I have one of those tumblers that is suspose to make compost in 30 days from troy bilt, I must be doing something wrong, I think there is a formula, so much dirt, so much garbage from the kitchen, etc. also there is maggets in it, I didn" put any meat scrapes in it, just veg. scrapes. please help Irene

-- Irene texas (tkorsborn@cs.com), June 14, 2001

Answers

Sounds like you need more dry (carbon) matterial like dry leaves or sawdust, or old hay, the usual ratio is 30-1. 30 parts dry carbon stuff to 1 part green nitrogen stuff like green grass is high nitrogen, or blood meal, manure etc. Some dry matter and DE should fix your current mix.

-- Thumper (slrldr@aol.com), June 15, 2001.

My advise is to give it away. I have had one for 3 years and have yet to get decent compost from it, even with chicken manure. Here is the "recipe" though from my booklet. Recipe #1 - Use 12 parts fresh grass clippings, 3 parts sawdust, this equals a 34 to l carbon to nitrogen ratio. Recipe #2 (CnN ratio 29.5 to l) 3 parts straw, 3 parts kitchen waste, 9 parts fresh grass clippings. Recipe #3 - (35:l) 9 parts dead leaves, 3 parts fresh weeds, 3 parts dehydrated cow manure (store bought, not composted). Recipe #4 (32.6:1) 9 parts Fresh grass clippings, 3 parts kitchen waste, 3 parts black and white newsprint. Recipe #5 (33:l) - 7 parts fresh house manuure, 3 parts sawdust, 3 parts dead leaves. I use mine now as "garden art" and have gone back to just throwing everything into a square made from 4 wooden pallets in the center of my big garden area, and turning it once in a while. Much less frustrating. If you are the scientific type and can figure out the amount of carbon or nitrogen everything has and mix the proper ratios, I suppose it will work, it sounds so easy in the booklet, but I have not found it so. I hate to rain on your parade, but it is about the largest amount of money I have ever wasted.

-- Duffy (hazelm@tenforward.com), June 15, 2001.

Thanks a bunch, I will try it , What is DC on first answer, I am about to throw it out, I went out there this morn, and put a bunch of dead leaves in it, It smells like a sour garbage truck.and then a wasp didn"t like me turning it and stung my hand. It is turning into compost from hell. Love Irene

-- Irene texas (tkorsborn@cs.com), June 16, 2001.