How the Tumbler Works

Position the Tumbler on a convenient area. To begin the cycle, fill the Tumbler with approximately four parts fresh organic material with a high nitrogen content (lawn cuttings, leaves, weeds, prunings, tea leaves, coffee grounds, or generally most organic material), to approximately one part dry material with a high carbon content (dried leaves, sawdust, wood shaving, shredded paper, straw etc.).

• Fill the Tumbler at least three parts full at one time - you do not add to it day to day.
• The fresher the material the better.
• The finer the material the better (if shredder is not available a lawn mower can be used to cut up weeds, leaves, prunings etc.).
• Generally the more lawn cuttings you have the better.
• Organic material high in nitrogen such as manures and/or 'Blood and Bone' may be added to enrich the mixture and accelerate decomposition.
• You do not add soil.
• The mixture must be moist but not too wet. If after a day or two moisture is draining from the bottom of the Tumbler or the material is rolling up into large matted balls inside the Tumbler, the moisture is too wet and more dry material is needed.

• There should be no bad odours or smells, and flies are not attracted.
• On the Deluxe Models the gearing handle and chain drive on the Tumbler will provide an easy turning action and will not slip.
• After a day or two the material will subside to approximately two thirds, allowing the mixture to tumble freely and the air to circulate.

After just 14 days you have a rich, natural, pleasant smelling, crumbly compost which you can empty straight from your Tumbler into a wheelbarrow for distribution onto your garden.

Any vegetable matter or prunings etc. that you accumulate during the 14 day cycle should be stored separately and not added to the load on a daily basis. Vegetable scraps wrapped in newspaper will store effectively for the duration of the cycle. The newspaper will also absorb valuable nutrients so they don't drain away. When ready to load the Tumbler, either shred this material or just pull it apart and load into the Tumbler.

To have an even mixture we would suggest loading one third of your mixture, rotate the Tumbler a few turns, add another one third, rotate mixture, then the final one third to fill the Tumbler. Give your Tumbler 5 to 6 revolutions once a day. When standing, the hatch should be to the top.

It is important to load the Tumbler 3 part full to generate the right degree of heat and to produce the required bacteriological breakdown. If the Tumbler is only half full it will not achieve the maximum effect.