big stuff back I'm sort of new at this, but enjoying the trip |
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| You probably are looking at diferent numbers for different things. The ratio of 1:2 most likely refers to the mix of materials, the ratio of green to brown which should be take with a large grain of salt. I shoot for a ratio of 3:1, 3 parts of high Carbon (brown) material such as shredded leaves to 1 part of high Nitrogen (green) material. The 30:1 ratio refers to the Carbon to Nitrogen ratio, C:N. Shredded leaves have a C:N ratio of between 40 and 80 to 1 (40:1 to 80:1) which makes them a "brown" while grass clippings have a C:N ratio of about 19:1 which makes them a "green". It does get sort of confusing at the beginning. |
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- Posted by tropical_thought San Francisco (My Page) on Mon, Dec 10, 12 at 17:53
| There is not really a difference. If anything tumblers need more browns if they are not well drained and they are never well drained. |
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| You're confusing the C:N recommended ratio of 30:1 with the volume of material ratio. Go to this calculator, select 'Leaves loose-dry' as the first ingredient and type in 18 for the CuFt amount. Then select 'Grass loose' and enter 9 CuFt. This is a 2:1 ratio by volume. The calculator will tell you what the C:N ratio is. Lloyd |
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- Posted by nancyjane_gardener USDA 8ish No CA (My Page) on Thu, Dec 13, 12 at 21:03
| Tropical, you're dissing tumblers again! ;) |
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- Posted by tropical_thought San Francisco (My Page) on Fri, Dec 14, 12 at 17:26
| Even my bin has a drainage problem in the winter, but draining into ground is best. Still I need more drainage. The ground is saturated with rain water in the winter and this is affecting drainage. |
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| Nacy Anne, its not dissing to give one's opinion based on personal observed use. It would be dissing to call something a Blanky-blank no good #$#! Tropical-thoughts comments matches my observations in the two years I used a tumbler. Material tended to clump up in the tumbler. I found the open bin system easier to use, even the turning aspect. |
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| My tumbler has a separate container under the barrel, with 3 drain holes opposite the loading door it sits draining constantly. Once it's full, the container may be emptied and used as compost tea..I read it must be diluted on a 1-10 ratio, as it is very powerful. |
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| If you are getting any liquid flowing from any compost, no matter the type of bin, then the mix has too much water in it. Too much water means the necessary air is displaced which results in an anaerobic process, a not desireable digestion process unless you wish to produce methane. |
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| "If you are getting any liquid flowing from any compost, no matter the type of bin, then the mix has too much water in it" Sorry what I meant was the holes in the tumbler ar matched up with the slots in the base, allowing the unit to drain the fluids when needed.. The only time I had any fluid was when I unknowingly dumped a bucket of pears that were almost liquidized into the tumbler and the fluid drained out the bottom.. |
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- Posted by nancyjane_gardener USDA 8ish No CA (My Page) on Wed, Dec 26, 12 at 21:33
| Robertz6- first of all, I'm NOT Nacey Anne! Second, if you look at the responses, I think Tropical realizes that I'm teasing her about her negativity to tumblers! We have disagreed before! No hard feelings! Lastly, I have had GREAT success, using a $5 tumbler from the dump, turning it maybe once a week, then turning it into a bin to "finish". Unfortunately, my $5 tumbler is falling apart after 11 years and my DH bought me a new one for Xmas. I don't quite know how this new one will function! I have several bags of shredded leaves waiting to go into the new bin, then I can start adding the greens and start going! Nancy |
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