The composting tumbler is a wonderful invention that is likely to be a truly positive improvement in the way you process the compost for your home garden. It is the difference between waiting for something to happen later and making something happen now. It is also potentially a major improvement in the way your composting area appears and should help to virtually eliminate any unwanted scent that may normally be a product of the composting process.   

A static composting pile, which represents the process referred to as “Anaerobic” composting in gardening terminology, generally just sits and slowly decomposes for an extensively long period of time before becoming really useful for your garden. In contrast, the method employed by composting tumblers is referred to as “Aerobic” composting. The aerobic method is like a space-age advancement in gardening technology, considering how much of a difference such a simple mechanical device can make in the composting process and how convenient it can be for your gardening needs.  It enables you to turn your table scraps into useful nutrients for your own garden with a fraction of the waiting involved with a simple pile.  

Let's take a look at the primary reasons for the composting tumbler's superiority in transforming food waste into garden gold. In many ways, it is all about microbes. The etymology of the word “Aerobic” arises from the roots of the words “air” and “life”. This simple description summarizes the general difference in the type of microbes found in the two systems. The microbes present in the oxygen based system are much more efficient and tend to produce less offensive gases than those found in the other system.  

So what exactly is a compost tumbler anyway? These wonderful machines are usually just a simple cylinder which is easily turned on its axis via a handle of some sort. It essentially tumbles the decomposing organic material inside and aerates the mix in the process. If you are truly industrious, you may wish to construct your own. However, it is generally advisable and easier for most home gardeners to buy a premade tumbler. It may still require a bit of assembly, yet likely a negligible effort compared to making your own from scratch.  

So how do we put this advanced method of composting to some practical use? When your tumbler is all set up and ready to roll (pun intended), you may want to add some nice kitchen compost to the mix. In general it is wise to avoid adding any animal products such as meat, dairy products, eggs, etc. These will likely cause a much more unpleasant composting experience. Just about everything in the fruit and vegetable realm makes great compost. This includes anything made from fruits and vegetables, like breads, rice, pastas, and so on. Also feel free to add other plant waste from around the house and garden. It may also be good to initially add some already finished compost to your bin to bulk it up and get the process going smoothly in the beginning. 

Keep cranking and everything should eventually come up roses…as long as it's a rose garden you plant.