How long does it take to produce compost? I seen some composters advertise compost in 14-21 days. Can anyone give me a more realistic estimate? thanks
2005923
It depends on the material used, how large the pieces are, and so forth. I can get compost out of my Lifetime tumbler in about three to four weeks, but I use a shredder and I prop the lid up a few inches with sticks to improve aeration. Fourteen to twenty-one days could be possible with the right material and ideal moisture condtions. I usually cycle my batches every five or six weeks when I'm keeping up with it.
251581
Idk. Save your money. Invest in a composting site and worms. It will work better last longer.
2086331
I have a Garden Gourmet compost bin which looks exactly like this one. The fence between the next door neighbor is about six feet (houses are close together). So the compost bins (I have two) are about five feet from the house. I've had the compost bins for 20 yrs and have never had an odor issue. I only use vegetable and plant matter. I don't know what it would take to create an odor but I must be doing something right.
2095375
I believe so, I found that in the Michigan winter, the worms went deeper into my compost pile. They are alive & eating well this summer after a long cold winter & the top being blown off the composter for most of the winter! Buy in the summer & they will multiply within 60 days!
1140441
This is not to prepare food but to compost it, it grinds/cuts leftovers into somewhat larger pieces than a food processor would. More importantly I usually use it for a week before I need to clean and empty it, and I have no problems with flies or odor. (we are a family of 4) . So I get a week's worth of composting done with one clean up. The food processor will give you a liquid mess which you'll need to clean after every use and you'll then need to somehow get to your outdoor compost site (I assume). The green cycler gives you manageable particulate pieces that can easily be transported in a bag. This is not to prepare food but to compost it, it grinds/cuts leftovers into somewhat larger pieces than a food processor would. More importantly I usually use it for a week before I need to clean and empty it, and I have no problems with flies or odor. (we are a family of 4) . So I get a week's worth of composting done with one clean up. The food processor will give you a liquid mess which you'll need to clean after every use and you'll then need to somehow get to your outdoor compost site (I assume). The green cycler gives you manageable particulate pieces that can easily be transported... » Read More This is not to prepare food but to compost it, it grinds/cuts leftovers into somewhat larger pieces than a food processor would. More importantly I usually use it for a week before I need to clean and empty it, and I have no problems with flies or odor. (we are a family of 4) . So I get a week's worth of composting done with one clean up. The food processor will give you a liquid mess which you'll need to clean after every use and you'll then need to somehow get to your outdoor compost site (I assume). The green cycler gives you manageable particulate pieces that can easily be transported in a bag. « Show Less
1602878
It depends on how successful you are, keeping the right consistency and components. Odor happens when the balance is off; it can take a few days to correct. It's bound to happen eventually. Even when all is good, there is an earthy smell of the compost when you open it. It will drip compost liquid 'tea' too. Mine is outside.
2160681
I got mine maybe 6 months ago. It was a bear to assemble. Unless something has changed recently, I would plan on taking 2-3 hours to put this together. I really love this composted though so to me it was worth it.
1367297
I have a compost heap out in my back yard. I take stuff out to it all year long. Some people have 2. One cooking and one building. You can do it however you like, obviously.
427119
Haven't done it yet but it seems that the easiest way would be simply to lift the bin off the compost. It's not heavy but it might take two people because of the size. Sift whatever compost is ready, then put the bin back and toss whatever's not ready back in.
1465432
We are two adults who make all our food "from scratch." It took 6 months for one side to get sort of filled. During the summer warmth it decomposed quite rapidly, once it got started. It took a couple of weeks for the process to start up. Now that it is winter, the other side is filling quite quickly, and as for any compost, cold weather slows the process down. I am not sure how it will work out capacity-wise over the whole winter.
1367296
A properly built compost pile will reach 150° in the center due to the microbial action on the organics in the pile. A compost pile will slow down in winter, but will continue to compost.
967353
Sorry, don't compost. I suggest you contact St. Gabriel Organics for info like that.
1817750
Not really sure. I covered a post and let it sit for 24 hours in 80 degree weather. It continued to smell after 24. Less intense but still there. The post was buried and the smell obviously disappeared. I imagine the smell will go away eventually as time goes on. The question is, how much time?
2005051
Composting time depends on temperature and moisture. To have garden-ready compost (for me) takes several months. I add as the year goes along and pull out compost during the summer for the garden. Remember to mix kitchen garbage with grass and leaves to get the proper mix of nutrients.
1942846
This is a difficult question to answer since there are SO many variables in the process (temp, green and brown mix, type of material, how often you are adding to and checking the compost, etc...). I started one side of the composter and kept adding to it for many weeks (the material will break down and take up less space as you go). Once it was about 3/4 full I switched to the other side and let the original side continue to compost while adding to the other side. Once the second side got 3/4 full I emptied the original side of it's composted material. I probably added 2 gallons of material 3 times per week and it took me about 6 months to get to the point of emptying the original side. This is a difficult question to answer since there are SO many variables in the process (temp, green and brown mix, type of material, how often you are adding to and checking the compost, etc...). I started one side of the composter and kept adding to it for many weeks (the material will break down and take up less space as you go). Once it was about 3/4 full I switched to the other side and let the original side continue to compost while adding to the other side. Once the second side got 3/4 full I emptied the original side of it's composted material. I probably added 2 gallons of material... » Read More This is a difficult question to answer since there are SO many variables in the process (temp, green and brown mix, type of material, how often you are adding to and checking the compost, etc...). I started one side of the composter and kept adding to it for many weeks (the material will break down and take up less space as you go). Once it was about 3/4 full I switched to the other side and let the original side continue to compost while adding to the other side. Once the second side got 3/4 full I emptied the original side of it's composted material. I probably added 2 gallons of material 3 times per week and it took me about 6 months to get to the point of emptying the original side. « Show Less
2005052
It's a great little composting bin for the first time composter. It can take a while depending on how you care for it. It definitely allows for breakdown if you turn it regularly and water it regularly. I put every stray worm I can find in there too to help out the process. I didn't have compost material after using it for 4 months but have had this for about a year now and have compost material for our garden this Spring.
568330
I haven't used this composter but had 4 of the lifetime tumblers before. So my answer is about generic timing and not this specific tumbler. We lived in the South-East then and in summer could turn waste into dirt in 4-6 weeks. In winter it doesn't stay hot enough to compost in these systems. If you are disciplined enough to remove plastic (stickers on your produce or plastic bags) and not put sticks from yard waste then the result is ready to go when it looks like dirt. Gardeners and farmers call compost black gold for a reason...good stuff.