Tumbling composters make turning easy

A compost tumbler like this won't work for me because the bears would just tear it apart no matter how sturdy the plastic is. But this bin looks strong and it rotates on rollers so turning the compost is easy. It has air vents and a twist off lid large enough to put in buckets at a time.

The fact that it sits on a curved pad on the ground is good because you don't have to rely on a stand which is troublesome with a few tumblers. However, if you don't like bending over, then the turning of the bin would be a drag.

This model is a little over $100 and holds 7 cubic feet of compost.

At Compost Bin

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Gurney's Catalogue has it all

Gurney's Seed and Nursery company is located right smack in the midwest and carries every aspect of seed and plant and supply that a gardener needs. They have no particular ideology other than supplying what they consider to be the most reliable and the best. They have both heirloom and hybrid varieties. They sell fruit and nut trees as well as vines and shrubs, hedges and grasses. They have house plants and windbreaks, just about anything you could possibly want.

They are promoting a sweet corn called "You gotta have it" which they claim is the sweetest and stays the sweetest longest of any corn you can grow. It is hybrid but not sugar enhanced. One feature I like about their online catalogue is that they include comments from growers who have tried the seed and the comments are negative as well as positive. For example, after reading the growers comments you have a good idea that you need to wait to plant it until the soil is really warmed up--trying to rush the season will most likely end in failure or at least poor germination. This is a very helpful section for anyone interested, like me, in giving this sweet corn a try.

At Gurney's Catalogue

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Worm Factory Composter for the house

Here is something very eco cool for your house. You don't have to compost outdoors with this worm factory composter. You can turn kitchen scraps, paper waste and cardboard into nutrient-rich soil for your plants. Composting speed is increased as air enters on all four sides of the base exposing the bottom to a free flow of fresh air. Compost creates heat and gases that rise through the system and exit out the 4 sides of the lid.

Worm castings are one of the richest forms of fertilizers available. The Worm Factory can be used indoors or outdoors allowing year round production and it is odorless making it great for apartments, kitchens, garages, and porches. You can use worms to recycle your waste, create quality compost and create a more sustainable lifestyle. Furthermore, this is made in the USA! So you can feel good about buying and using this composter, recycling your household waste and your garden will benefit!

At Worm Factory 360 Black Worm Composter®

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E-Z Compost Bin keeps the compost pile high and hot

In my yard, I'm tried many ways to make compost. I built a wooden bin nicely located so that I could throw in the garden and yard scraps outside the garden and shovel the finished compost out of the bin inside the garden. Very clever. Within a week, the bear had torn the bin apart and I had to fix the fence besides. So I like just to throw out my kitchen scraps and cover it with leaves. This compost bin will help keep the compost from spreading over an area too large for it to heat up. This 36 inch square by 30 inch high bin holds a full 22.5 cu ft. PVC coated steel wire panels with easy slip-in rods at the corners for quick assembly.

At E-Z Compost Bin

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Let it Rot!: The Gardener's Guide simplifies composting for you

Here is a very down to earth book about the process of turning garden and yard waste into compost. The book is comprehensive and detailed but never looses its humorous and clear instructions. It explains what you need to make compost work quickly and is a good book for winter reading.

At Let it Rot!: The Gardener's Guide to Composting (Third Edition) (Storey's Down-to-Earth Guides) (Paperback)

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Sleek Stainless-Steel Composter Keeper looks good on the countertop

Here's a good looking container to keep your compost odor free until you take it outside. It's stainless steel and very sleek so it can sit on the counter top or slide nicely under the sink. The lid fits tightly and it has a filter and three replacement filters to eliminate odors. The satin finish cleans easily with soapy water.

At Norpro GRIP-EZ Stainless-Steel Composter Keeper with 2-pc. Replacement Filter Set

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VermipostPro Red Wigglers for Organic Gardening and Composting

One thing that will keep growing all winter are earthworms in your compost pile. If you give them enough water and food scraps, newspaper or even cardboard, they will double every 90 days. In the spring, you'll be ready to add them to the garden to keep the soil friable and fertile. They can also be used indoors with houseplants.

At VermipostPro Red Wigglers for Organic Gardening and Composting

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Compost Innoculant keeps your compost cooking in the winter

If you are having trouble getting compost to heat up and decompose into humus, consider using a compost innoculant. Peaceful Valley Farms has this inoculant which contains 30 strains of aerobic bacteria, fungi, actinomycetes, and other beneficial microbes. It will decompose straw, food, manures and other green matter. Sawdust, needles and hardwood will take more innoculant, otherwise one ounce should do well in a compost bin.

At Compost Innoculant

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McCulloch Electric Chipper/Shredder for easy mulch and compost

Here is an item on my wish list. A chipper shredder makes mulch out of garden and pruning waste. McCulloch chipper/shredders make quick work out of twigs and small branches. The 3-way feed makes it easy to reduce your yard waste in a minimal amount of time. This will not do the big limbs, but it saves you packing your leaves in bags for pickup because you have made your own mulch. The shredded waste can also be composted.

At McCulloch MCS2001 14-Amp Electric Chipper/Shredder

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Flowtron The Ultimate Mulcher 8 Amp Electric Leaf Shredder

Here is another shredder that works on leaves, making a mulch out of them. It has settings for pine needles and grass and reduces 11 bags of leaves into one bag which can then be spread on vegetable and flower beds to protect them against frost and keep them moist. This mulcher works only on leaves and it's a good idea to wear eye and ear protection while using it. You won't have to pile bags and bags of leaves for the city to take away with this machine to help you.

At Flowtron LE-900 The Ultimate Mulcher 8 Amp Electric Leaf Shredder

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Tumbleweed Composter makes composting easy

This composter makes turning the compost easy. The Tumbleweed holds close to 60 gallons of material and makes compost quickly, in less than a month. It is sturdily built and gets rave reviews from those that have tried it. This composting system keeps all the garbage in a tight container and lets you rotate it until the compost is done. Great idea and I want one!

At Tumbleweed Composter

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Biodegradable/Compostable Lawn & Leaf Bags

The YardBuddy Lawn & Leaf Bag is a multi-wall paper bag designed to hold lawn and yard waste. It's ideal for grass clippings, leaves, twigs and trimmings. It holds together nicely when wet but are still compostable. You can leave it filled for the garbage truck or take it to the compost pile. A great improvement over the easily punctured and landfill nightmare that plastic bags have become.

At Wildwood YardBuddy Biodegradable/Compostable Lawn & Leaf Bags - 10-Pack #16000

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Gaiam Kitchen Compost Bucket An easy way to gather compostables

If you have a compost pile or want to start one, this is a good beginning. It takes garden and kitchen waste and stores them, keeping them odor free with a carbon filter, until you are ready to take the filled bucket outside to the compost pile. It is light and easy to carry when full and easily washable. You can also use Biobags which make it simple to empty and clean. No odors!
At Gaiam Kitchen Compost Bucket - Large - Green (9.6 Quart)

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Luster Leaf Rapitest Dial Compost Thermometer #1635

Now that you've read, Let It Rot, and you are thoroughly hooked on composting, you'll want your own thermometer to measure the temperature in your compost pile. The Luster Leaf Compost Thermometer is made of stainless steel and is 19" long. Knowing the temperature of the compost can help you decide when to water, when to add more material and when to aerate or turn the pile.

This thermometer can also be used in the spring to test soil temperature before you plant seeds and for checking hay bales (if they are warm, they have too much moisture and could eventually self-combust).

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