Re: Tips for compost tumbler

**trolleydriver** on 8/17/2017, 4:56 pm

I emptied the EnviroCycle Tumbler. As Sanderson discovered when she emptied her tumbler, I have damp lumpy material. I refilled the tumbler with leaves, grass/clover clippings and the dead pea vines from the SFG. According to the tumbler instructions it should be turned three times every three days. Maybe I will graph the compost temperatures and post them in "TrolleyDriver's Compost Thermometer" thread. Starting temperature today is 78F.

Reloaded ...

**sanderson** on 8/18/2017, 3:36 am

Welcome to the lumpy club. $glad you\'re here$ It's day 17 for my Lifetime and the temps are still in the 140-153*F range. I am leaving it open for several hours a day, now, and turning it daily. I'm hoping it will help reduce the moisture, let the temps drop and de-clump it a bit.

**trolleydriver** on 8/18/2017, 12:10 pm

@sanderson wrote:Welcome to the lumpy club. $glad you\'re here$ It's day 17 for my Lifetime and the temps are still in the 140-153*F range. I am leaving it open for several hours a day, now, and turning it daily. I'm hoping it will help reduce the moisture, let the temps drop and de-clump it a bit.

Wow those are great temps.

**sanderson** on 8/25/2017, 2:34 pm

Today is day #21 and I will be emptying my Lifetime tumbler. The temps are 120-130*F but it smells good. Starting a new one tomorrow with husband's help in picking up a new bail of straw, mowing some of the flakes, collecting Starbucks and horse manure. Tonight I will work my magic on the farmer market vendors for their culls! Razz

Ken will carry the buckets to the truck. You are probably wondering how I can claim that it's my compost when Ken does all the heavy lifting. Well, tomorrow I will cut up the culls and build #3 tumbler. 102*F What a Face

And turn and nurture it for days. Wink

**trolleydriver** on 8/25/2017, 5:09 pm

sanderson ... nice!!!

My tumbler is doing nothing. I added more chopped leaves and grass/clover clippings to bring the contents back up to full level. I rotated the bin many times during this process. Hopefully, it will start doing something. If not I may give it a shot of blood meal. And if that does not work this thing may find itself advertised on kijiji.

**sanderson** on 8/25/2017, 7:17 pm

@trolleydriver wrote:And if that does not work this thing may find itself advertised on kijiji.

I know how you feel. My Tumbler #1 stuff that was a bust is stored in the holey 33-gallon can. Just siting there. tongue

I hope #4 turns out as good as lumpy #2 and less-lumpy #3.

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