I have used this tumbler for 3 years. I do use the center divider as I like to start at different times, I like to have one side finished as the other side is still decomposing As it fills up, it does get heavy, very heavy !!! I live in the shore region of NJ. In my area, we do not have leaves or lawn clippings to add to the compost. I use Horebedding Pellets. One thing I did learn is to cut up everything small it breaks down faster and allows more room in the bins as you add layers of green and brown. The one negative is the dumping, It's too low to the ground. So it takes more than one dump onto something flat or shallow container, then I need to transfer it into a 5-gallon bucket. When the compost is ready I like to dump it into a five-gallon bucket ( with holes for air and a loose lid) even if I'm not ready to use it. This way I can begin to make more in the empty side of the Tumbler, don't want that Tumbler just sitting around doing nothing! Just one more thing. Your wife will always be right !!!!!
Cool video! Just purchased a floor tumbler, not as spiffy as yours but it’ll get the job done! With your video I feel more then ready to begin container composting. Thankyou, and a happy new year!
I have a very similar unit made by Vivosun and, as you said, the center divider isn't really needed. However the gaps in the corners are intentional as to allow fluids and air to easily move around and not build up in one side or the other inside the composter. I installed the center divider in mine but if I had to do it again, I'd just leave it out. Once you've got the bin full and mixed, it should only take 4-6 weeks during warm weather to compost. Of course, if you've added more material in the mean time, you're going to have to screen it out when you remove compost as it's not going to be broken down. Just toss it right back into the composter so it can keep going. You really only need to turn it once or twice per week to let bacteria and whatnot heat up and do their thing. Adding whole fruit or veggies isn't a great idea even if they're spoiled because it takes longer to break down the big mass. It's better to cut or crush up even spoiled fruit before you add it to the composter. You can do this by throwing them in a reclosable plastic bag and mashing them with your hands to keep the mess down. I like to add stone fruit pits to my compost even though a lot of folks advise against it (they don't break down very easily) because I feel like they help grind stuff up when I'm tumbling the bin.
Great video JB. I mulch my leafs into my lawn to save on fertilizer. This is the first year trying it. I'm curious how you like this in a year or two. I had one that was similar to yours and the wind took it somewhere. Probably in the woods in the gully. I heard that a bottle of beer will help break down your leafs and grass clippings. Smells good too!
Hey Whitie!!! I’m curious to see how it breaks down over winter! I know I’ll need some compost in the springs so my fingers are crossed. I’ll have to research that beer trick. I’m interested to know now lol! Thanks for watching as always bud!
I have the same, but opted to keep the middle partition as it adds ridgity once the middle pole is inserted, also says on the instructions that its supposed to have a gap for air flow, i did debate removing it but i like having two sides for different stages in composting
It looks like I bought the same model here in Australia in mid-July 2023. I had some issues putting it together as you screw each side panel on to both ends. I also had the gaps with the middle 'baffle' as described, as well as the fact that mine was warped slightly. That said, it seemed to be quite stable once all the side panels and the 'axle' were in place, and seems to be functioning well now with very minimal amounts moving to the unused section. Pleased with it so far.
Great video. Very informative. My wife gave me the same compost tumbler for my bday. I left the round center piece. You are right. It doesn't line up. I added worms inside to speed up the process.
Hey latincaz adding worms is an EXCELLENT idea! It took a little while for mine to get going but now it turns over compost quick! Thanks for the positive feedback! 👍
@@bspoiled depending on temperature the worms may be okay. There was all kinds of stuff moving around in mine on really hot days last summer. Thanks for sharing Erin!
@@GarageGear good to know!! I always heard not to put them in during the summer, I live in GA so it does get brutally hot here, but thanks for correcting me! I love to learn new things and hate to spread misinformation. New to your channel but I can tell I’m going to get a lot out of it, thank you for your content! 🪱
@@bspoiled Awesome Erin! I used to live in Georgia a long time ago and remember the heat so worms in your climate may be questionable. Could always try it out with a few 🤷♂️. I have about 140 videos now on here and about 1/3 of those on lawn content so I imagine you’ll find something you’ll enjoy lol! Thanks for being a cool fan!👍
Thanks for the video JB! Love your enthusiasm! Have you considered adding a worm compost bin to your garage gear? They would love those leaves, and would produce the absolute best fertilizer in the world…Worm Castings! I have about 2 million worms in my herd now, lol. Worms are the secret to any great Garden :)
Hey Matt! I have considered the idea especially since I have some garden beds now but I don’t have the space for a worm farm at the moment. They do produce some of the best fertilizer and it’s benefits are outstanding! Thanks for watching!
