Example Of Compost Tumblers

Operation Of Compost Tumblers

A compost tumbler is a barrel-shaped container that has some form of framework so that it can be rotated by hand for aeration purposes.


Fill the tumbler with the same ingredients as the usual heap and leave it for a few days to allow the composting to start. Turn regularly every couple of days. The turning action of the tumbler ensures that the composting bacteria are never short of oxygen, so they keep working at full speed. The constant mixing also ensures that all the ingredients are well composted and that there are no dry edges. This can be very useful when weed seeds or diseased material are being composted. A tumbler has the added benefit of being vermin-proof.

Benefits Of Compost Tumblers

Compost tumblers offer several benefits over the standard compost bin as the aeration rotation is designed to accelerate the decomposition process.


Compost tumblers are generally easy to use and come in a number of sizes and styles. Most tumbler are designed with optimum size to allow young and old to tumble even when full. It doesn’t even require a strong arm and strong back to turn a tumbler!


Unlike compost pile kept open at the backyard, tumblers are in closed environment and therefore much easier to retain moisture so your compost doesn’t dry out. Also in wet weather it won’t get too soggy. The enclosed environment also keeps unpleasant odor inside the compost tumbler. As they are fully enclosed they are pest proof from such common pests as squirrels, raccoons, rats and dogs.

Aeration Of Compost Tumblers

Simply fill the tumbler with the required materials and tumble every couple of days. In order to function properly, the tumbler needs to be filled all at once, so is not suitable for adding material a little at a time.


As aeration of the compost material in the tumbler is the key to speedy decomposition. Lack of air would produce a smelly decomposition which cannot be used in the garden. Most tumblers put heavy emphasis on aeration design with ease of use. At rotation, the tumbler rotating around its axis through the width of the bin would ensure contents fall from top to bottom of the tumbler and are thoroughly aerated. Some tumblers incorporate a breaker bar across the middle to help break up the contents as they fall.

Compost For Gardening

Compost tumblers tend to heat up very well, and after three weeks or so will produce an immature compost in which the original ingredients will be unrecognisable. At this stage it can be used directly on the garden, or stacked up under cover to mature to a finer product, leaving the tumbler free to be filled again.


Healthy plants come from a healthy and nutritious soil. By backyard composting using a tumbler, an environmentally friendly gardener produces his own natural black gold economically for his vegetables, herbs and flowers. This is turn provides healthy, safe, and great tasting food for him and his loved ones.