I'm looking into getting a compost tumbler, and am looking for suggestions, reviews, and opinions of those out on the market (see the URL below). We have a small yard (50 x 50 feet or so, with tropical and pseudotropical plants along the perimeter that generate a lot of material), and I'm leaning toward a tumbler that I can easily move elsewhere (along with the trash and recycling cans) when we have outdoor parties. This makes me lean toward the Bio-Orb or the Heavy Duty Compost Ball. I've read elsewhere that some of the rotating drums are hard to roll and get you covered in goop. However, I'm not sure that the ball solutions have enough fins to break up the compost, and the Bio-Orb got a bad review on ConsumerReports.org (although they only reviewed three compost systems). It seems that any of the ones fixed to a stand would be difficult to move once they are loaded up.

My planned method of operation is to rotate whatever tumbler I get once per week (I figure that one advantage of the balls is that I can roll them to wherever the sun is in the yard, then roll them back when I'm using the yard). I imagine I would eventually end up with two balls: One for older material that is ripening, and one to add new material to (i.e. two batches). Also, I'm planning to get a small mulcher (along the lines of the Flowtron LE-900, or perhaps something more durable) to break material down into as small a particulate size as practical.

I bought the Compostumbler on a local consignment sale for 20 bucks. This is the big one. From what I've read and heard from friends, the small compost orbs and tumblers just aren't big enough to generate anopugh heat to make decent product. It's possible I am using it wrong but I have yet to make a decent load of compost. My pile, however makes very nice compost.

My advice to you would be to make a pile somewhere on your property and buy a good book on composting.

Compost is not concrete which must be continuously

turned..And the mass of compost can become great, but with leaves, grass, manure with straw..

Thanks for the compost link. I have bookmarked it. I don't have a specific recommendation, because all of my compost piles are conventional "piles", but I do have a question and a comment. How level is your yard? If it is at all sloped, that is going to complicate rolling a heavy compost "ball" around.

Also, most rodents can gnaw through plastic quite easily and, if you compost any leftover "goodies" (potato peels, etc), they are likely to smell them and chew a hole in your plastic to get in. That's a reason for choosing a metal enclosure.

MM

http://www.motherearthnews.com/Nature-and-Environment/2003-04-01/Compost-Tumblers.aspx

"The pile must be big enough to hold heat. A hot pile decays much faster than a cold pile. Small piles are usually colder, because they have small cores that hold less heat. Small piles also dry out faster. A pile of about one cubic yard is big enough for year-round composting, even in cold-winter areas. Collect enough material to make a pile at least 1 cubic yard in volume (an open pile 5 feet wide at the base by 3 feet high holds about a cubic yard)."
"To achieve high enough composting temperatures to kill parasites, bacteria, and weed seeds, a pile must be at least three feet high. Otherwise, the heat generated in the initial stages will quickly dissipate before the pile can reach high enough temperatures. For best heating, try for a pile five to seven feet square on the bottom rising to three or four feet high."

I think if you are concerned about the neighbors and keeping a small yard attractive, a bin made of decorative concrete block might be a better investment. Your compost pile shouldn't stink unless it gets too wet.

I bought two Bio-Orbs so as to have two batches. It is true that once the orbs get full, they require some manhandling to roll around. But they also seem to work better than many have given credit for (albeit not like the 14 days that some manufacturers claim). Between February and June 2007, I was getting a good load of compost every 3 weeks. Keep in mind this is with two tumblers and alternating batches, so the cycle for a single tumbler was 6 weeks.

The slightly smaller size of the orbs didn't seem to have any problem getting up to temperature. They routinely get up to 80 degrees, typically up to 100 at some point in their cycle, and occasionally up to 120+, mainly depending on what I've put in there lately. They get up to 80+ within 24 of being loaded (from empty). BTW, a good winterizing trick: Roll your 80 degree compost ball next to your most tender plants to keep them warm overnight.

For my garden, it's not particularly hard to unload, as I just upend the whole thing in one spot and mix things around by hand. If I have a small area to spot, I'll just reach in and grab a handful.

The other tools that were invaluable were (a) a compost thermometer and (b) a Grizzly G0595 chipper/shredder.

Again, my selection criteria included that I be able to move the compost tumbler to an area out of view--not something that can be done with a stationary pile. Others may not have this restriction.

FWIW, the link below goes to my collection of composting articles.

I'm 6'5, I don't like bending over to push something around the ground. My back has enough problems as it is. Maybe if I had kids I could conscript into helping the ball would be a neat idea.

They also seem too small to do any reasonable volume.

I have one bin, one tumbler from the place linked to below, and am getting a second one (tumbler) this week to expand my capacity. The tumbler is pretty big, and while it doesn't have the volume of a large freeform pile, it does get really hot (I've seen it steam, literally), is easy (for me anyways) to turn, and the black plastic really attracts the sunlight. Plus, with a lid, it retains water, so it is waterwise as well.

The smaller tumblers that sit low on their stands, or those balls, just always screamed slipped disc to me.