What kind of bin is it and what do you intend to put in it?

There are a few good tutorials out there that would be a good 'first read' for a new composting enthusiast. The Brief Intro in the FAQ would also be a decent resource.

Lloyd

It is a 50 gal tumbling composter. It sorta looks like a barrel, that you can turn end to end.

Okay, I haven't used that type myself. What are you intending to put in it mostly and are you going to add materials on a frequent basis? Do you have a ready supply of high carbon materials (browns) handy?

Lloyd

Thanks for responding, I just got home from purchasing some plants for my raised bed. I'm going to use kitchen scraps. I have some shredded newspaper and some dry leaves. We use a lot of veggies and will have plenty of veggie and fruit peels. I will not be using any meat of any kind in it. I would like to add to for about month then wait for the first crop of compost and then the garden will be coming in, and will have lots of veggies to put in at that time. I'm saving my egg shells and coffee grounds also, but they are limited to 1 pot of coffee daily and maybe 2 to 3 eggs daily. I will not have lots of grass clipping, my hubby mows 2 or 3 times a week, and not bagger.

Good on hubby for not being a bagger!

Paper and especially leaves are good 'browns' so it sounds like you have that under control. When I used my 45 gallon tumbler it took a long time to get it filled. The soft matter seemed to disintegrate and the drum never seemed to fill. It took over 4 months to eventually "fill" and another month and a half before most of the stuff was well decomposed. That was based on two adults who eat out a lot and drink a lot of coffee. (basically lots of coffee grounds and smackerels of veggies)

You might be surprised at how little/slowly the tumbler fills.

Lloyd

Ok PT 03, I just added two brown paper bags of dead leaves. 1 paper bag of shredded news paper and 1/2 lb of potato peels, 1 lb of green grapes gone bad, 2 bunches of broccoli, green onion blades, 1/2 cup of coffee grounds, 4 crushed egg shells, some cauliflower leaves, 2 banana peels, 2 apples' peels and about 1/2 cup of "P" thanks to me. gonna put jar in basement for hubby to save me a little of his diabetic "P". Will add a little more tomorrow. (vegetable, and fruit peels and some more shredded paper.) I sure hope this stuff takes off. Oh I forgot I put in 1/2 gal of old potting soil left from last year. I sure hope that helps to get it started working.

Hey Shirls,
He isn't tied up in that old basement ...is he ;-)

How full did it get with all that? In about 24-36 hours it will be about half what it is tonight. Were the leaves shredded or whole?

I do like your mix, should oughta work.

Lloyd

No his shop is in the basement with "His" bathroom.
I put whole leaves in and it's about 2 thirds full. I will put a bag of shredded paper and more raw veggies in tomorrow. I purchase 21 papers a week and I get 2 delivered, so plenty of paper to use. I do a lot of cooking, because my Mom lives with me and she's also diabetic so I cook healthy most of the time. Lots of fruits and veggies. Thanks for all the help guys. One more question though. We average a whole cantaloupe every other day, if my daughter doesn't visit then it's every day. Should I Not put the seeds in? Even though I cook healthy, I'm sitting here eating a Russell Stover Truffle. Yummy

I put seeds in the tumblers. If the heat doesn't get them, they germinate and tumbling kills the seedling anyways.

Lloyd

Thanks again, will keep you posted on my progress

I added remains from a cantaloupe and a couple of banana peels and 2 cups of coffee. It was thirsty. and a bag of shredded paper this morning, and tumbled, tumbled and more tumbling, trying to mix up really good. Looks like nothing much happening yet, but I know 3 days it isn't gonna look like much. Bin still looks like it's 2/3 full though.

Ya if it is dry it will not compost. I just realized you said "bag" of shredded paper, how large is the bag?

Tumbling will 'fluff' it back up but that's what gets the air in there. If it isn't hot you can let it sit for a few days and just add stuff to the top and cover.

Lloyd

Brown paper bag, the kind with handles on it. Will add some more veggies after lunch, I'm having a salad for lunch so will have a few scraps.

They put handles on paper bags??!!

Lloyd

yep, very convenient too