10 Reasons Why You Should Choose A Compost Barrel

A compost barrel is an ideal composting solution for several reasons. For one thing, it is a neat way to keep your compost pile. Rather than having a mound or pit of compost creating what could be an unsightly spectacle in your yard, a compost barrel is a much better alternative.

1. One of the best types of compost barrel is an oak barrel that was used for wine. These barrels have thick walls that insulate and lock in moisture.

2. The wooden walls hasten decomposition by raising temperatures to an optimal level. Compared to metal or plastic barrels, a wooden compost barrel achieves a faster rise in temperature.

3. Moreover, a wooden barrel can help you produce compost at a much faster rate than an open bin or compost pit.

4. Also, compared to a pit that can be very labor-intensive, requiring the manual turning of ingredients with a pitchfork at regular intervals or whenever new ingredients are added, a rotating barrel needs only a couple of spins to get the job done.

5. The tumbling action mixes material that has progressed farther in the decomposition process with fresh additions, serving as a catalyst for new material decay. Spinning the compost barrel also helps aeration, which hastens the decomposition of compost material even more.

6. Look for a compost barrel with a rod across the inside. This will ensure that no clump of compost remains a single globule for too long. Old lumps of compost can really help break down newly added material at a faster rate.

7. While a regular compost pile averages 6 to 8 weeks before the first batch of compost can be harvested, a compost barrel when spun daily can produce the initial compost batch in as little as 3 weeks!

8. With a compost barrel, you can easily use excess water to fertilize flower-producing houseplants, for instance; or you can just pour excess liquid out. The easy tilting motion will aid you either way.

9. With its tumbling motion aided by the barrel's weight, it is easier to transfer the contents of a compost barrel into a pail ready to be used as fertilizer. Compared to shoveling compost from a pit into a container, a barrel is much more convenient.

10. The common size is 25 inches across and 35 inches tall, with a capacity of around 50 gallons. Models are convenient to assemble sans tools. All it takes is a couple of people to raise the compost barrel while it is being set up by a third person.

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