Today marked 30 days since I filled up the compost tumbler with henbit and other garden refuse.Faithfully I turned the compost tumbler a few turns
A couple of times I peaked inside to see what was going on.
Composting was going on. I could feel the heat in there. I could see the henbit leaves and stems becoming less identifiable as leaves and stems.
For my efforts, which involved setting the compost tumbler up and loading it with garden refuse, and then turning it when I thought about it, I got this nice wheelbarrow full of compost.
And this second wheelbarrow full of compost.
And this third partially full wheelbarrow of compost.
In the same amount of time, my traditional compost bin gave me nothing.
I'm convinced. The compost tumbler from World's Best Organic Compost Tumblers is a great addition to the garden. Thank you, Chris, for sending me this one to try out.
Truth be told, I could have harvested this compost a week or so earlier, I just didn't have time to do so. But I wish I had because then I'd be well on my way to getting another load of compost. Love the compost! Can't get enough of it, can we?
And I know I whined in a previous post that the compost tumbler was all black and ugly, but now I don't even mind that so much, since I got some great compost out of it for not much effort.
But I did find a better place to put it, where it will be mosly hidden from view, behind this Snowball Bush, next to the strawberry bed.
You can't even see it from the patio.
But even if I didn't have a place to tuck it away out of site, I'd still want it, because my, that was some nice compost. I want more!
Comments
I took pictures today of tulips with raindrops too. They won't last too much longer.
Gail
~ Monica
~plantgirl of
http://squarefootgardenblog.com
compost earth...that's our next project here!
Aimee, it does work remarkably well.
Curtis, Oh yes, we dream of more compost!
EAL, I think mine has been 'cooking' for longer, plus results will vary depending on what you put in it. Can't wait to see what you harvest out of yours.
Gail, this one is easy to turn.
Muum, maybe next year you could get one for your birthday. My compost piles are not easy to turn, so they never get turned, or rarely get turned.
The Garden Fairie, Yes, we can never seem to get enough compost.
SuzyQ, Yes, one day, maybe you will have a tumbler. I'd be checking Craigslist and other sources, too.
Plantgirl, If you are not already composting, you should start. You can start with a pile, nothing fancy and eventually you will get compost.
Chris, Good point. I loaded up the compost tumbler literally with all the henbit I weeded out, plus a shovelful or so of what was on top of my compost bin. I was not specific about greens and browns, just loaded it up. One thing on the henbit is that with the roots, there was soil attached, and probably some of the mulch in the paths of the garden, so that added to the brown.
My next batch is different, lots more trimmings from perennials, more weeds of different kinds and a few handfuls from the top of the compost bins. I didn't try to chop anything up, so this second batch may take longer.
NatureGirl, Thanks for stopping by and good luck with yor compost.
Lisa at Greenbow, It is a nice addition for me. I'll still have compost bins because I have too much for just the tumbler. Plus, the tumbler works best if it is loaded up at once and then allowed to do its thing.
Thanks all for the comments and questions.
Carol, May Dreams Gardens
*roots around couch cushions for $250*