This is just an unofficial Composphere Compost Tumbler review. I saw one of these at my composting class and decided to give try rolling it, which is what you’re supposed to do to aerate the contents. First of all, it wasn’t easy to roll even though there wasn’t supposed to be that much in it. When I did get it to roll, water started pouring out of the holes in it. For me those two points, difficult to roll or tumble and fills with water when it rains would be deal breakers. I don’t know if others feel the same, but my instructor really didn’t like the fact that so much water was inside it. I’m open to having my mind changed if anyone has some good experiences to share.

Composphere Compost Tumbler review post from: My Home Composter where you can learn how to make compost, read about pros and cons of various compost containers and discuss experiences in home composting.

Envirocycle Backyard Compost Tumbler

One of the composters that I got to see during the Home Composting Workshop was the Envirocycle Backyard Compost Tumbler.  It made me laugh when I realized my perception of its shape had been distorted by my wide-screen monitor which makes everything look wide. Other than that, it was as I expected – small enough to have on my porch, although bigger and more obvious than the Worm Factory 360. It turned easily, but there wasn’t much in it and it seemed that it would do the job of keeping critters out. I could definitely see using this if I had room for two composters on my porch or in my backyard. Maybe at my next house!

A Look at the Envirocycle Backyard Compost Tumbler post from: My Home Composter where you can learn how to make compost, read about pros and cons of various compost containers and discuss experiences in home composting.

To me the term urban compost tumbler would indicate a compost tumbler that was suitable for a small indoor space or a small porch, deck or balcony. Otherwise, why use the term “urban” to describe it? That’s the definition that I’m using and so far, I haven’t really found anything that would qualify. The closest thing would be the Envirocycle Composter which is fairly small compared to most compost tumblers. It sits low and fits in a fairly small space (H 30.5 x W 25.5 x D 20.25). The only problem is that once it is full, you must wait several weeks for it to turn to compost before you can add more. That means that you either stop composting until it’s done, buy two Envirocycle Composters or else store your food waste until you can empty the composter.

That’s the reason I didn’t end up buying an urban compost tumbler. I wanted something small to which I could continually add food and paper waste and discovered that an upward migration worm bin system would fit my needs very well. You add food to the bottom tray until it is full and then put on another tray and start adding to it. The worms will leave the bottom tray when they are out of food, leaving behind nutrient-rich compost. You can pull that tray out and use the compost while the worms are happily working in the next tray. I haven’t needed a second tray yet, but the Worm Factory 360 that I am using fits my space and aesthetic needs perfectly and has required very little work on my part.

Another option that I originally thought might work for an urban composter is the Bokaski method. However it also needs to be filled up and then left alone for 10 days or so, leaving you in the same boat as the Envirocycle Composter. I also realized that Bokashi doesn’t complete the composting process, but requires being spread around on the ground to finish.

Of course the option that I am still considering is the Naturemill Composter. It requires a little bit of electricity as it is automatic, but otherwise seems like a great idea for an urban composter. It’s small, can be used in your kitchen and even works on meat and dairy. It’s fast and you can keep adding to it all the time and then empty the compost tray at the bottom when it’s ready. The biggest downside is that it’s pretty expensive. The reviews on the older models are mixed with then negative reviews usually reflecting problems issues with the hardware itself. I’m waiting to see how the reviews are for the newly released Naturemill Plus XE and Naturmill Pro XE.

I’ll continue my search for the best urban composter and maybe someday there will be something that qualifies for my definition of “urban compost tumbler”. For now, I’m happy with my choice of the Worm Factory 360 even though I never would have imagined having worms in my life. In truth, you barely know they are there.

photo credit: We-Present: Travel-UggBoy-The-Photographer!

Urban Compost Tumbler post from: My Home Composter where you can learn how to make compost, read about pros and cons of various compost containers and discuss experiences in home composting.

Before I decided to buy the Worm Factory 360, I was seriously considering the Envirocycle Composter.  It’s a small compost tumbler that can be used in the backyard or on the back porch. If my porch was a little bit larger, I probably would have chosen to go with this tumbler.  In fact if I find that my worms don’t keep up with my food waste, I may buy the Envirocycle next summer and use both. The reviews on Amazon are very strong and the price is comparable to the Worm Factory. It will keep critters out and make compost fairly quickly, which works for me.

I have found worms to be very easy so far, but if you’re not quite up to dealing with a worm composter, this is another nice option for home and urban composters.

Envirocycle Composter post from: My Home Composter where you can learn how to make compost, read about pros and cons of various compost containers and discuss experiences in home composting.