DIY Compost Tumbler

!±8± DIY Compost Tumbler

In a previous article, I described the process by which you can easily and inexpensively make your own compost bin to help with gardening/food production on your homestead. Here, I would like to expand on that idea with a design for a mounted compost tumbler that will take a little more time and effort on your part, but can still be accomplished with relatively little expense and will benefit you even more in your quest for self-sufficiency and emergency preparedness efforts.

You'll need:

A large plastic barrel, size is up to you -- I suggest 30-55 gallon blue food-grade plastic 48 inch piece of 2 inch schedule 80 PVC Scrap lumber -- 2x4s, best if treated Door hinge Drill with various size bits Circular saw Other basic hand tools

Steps:

Drill a hole large enough to fit the section of PVC through in the top and bottom center of your barrel and then feed it through until it acts as an axle with the barrel lying on its side. Use the scrap 2x4s to build a stand: two boards on each side nailed together to form an "X" (four boards make two "Xs") and then nail the bottom points of both "Xs" to horizontal boards at the front and rear to create the stand. You should use six 2x4s to complete the whole thing. Place your barrel horizontally resting within the four top points of the two "Xs" and the whole thing now acts as a sort of cradle. Use the saw to remove a section from the center of the barrel, so that you can easily add and remove material from the composter. Use the door hinge and the plastic section you just removed to affix a permanent door in the side of your composter. Use the PVC as a handle by which to turn the barrel to aerate your compost.

And, you're done! Lehman's sells similar composters in the 0-0 range, but yours didn't cost you anywhere near that. For best results, I would also suggest that you paint your barrel dark green or even black before you begin, as it will retain heat better and thereby break down your compost more efficiently.