Vegetables Gardening - Growing Organic Vegetables

Several months ago I got a slightly used Mantis Compost-Twin. I used it in a rather hap-hazzard way to do one batch of compost. I never noticed it get hot, but it sure was reduced in volume. It was disappointing to see how little compost I got in that batch. Only about 3 small plastic wheelbarrow loads. Where I had hoped to put several inches onto a small front flower bed, I just got to sprinkle some compost on, before shoveling the pine bark back on top.

I realized that I'll need a lot of loads processed thru this tumbler to do my desired flower and garden beds to any significant depth of compost. Winter is rapidly approaching. And I'm not getting any younger!

I'm now trying to get 'er going to see how fast I can use this tumbler reasonably with local leaves (now!), grass clippings (earlier, but not now!), UCG, etc. to get a batch hot-composted thru a reasonable cool-down period. And then perhaps to "finish" the batch in a trash can composter, or simply in the vegetable bed that I hope to plant Sugar Snap peas in early next spring.

I've been cranking the tumbler about 5 rotations a day, and taking some temperature measurements using an IR thermometer to gauge progress. Anyone aware of any "serious" compost tumbler operators and/or groups?

Jim Marconnet

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