Good review. I've seen these things online before and often wondered about the insulation. Is it just exposed styrofoam or is there a liner on the inside? I would think that over a few years the styrofoam would begin to disintegrate if left exposed to the stuff on the inside.

Would you be able to keep us up to speed on how well it works for you in the long term?

Thanks.

Lloyd

Glad to check in over time. Right now I am just trying to figure out the right mix of Greens and Pellets (with some shredded cardboard) and moisture. When it heated up at first, it got a little strong - not rotting or acid/cheese. More "acrid" as it put out a lot of steam through its air holes. I thought it might still be a bit too wet and added (too much) cardboard and the whole thing cooled down - presumably (and by appearance) too dry. So, this AM, I added some water and used a trick suggested for cold climates by the manufacturer - put in a hot water bottle with boiled water. Well, that did the trick, and by this evening it is hot and steaming with ambient temps of 25 C.

As for the lining - not styrofoam (which is polystyrene), but closed cell polyethylene. The stuff they use for insulation in airplanes, etc. Should be very resistant to disintegration. In fact, I just Googled it and found this on the American Foam Group website: "Polyethylene is lightweight, shatter proof, flexible, cost-effective, and impervious to mildew, mold, rot and bacteria."

I'm at a loss in understanding the need for such an odd and expensive device for making compost. The natural process of compost bins and piles on grade is organic and very simple. The construction of enclosures and routine turning of the compost with a garden fork is not exactly rocket science . . . what am I not seeing?

Thanks for that info on the insulation, I guess I should have done more research myself. Good to know. I'd appreciate hearing updates.

Arch...there can be numerous benefits to tumblers, granted not everyone has the same parameters, but for some, it does fit the bill. For example, in the original post, "...minimal amount of work, no risk of rodents, and no worms..."

Lloyd

..

>I'm at a loss in understanding the need for such an odd and expensive device for making compost. The natural process of compost bins and piles on grade is organic and very simple. The construction of enclosures and routine turning of the compost with a garden fork is not exactly rocket science . . . what am I not seeing?The hot composting process, the fastest method to generating compost, requires air. We usually get this by turning the compost with a shovel or pitch fork. Some folks want to turn their compost daily. Others insist you need to let it sit for a little while. The other method for determining when to turn the compost is to monitor the temperatures. After the pile temp starts to trail off from peak temperature - time to turn. One study determined that the optimal turning rate was 4.5 days (I saw it on the internet so it must be true).

Turning the compost is labor intensive. It's a lot of work. Large operations use skip loaders.

The idea behind tumblers is to making the turning part easier. Put everything in a container to keep in the heat and the moisture and keep the critters out and rotate the whole container to mix things up and mix in air. Some folks just use a barrel and role it on the ground. One big selling point on tumblers is it is supposed to make compost faster with regular turning and everything contained.

The expenses kick in when one wants a tumbler that works well. You look for ones that are easy to turn, easy to fill and, easy to empty. Insulation from the elements is another consideration. Some folks are willing to spend on aesthetic considerations. Maybe they don't want to have a redneck back yard like mine with pallet bins.

I don't see spending oodles of money on compost myself but then I'm cheap and care little about looks. I don't have to deal with snowy winters either.

to sense

..

Lloyd + rott - Thanks for those explanations, I get it!

My 3 bins aren't built to exacting redneck specifications (-; and I don't mind turning the contents regularly with a fork . . . even during sub-freezing weather, such as we're currently experiencing.

IMO, the aesthetics of a tumbler as featured by the OP, seems incongruous and excessively mechanical to a gardens' natural setting - which was partly my point. But I do understand the need for some gardeners.

Composting has been the realm of the gardener in the past, and that is the perspective that informs the "why bother with such an expensive and fancy gizmo." With renewed attention to landfills, "green" behaviors, etc., there are a growing number of people who are composting primarily to reduce the volume of trash (and methane produced in landfills), reduce the amount put down the disposal, and are only secondarily interested in the compost that results. They may not even be gardeners, to speak of.

I know people who are composting in NYC on an apartment balcony, and in the small fenced in area behind a garden apartment. It is to these folks, and to the "casual" gardener that this type of composting appeals.

I dont like the idea of that "plug in composter" its unnatural. Or maybe to complicated, too expensive for sure!

I look forward to reviews by fellow composters. It did seem a bit odd that the poster left out the $259 plus S&H cost, but perhaps I am being a bit too wary.

My experience has been much more positive with the simple and cheap DIY bins, rather than the purchased types. And winter composting has reinforced this belief. The mass of a four foot pile sitting on the ground stores heat much better than my tumbler ever did.

I made my tumbler just to see how fast and how hot and, very important to some, collect compost tea. It is rewarding to build something and see it work. I agree, compost happens, and now that I have been at it 7 years I do like the pile or heap method that I don't even turn. Still like to see that wisp of steam coming off the top in the winter, then in 2 years that black decayed garden gold.

Pete

I'd be careful calling the liquid coming out of any actively composting material as 'tea'. It would more correctly be called 'leachate' and may not be suitable for some applications.

Lloyd

Well said Richard.

I have one of those too, and I love it. A couple things to note are (1) there is some dripping involve, and (2) when it's cooking it gets somewhat smelly. As the OP said, it doesn't smell like rot, more like something acrid. I find that it smells like a very sweaty, disgusting, pair of wool socks, or the worst wet dog you could imagine. It's not that bad, but think of those issues when you decide where to put the composter.

Wondering about the best way to pre-start a batch of compost? We purchased a Jora for our school (in eastern Canada)... we had little success last year due to cold temps and of course our covid interruption.
We are interested in restarting but are heading into the winter season once again. Do you have any tips that could help us get started?