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Compost Tumblers

Tumbling composters ease turning the pile

Compost tumblers make turning your compost pile easier. Instead of manually turning the pile with a pitchfork or shovel (or pushing it through the chambers of a multi-level bin like the Earthmaker), tumbling compost bins use a crank or gears. However, these types of compost bins don't usually hold as much organic waste and are more expensive per cubic foot of capacity. In addition, it can still be hard to turn the crank.

We found the Tumbleweed Compost Tumbler(*Est. $180) to be the most popular tumbling bin overall. Though one professional reviewer criticizes its inconvenient design and poor compost production, many other reviewers strongly disagree. For instance, in a product test by the National Home Gardening Club, more than two dozen club members evaluated the Tumbleweed on such factors as ease of use, design, durability and appearance. According to the results, published in late 2006, the Tumbleweed Compost Tumbler received no less than 8 out of 10 points in any category, and it earned an overall average of 8.9 out of 10 across all categories. A few testers commented that they found turning the full Tumbleweed more strenuous than they expected and expressed concern that it might be too unwieldy for older gardeners, but all were pleased with the Tumbleweed Compost Tumbler's compost production and several were able to obtain quality compost within four weeks.

The Tumbleweed Compost Tumbler also made the cut at PeoplePoweredMachines.com, where the proprietors conduct their own product testing before deciding which models to offer. The Tumbleweed is a bestseller at the online retailer CleanAirGardening.com and earns an average of four out of five stars in over 25 user reviews on Amazon.com, with construction and ease of use being the top selling points. It is also less expensive than most compost tumblers.

The Tumbleweed has a 26-inch-deep plastic barrel mounted on a frame of galvanized, tubular steel. A steel rod passes through the center of the barrel so that it can be flipped end over end to tumble the compost. The barrel has a lid on each end for filling and emptying. The unit stands 46 inches high and holds 7 to 8 cubic feet of compost. The closed, frame-mounted design keeps out most critters but, according to one Amazon.com reviewer, will not stop determined rats.

The Back Porch ComposTumbler (*Est. $240) is another popular option. This is a drum-shaped plastic tumbler with a hinged door and a capacity of 5 cubic feet. Like the Tumbleweed, it is mounted on a frame of tubular steel, but the Back Porch ComposTumber's central axle runs through the middle of the drum, allowing it to spin freely. The stand has wheels so that it can be pushed out into the garden for unloading. The Back Porch ComposTumber's compact dimensions (37 inches tall by 31 inches wide) make it a good choice for those with limited outdoor space and little yard waste. The Back Porch ComposTumbler is the smallest of three units in the ComposTumbler line; those with larger volumes of waste to process may prefer the larger Compact(*Est. $350) or Original (*Est. $445) models, sized at 12 and 22 cubic feet, respectively. These larger models include handles for turning the drum.

Users praise the Back Porch ComposTumbler for its performance, compact size and ease of operation. Several users note that it did a good job keeping out rodents. Reports on the process of assembling the unit are extremely mixed; many users complain of how difficult it is while others say they found it easy. These uneven reviews suggest that production quality may not be consistent. Another common complaint is that the unit's bottom drain tends to clog.

Like the ComposTumblers, Sun-Mar composters feature a rotating drum set on a stand and turned around a central axis. Their chief distinguishing feature is their AutoFlow design, which automatically spills compost out the bottom as it is finished. PeoplePoweredMachines.com, an online retailer of garden tools, describes this model as easy to load and turn. Reviewers at Gaiam gave high marks to both the 6.7-cubic-foot Sun-Mar 200 (*Est. $300) and the 13.4-cubic-foot Sun-Mar 400 (*Est. $400), although one noted that even the smaller 200 can be hard to turn when full. However, the consumer who had owned the Sun-Mar 200 longest complained that it fell apart after a few years.

Those who need a truly large-capacity tumbler might consider the Mantis ComposT-Twin (*Est. $500). This model features two internal chambers that together hold up to 25 cubic feet of material. This dual-chambered design allows owners to "cook" one batch of compost while adding fresh waste to the other side. A handle at the side of the unit can be cranked to rotate the barrel and mix the contents. AskToolTalk.com's reviewer notes a number of advantages to the Mantis ComposT-Twin, including ease of assembly and turning. However, this review also highlights some of this model's drawbacks. The reviewer notes the difficulty of rinsing out the ComposT-Twin's barrel completely, as well as problems with paint flaking off the housing and door design flaws that make the container's opening a bit too small for dumping in lawn clippings easily.

Reviewers at Amazon.com for the ComposT-Twin also note problems with its doors, calling them flimsy and cumbersome to operate. Still, many appreciate the fact that the ComposT-Twin is mounted high enough on its tubular frame to roll a directly under the barrel's doors to catch the compost. This tumbling compost bin is certainly more expensive than most, and its price, along with its dimensions (well over 5 feet in length and width), render it less suitable for those with limited space, less material to compost and stricter budgets. Mantis does advertise a one-year, risk-free trial of the ComposT-Twin for customers who order this compost bin directly from the manufacturer, however.