Vegetables Gardening - Growing Organic Vegetables

Hi Jim,
I compost but not in a tumbler. I have read that it is very difficult to get the heated temperatures created in compost piles commercially created. My most successful heat came from layering wood dust from my husbands work shop with green and household garbage. However I compost in layers and I kept this next to the house, which I think added extra warmth. However, after the mexican lady bugs moved into my house via small cracks I decided to move the compost away from the house. My husband built me three bins and I alternate with one bin for finished compost. This fall while preparing my beds for winter I used a commercial heater element and layered the my plant waste. It has already cooked down about 8 inches. I let it cook until the spring and then I spread my compost and put mulch over it. Good luck with your bin and composting. You might want to check with the master gardered program in your state, usually associated with a university. Melanie michigan zone 6
On Nov 14, 2011, at 9:04 AM, James wrote:

> 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.
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> 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!
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> 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.
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> 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?
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> Jim Marconnet
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