Can you talk to me about compost bins?

nabum

Can you recommend your compost bin? Do you have a traditional box-type bin, or a tumbler type bin? is there a big advantage to the tumbler bins? Anything else I should know before I give this a go?

 

TIA!

pixieprincss

I am all about simple and cheap. I've done a ground pile and a DIY bin from a trash can. Several blog entries here.

nabum

thanks - that's very helpful!

NiceAsstra

I read up on a million different types of bins, both DIY and store bought ones.  I decided to go with the easiest and cheapest first.  We bought a large Rubbermaid tote with locking handles and drilled about 10 holes in the bottom.  It sits on a few bricks.  That's it.  I have a small hand rake thingy that I stir it up with, or I give it a tumble around the yard.  I live in bear country and they've never touched it.  We've had it 2 years now and it works very well. 

 

HTH

Jen&Joe06

We have this one.

leighzlou

NiceAsstra:

I read up on a million different types of bins, both DIY and store bought ones.  I decided to go with the easiest and cheapest first.  We bought a large Rubbermaid tote with locking handles and drilled about 10 holes in the bottom.  It sits on a few bricks.  That's it.  I have a small hand rake thingy that I stir it up with, or I give it a tumble around the yard.  I live in bear country and they've never touched it.  We've had it 2 years now and it works very well. 

 

HTH

 Ditto this except without the bricks. It works just fine.

Lisa78

I have this one. It is a pricier option, but I really wanted a tumbler type bin. I absolutely love it.

cyprissa

I have a this tumbler but I bought it at Costco for $99. It's been great so far.

SuperGreen

I've heard that tumblers make compost faster, but I've always wondered how you get finished compost out of it.  If you're continually adding fresh scraps, wouldn't everything be mixed together?  I have a bin composter, it's shaped like a doghouse, I got it for $25 on Craigslist.  The finished compost is at the bottom, so I take a side off, scrap the new scraps to one corner, and dig out the finished compost.  Works great, we love our compost.