Re: Compost Tumblers

**A*@aol.com**

I have made compost the slow way and have agreed with a late Prof. at UConn 
that the area of the pile needs to be at least 6ft.x 6ft. and 8x8 is better.  
I can only guess having one of those tumblers up close that the material that 
goes in must be very finely chopped and 80%-90% very high N stuff such as 
grass clippings.  I also watched a very cute little one in a backyard that 
did not seem to break down material anywhere near the rate at which material 
was put in it.  Even when extra N was added breakdown was just about 
imperceptible.  I have also seen piles 15+ ft. high and many yards long that 
were composed of coarse high carbon materials begin to decompose quickly with 
heavy natural rain.  Since this process is accomplished by microorganisms it 
seems that they are only demonstrating that there is some flexibility in the 
parameters needed for them to function.  I understand that wild yeasts used 
for sourdough bread vary in how fast etc. they work on dough.

I found that six metal stakes to create two bins with a common wall all made 
of one inch chicken wire was sufficient when I was growing lots of grass and 
battling weeds.  I merely threw the weeds on top, but the grass was stirred 
in a little with a manure fork.  The small volume of soil on the weeds was 
sufficient innoculum.  I very rarely sprayed water on the pile unless the 
weather had been dry for a couple of weeks.

I suspect that compost and yeast bread are similar in that the process needs 
a minimum volume with the common ordinary ingredients to function.  It is 
hard to make only two sourdough rolls, but a one pound loaf is not difficult.

Even though everything woody that went into my piles was shredded, the end 
product required screening before use as a soil amendment or as mulch in one 
case of severely sandy sloping soil.

I firmly believe in composting yard waste, and it is probably best done on 
the property where it originates, but I've found, sadly, that most people are 
not willing or able to do what is necessary to accomplish that process.  I do 
wish that more of the commercial and municipal processors turned their piles 
more often, because they are releasing some methane as well as slowing 
production of finished product.  I guess I'm still wishing for greater 
technical competence in ordinary workers.  There is so much to know these 
days compared to when Geo. Washington was young in Virginia.

Barbara
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