TreeHugger Picks: For the Domestic Composter
by Collin Dunn, Corvallis, OR, USA on 03.31.06
Now that spring has sprung and April is right around the corner, the time to start a garden is now! And what is great for gardens? Compost! If you've been meaning to get out and pick up something to help you turn organic waste into nutrient-rich soil additive, here are some we've featured for both indoors and out.
1) Compostadores are the first and only company, so far, that specialises in domestic composting in Europe.
2) BluePlanetSMART's globe-shaped composter is faster, more functional and better looking than many we've seen out there.
3) Happy Farmer Kitchen Composter is made from 70% recycled plastic and, according to a TH reader, doesn't smell at all!
4) NatureMill's onboard computer controls the mixing and air flow, brewing up delicious compost about every two weeks without funky compost odors or having to hand-turn the mixture.
5) Sharp's 24-hour kitchen composter reduces your kitchen waste by up to 92% in just 24 hours by breaking down and “digesting” organic food waste at room temp using a proprietary blend of microbes and yeast cells.
I bought a NatureMill and used it for a few months, but in the end was disappointed: it was noisy and smelly and in a small apartment those two features made it an unwelcome guest. I may have had a defective unit (they sent a repair kit a few weeks after I had already gotten rid of mine) but even so the issue is that decomposition starts in the top bin before it gets mixed into the middle bin, and each time you open the lid to put in new stuff you get greeted with quite a stench...even if you put lots of baking soda in there.
Not pictured in this listing is the The Envirocycle Composter - Compost Tea Maker available @ greenfeet. I purchased this about a year ago and put it on my roof deck. I cook regularly and produce a fair amount of kitchen waste. This little diddy has enabled me to start a roof garden (planting this week) and I have oodles of compost to get my garden off to a great start.
Perhaps it is not aesthetically as nice as the globe thing, but it certainly gets the job done!
I agree...check out the Envirocycle.. Full disclosure: we sell them. But, I have one in my own backyard and it works. I actually think it looks better than the blue globe one. Matches the "natural look" better.
I use the Happy Farmer. it really doesnt smell bad at all, and i usually get a LOT of tea. i fill it up fast because i use it to compost everything... onions, shrimp tails, egg shells... the bokashi is great too.
I also found these Sunmar Composters here at http://www.promolife.com/sun-mar-200-garden-composter/prod_643.html
Does anyone have any experience with this brand? I really only need it for the garden so I'm not too concerned with smell. And it definitely looks more natural than the ones pictured above!
They really should have mentioned the Tumbleweed Composter.
That model was Member Tested and Recommended by the National Home Garden Club.
I have one at my house, and it's great.
You can easily find them online, and also at some local garden centers.
I'd like to take a moment to advocate on behalf of the big old bucket or other low-tech reclaimed container. Your old leaky trash can or other similarly sized container makes a great composter with the minor addition of some air holes. Just keeping adding to it until it's full then turn the whole thing over once. The stuff that was on the bottom should be good to use and the stuff on top get some more time to compost. This system works fine.
I bought the Back porch compostumbler bin, which is there smaller one for those of us who live in apartments. I wanted to get a composter more for environmental concerns than actually having a need for compost. I was sorta weary at first, but it works! Its really good, and I've had it for about a year now. I can't use it in the cold, but otherwise never had a problem with it. Works well and produce more than enought compost for my needs.