Building a Compost Turner


In this episode of The Urban Homesteaders, Ben builds a compost turner using 100% salvaged materials. Sorry again for the sound… we still are without real video equipment, so we’re using a macbook as our only video recorder.

Stay tuned! We’re building another compost bin this week, and in the next month or so, we’ll be comparing the quality of compost from both!

Duration : 0:9:47


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25 Responses to “Building a Compost Turner”

  1. boboswin says:

    At least you are …
    At least you are out there trying..
    This is a really grade 3 approach. Good luck.

  2. BasementBen says:

    I love it! :D
    I love it! :D

  3. DeepestSleep says:

    “Two birds, one …
    “Two birds, one stone”…you cleaned up some junk from the environment, and you scored gold from another’s garbage!

  4. BasementBen says:

    That’s so …
    That’s so interesting! I was at a friend’s house, and I saw a big blue barrel in a creek, and took it with me :)

  5. reppend says:

    EHMMM.. ammi alcuni …
    EHMMM.. ammi alcuni spaghetti è ignorante italiano!

  6. willwaldron says:

    Hey guys loved your …
    Hey guys loved your video if you ever do it again from an old timer sustainable farmer stop breaking your back just pour the mix into around the post and put a hose on it !!
    You guys are great …

  7. saintice45 says:

    man!! FREE???? you …
    man!! FREE???? you guys got lucky….

  8. saintice45 says:

    Damn!! you’re right …
    !! you’re right….that really messes me up. ok put the compost on non-fruit bearing trees? like most palm trees?

  9. gardenwife says:

    Use caution – …
    Use caution – whatever the drum contained could be toxic to plants and/or people. Unless you know what the barrel contained, you could be putting your garden and yourself in danger. But get the barrel out of the river, at any rate. ;)

  10. mrmixjay says:

    Agli americani ce …
    Agli americani ce piace proprio di fare i video tutorial e di dire continuamente “EHMMM…EHMMM…EHMMM….” mentre parlano…..CHE AMERICANI!

    but however nice informative video ;-)

  11. AxlTDot says:

    Great job. So two …
    Great job. So two questions…

    1. How has it worked out now that you’ve had some time to use it?

    2. In particular, when I saw the construction method, I wondered whether the pole through the barrel would slowly wear out or bend bigger holes in the sides of the drum once you had weight in the barrel and turned it often. Has this been an issue?

    Thanks for posting!

  12. TogieTung says:

    Kristin Cox is so …
    Kristin Cox is so HOT for a greeny….

  13. dumb7890 says:

    I am glad the …
    I am glad the portland was free readymix would be a beter choice for seting a post you have a beutiful wife be good to her

  14. pitajames says:

    Super and seem to …
    Super and seem to be really nice people too. Great show.
    Thanks.

    One thing to think about though is the link between plastics and breast cancer. That is the leeching of toxins from platics into food products and then consumed. Perhaps alos from plastic bin to compost to fruit and vegetables.

    Just a thought
    Pita

  15. BeefyRalph says:

    Oh yes, I forgot to …
    Oh yes, I forgot to say that when I get it three feet high, after rolling it I pour the stuff into the remaining empty bin to get the bottom stuff onto the top, because the stuff at the bottom is usually the most composted. At that time I can break up any clumping that has developed, but usually the stuff is so well mixed by the mower that I don’t have much issue with that

  16. BeefyRalph says:

    Also, when I …
    Also, when I compost, I usually put 4 shovel fulls of grass clippings and other nitrogen based waste on the back lawn, then pile on a nice helping some dry carbon waste like shrub trimmings, leaves, and long twigs, then a shovel of garden dirt and another shovel of steer manure. Then I run over it with the lawn mower. The mower cuts everything down to a small size and mixes it well, so it breaks down quickly. I also urinate in my garbage cans every morning and at night before bed. Voodoo charm.

  17. BeefyRalph says:

    Thats a nice low …
    Thats a nice low cost solution. I use three trashcans I bought at the hardware store for ten bucks apiece. I drilled the holes just like you did. Instead of building a frame to turn them on, I just turn the garbage can on its side (with the lid on securely) and roll it about 15 feet across the yard and back. I don’t fill it more than three feet high, so I rotate through all three cans. By the time the third can is full, the first can is usually ready to put into the soil.

  18. JeffreyRodriguez says:

    I bought a couple …
    I bought a couple galvanized steel flanges, bolts, and washers to distribute the load of the barrel a bit. The flanges are $10 new, but I’m hoping it’ll preserve the integrity of my turner.

  19. gormley77 says:

    great job!
    I saw a …

    great job!
    I saw a blue plastic drum in the river I’m gonna
    salvage and make this composter.
    Thanks.

  20. MaJahBlak says:

    Excellent keep it …
    Excellent keep it up. pay it forward !

  21. SnickerFritzed says:

    Young love….so …
    Young love….so beautiful to see! Great ideas and all free!!!

  22. permacultureli says:

    very nice and …
    very nice and practical…clear and well done project…good technical explanation…good…where are you…?..

  23. kosmicslop says:

    This looks great. …
    This looks great. Because I’ve never composted before I did wonder how that aluminum pole is going to hold up as the barrel gets more and more full.

  24. cwaj says:

    Great opening, but …
    Great opening, but this is a video, not a TV show.
    Still, I love ya Guys!
    I have a big compost, but this would be great for kitchen scraps, etc.
    Now I gotta build one!

  25. qualqui says:

    Ahhhh…..I learned …
    Ahhhh…..I learned something new today, so its a good idea to turn the compost because this way it decomposes faster? You guys are AWESOME and GREEN! Way to go, livin’ in harmony with Mother Earth and not against her! 5 stars ya all!=)

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Posted on June 7th, 2009 by admin and filed under garden composter | 25 Comments »
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