Three (low-cost) Composters
You can build one of these $225 garden helpers to make compost for as little as $8.54!
March/April 1979
By the Mother Earth News staff
If there's one thing that most avid gardeners will agree upon, it's this: Compost is unequaled as a soil conditioner and en-richer. The wonderful substance fertilizes, aerates, and adds valuable humus to the soil... and, best of all, it's free!
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Yet many "tillers of the soil" avoid making and using this organic elixir at all ... because of the labor, care, and nurturing that is traditionally involved with maintaining a compost heap. Still other gardeners build elaborate compost bins, fill them, and then fret over the decomposing mounds like a hen over her chicks.
It's unfortunate that such an intimidating mystique has developed around such a basic substance. Compost is, after all, simply decayed organic matter, and all of the complicated techniques, recipes, and procedures that have been developed merely help Mother Nature do her job a little faster, and with less unpleasant odor. The fact is, you can have these advantages and simplicity, too ... with a homemade rotating composter barrel!
You've no doubt seen these composting drums advertised—and they are high-quality, "last a lifetime" units—but the commercial models usually carry a price tag of $225 or more! That's precisely why MOTHER'S researchers have developed three different build-'em-yourself compost tumblers that [1] are not only every bit as good as the commercial ones, but [2] can be constructed in an hour or two ... for as little as $8.54! Furthermore, you won't need a lot of fancy tools to build any one of these nifty tumblers. In fact, you can get along just fine with a handsaw, a power drill, an electric saber saw, a screwdriver, and a pair of pliers. The only thing you might want to purchase is a pop rivet tool, and you can even "work around" this item by merely bolting certain components together.
If you take a look at the photos and illustrations in this article, you'll see that these homemade revolving compost bins are not at all complex. In fact, regardless of the type you decide to build, there are only three basic parts: [1] the drum that holds the decomposing material, [2] a loading/unloading door on this drum, and [3] a stand to keep the whole shebang at a convenient level and to provide clearance for the drum to rotate. We've worked up three designs so that you'll be able to tailor your equipment to fill your own composting needs.
THE DRUM AND SKATE SOILMAKER
The simplest rotating drum composter design utilizes a standard 55-gallon barrel and a pair of steel roller skates. Start this one off by scrounging or buying a dent-free and nonrusted drum, then cut an access door into one end of this barrel (as shown in the illustration), using a saber saw equipped with a metal-cutting blade. (Be certain to leave the 1" sheet metal "lip" at the rounded edge of the container intact.)
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