How to Build a Tumbling Composter

Steps

1. Buy a plastic drum, between 20 and 55 gallons (75-200 liters), and a 48 inch (1.25 meter) length of 2 inch (5 cm) schedule 80 PVC pipe, or a length of 1 1/2 to 2 inch (3.8-5 cm) galvanized steel pipe.
2. Drill holes in the center of the top and bottom of your drum, large enough for the pipe you are going to use for an axle.
3. Pass the pipe or post through the center holes.
4. Build a wooden saw buck to support the compost barrel. Nail 2 sets of 2x4s (pieces of wood that are 1.5″ × 3.5″ or 38×89 mm in terms of height and width, respectively) in an x-frame, and nail two 2x4s across the feet at the bottom for support.
5. Set the barrel with the pipe in the wooden 2x4 saw buck.
6. Drill holes in the body of the barrel with a 1-inch (2.5 cm) drill for aeration.
7. Rotate the barrel in the sawhorse frame using the pipe or post as an axle.
8. Cut a hole in the side and add simple hinges and a hasp to create a door with the piece you cut from the side of your drum.
9. Fill your drum composter with leaves or other compostable material, and allow your new "garden helper" to do its job. You will want to rotate the drum a few times every day or so, depending on the outdoor temperature. (See Tips below for ideas on how to add a handle.)
10. Check the contents occasionally, and when they are broken down by the bacteria in the drum, remove them to use for soil amending, mulch, and other purposes around your lawn and garden.

Tips

• If your barrel is a light color you might consider painting it a dark green, brown, or black. There are paints like Krylon that work particularly well on plastic. The dark color will absorb light and raise the temperature of your compost.
• If the contents of the drum are very dry, moistening them will accelerate the composting process, but do not saturate them with water.
• Composting (decomposing) occurs more quickly in warm weather.
• If you would like to add a handle to help you turn the barrel, drill a 1" (2.5 cm) hole all the way through one end of the pipe. Slide a piece of rebar or other round steel tubing that is 1" (2.5 cm) in diameter through the holes. The rebar should be about 2' (60cm) long. Center it so that you now have two handles on the end of the pipe and can grasp them to turn the barrel. You can cover them with pipe insulation for an easier grip.
• You could also build the tumbler on a diagonal axis (enough to create a slope) and put a plug in the bottom of the drum, which would allow you to add water that will help the decompostion and create a liquid fertilizer when drained from the drum.

Warnings

• Filling your composter with green (fresh cut) lawn trimmings or other material may cause it to generate too much heat, in which case it may begin to smolder, if the container is not rotated occasionally.

Things You'll Need

• One 20-55 gallon (72-200 liter) plastic drum.
• One 48 inch (1.25 meter)length of pipe with a 2 inch diameter (5 centimeter).
• 2X4 treated lumber.
• Nails
• Circular saw.
• Drill motor, hole saw, and drill bits.
• Basic hand tools. (hammer, measuring tape, square)
• Hinges

Related wikiHows

• How to Use Your Home Built Tumble Composter to Create Rich Compost
• How to Compost
• How to Build a Compost Bin
• How to Find Free Compost Ingredients
• How to Make Your Own Worm Compost System

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a picture of my Tiger Lilies

Here is a wonderful witchy way of gardening from THE DAILY OM Co-Creating with Nature Conscious Gardening Gardens offer us a perfect opportunity to reconnect to our true selves and remember our place in the natural world. Rather than approach our gardens as mere investments of energy, we can look at the entire process of gardening, from planting seeds to harvesting food, as a way of deepening our conscious relationship with the creative force of the universe. If we are willing to shift our intention from dominating, or at least directing nature, to co-creating with nature instead, we may discover a deep peace and renewed sense of wonder. To co-create we must first begin with a foundation of mutual respect. As you create your garden in partnership with nature, you can respect the earth, water, insects and animals by using organic seeds, soil and fertilizers. You can also communicate with the plants, insects and elements involved in your garden, and create a regular practice of stillness to listen for any messages they may have for you. When it comes time for harvesting fresh vegetables or picking beautiful blooms, you might even ask permission first. If you ask with an open heart, you will always receive an answer. Imagine what it would be like to surrender certain aspects of your human world to the precision and surety of the natural environment. You might decide, for example, to forego your calendar and plant in rhythm with the cycles of the moon. Or, you might choose to ignore clock time and water your garden when the sun hits a certain position in the sky. By opening your garden experience to more of nature’s input, you can become available to witness a whole universe of miracles, while engendering a greater sense of honor between the two worlds. When we recognize ourselves as allies, co-creators, with the earth and the natural world, our relationship to our environment begins to change. We no longer feel the need to control the circumstances around us and can relish in the perfection of all that is.

Today I am planting our garden with my dad. I don’t mind gardening, in fact I enjoy it to a certain extent, but I have a tendency to kill plants. Most of my horticultural endeavors have not turned out well. I like the work though: the planting, the weeding, the picking, and the cleaning. It keeps me busy for most of the summer if I am attentive.

We are also going to be planting two cherry trees, two apple trees, and an Asian pear tree soon, too. We planted two peach trees and a cherry tree last year, but the deer destroyed our cherry tree. We also have three full grown apple trees, but one is almost entirely dead and another is starting to die so we need to replace them. One apple tree will be the same as what we already grow (Haralson), which was planted by my grandfather. The other is going to be a dwarf 4-in-1 tree. The only apples I eat fresh are the ones from my backyard so planting these trees is of particular importance to me.

I also need to weed the strawberry patch and transplant a cottonwood today. When I was younger I avoided helping in the garden as much as possible. I hated the bugs and the heat. Now, I think my father is growing tired of my ambitious plans for the yard. I want to start a raspberry patch and plant a hazelnut tree, but those may have to wait another year.

I think part of my love for gardening is I like being at home and being self sufficient to a certain extent. We grind our own flour, bake our own bread, and basically live off our garden during the late summer. I like knowing that my hands helped produce what I eat. Eating is more of a celebration for me when I have watched the plants grow and picked it with my own hands. I have the same feeling towards cooking my own food.

Later tonight I am going fishing. Hopefully I finally catch something (fishing is another thing I don’t have a great record with). If nothing else it will be nice to sit by the water and practice my casting.

GARDEN STORES • LANDSCAPE • NURSERY