Hi there! Appreciate the positive feedback! There’s a lot of factors that play into this! I just keep piling things on until my bin is full! Let it sit for about 2-3 weeks and do it’s thing and it’s usually ready for the gardens! I turn it a lot 3-4 times a weeks so this helps speed things up! If you want to make tons of compost you could get a second container . Let one sit while you fill the next. And rotate them! A lot of all natural gardeners say just keep composting because nature never quits! Thanks for watching
That was an awesome video. We just bought that identical Composter. My husband said the same thing you did about the putting it together but we did put in the center divider. I can’t wait to see the end results I wished I could see your results. Diid you post a video showing the end product? Also I loved your comment about your wife being right again. I played that over and over and over for my husband lol
Hey Sandrea! Congrats on your purchase. Your gardens will thank you! I did not make a follow up video. The garage gal is always right! Thanks for watching!
That's my compost bin too. Just a beginner but getting the right balance has resulted in a real earthy smell that is not rancid, muddy or dry. It keeps rodents out too. Bonus.
Hey Jan thanks for watching my video! Like you, I have found a good mix doesn’t smell bad at all. It’s really working well! I would say that my mix will be ready to go in the summer. Does your composter have the divider inside? Mine did not fit well!
@@GarageGear I got mine in ok. Instructions said it does not need to fit perfectly so I succeeded at that. 🙃🤣 but its working well and spinning without trouble.
@@Jan_YTview got it! Mine fit horribly! There was a lot of swearing involved lol! Let’s just say I only edited in about 10 percent of what I actually said putting it together. RU-vid probably wouldn’t have played my video haha! The divider just would not fit in properly. 😂
I’ve had mine for about five months. It works fine. Emptying it requires a large garbage can lid placed under each side. Next I empty into the finish compost pile. Just keep turning each month.
HI! Great vid. I assembled mine without the side pieces and had to start over. Any who you have corn cobs, stalks listed on both sides on the list...just curious.
Compost is a good idea, this one looks better than most plastic composts. BUT. I think it will be small for all the things you´re planning on putting there.
Ya know what else is awesome? You bud! Thanks for watching! I got hired by a dealership to do some car reviews for them. Got a 2021 Tacoma review coming next weekend. Stay tuned!
we live in south GA. have a lot of pine needles when we mow try not putting in compost be a lot do get into grass mixture will this hurt my copost as they seem to not decompose
Put the compost through a sifter, so no lumps spread over your seeds. You can add it to your seed started or use it as the seed starter. Just putting in my limited two cents, I hope you don't mind.
Thanks! It definitely help grind them up. I did find the mower to be a little more convenient because it sucked them right into the bag. Then I just poured them in. Thanks for checking out my channel GTAEUC!
Hey Life to the fullest! This composter is actually going to be two years old this fall! It really creates compost fast especially in the summertime. Worth every penny to me. I’ll see what I can do! 👍
I just put this same composter together. Then I got on RU-vid and searched it. That divider sucked, but it's in there. Should've watched this video first. Haha
Hey Adam, that center divider was a nightmare! I’ve had it for a year now and it makes compost quick. Tumble it regularly and it makes compost fast in the summer months. Thanks for watching bud! 👍
Hey Joyce! I can tell you this. Over the winter months, not much breaking down occurs. Temps are too low. But in the spring summer and fall months I usually have ready to go compost every month. Working out great for my gardens. Thanks for watching!
Hey Sara, I’m not to familiar with compost tea. I mainly just use this for whipping up some compost and spreading it on my gardens. I had a great year producing it and saved a lot of money. Plus all my plants and lawn benefited from it. He unit does have lots of tiny holes. The compost does need to get some air to do it’s thing. I saw scraps turn to compost within weeks over the summer. Thanks for checking out my channel! 👍
@@GarageGear Compost tea is made by soaking a mesh bag (cheese cloth, burlap bag, even an old nylon stocking) with compost inside in a bucket of water for a few hours. The compost tea gets much of the nutrients from the compost and is used to water plants. Gives your plants a steady source of nutrients with watering.
Do you have a lawnmower, especially one with a bag? Mulcher on steroids without the broken back that comes with manually putting them in and picking up the mess again to put it in the composter..
Hey Meg! All my mowers have a bag that I use to dump them into my composter. My Honda mulches everything up fine to fit it all in the composter too. Thanks for watching!
I have a LIFETIME compost tumbler. It’s a bit bigger than yours. It makes such a small amount of compost, it’s not really worth it. Also, the bins get really hard to turn when they’re full. They do not spin!!
Hey highlands, I just emptied mine about 90% and had just enough compost to put around all my plants and bushes in my yard. If you have large gardens then someone may want to consider a larger composter but for me and my property this unit is perfect. I spun it almost daily to help it do its job with no issues. Thanks for watching!
