Rolling Barrel Composter made of Used Food Barrel

http://envirosponsible.com/Rain_Barrels.html




Here's a demonstration video of our rolling composter made from a used food barrel.

In an urban survival or bugging in scenario, composters like this one in the video would be worth their weight in gold. The same goes for our fecal matter. After a prolonged period of bugging in, dealing with waste would be a big issue. We'd quickly recognize the opportunity to compost our bodily wastes and use the nutrient rich, biologically inert compost in our victory gardens. By using composter, you can become more self-sufficient by being able to grow plants in an almost closed system with very little input. The carbon cycle would be observed once more.

Category:

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[gillandstephen]

I use a barrel similar to this and even standing it up is difficult when it is 75% full never mind, "simply flip it around." Pay the money for some hinges and a couple of clasps and put a door in the side and roll it backward and forward. Still easier than turning a vertical bin, aerates better and keeps the vermin out.

Be careful of back injuries when standing your bin, as for flipping it around, You're joking right?

[envirosponsible]

@gillandstephen 75% is the maximum.  If you're comfortable with less weight then don't fill it as much. The door idea doesn't work well at all. I've tried a number of them. Why would turning the barrel around be difficult?

[watuwaitn4]

I like how she says "simply flip the barrel around", won't the barrel be heavy? might not be so easy to flip around.

[envirosponsible]

@watuwaitn4 It's recommended that the barrel not be filled over 75% of capacity, and that the organic matter is a 50/50 mix of brown (dead) and green (wet). If overloaded the barrel will be heavy. If the guidelines are heeded though the barrel is manageable.

[hlsour02]

I have three of these barrels, but I don't know where they came from...any advice on where to get tops for them or how I could make tops for them??

[envirosponsible]

@hlsour02 Hmmm, nothing comes to mind. Anyone else?

[HolieKrap]

DO A BARREL ROLL!!!!

[BrotherMalcolmW]

You are correct - if/when the barrel is ~50% full of compost (material post breakdown) then it will be WAY to heavy for most people to "simply turn it around" - unless you partake in strongman competitions!

[MrBoggerly]

I think this is a good idea!

[tsneds01]

Great Video!

[WurledPeas]

@BrotherMalcolmW Then I must be a strongman with my bad knees, bad back and tendonitis. I do this with a barrel over half full every day. My barely over 100# wife can turn it too.

[Art4booze]

It's stupid enough to think you need a barrel to make compost, but to think that the barrel needs to be rolled in one direction only is.. oh please, lady you look like a fool.

[TheBigBadWoIf]

isnt $39.99 a bit steep for a used barrel?

[arkansastrash320]

@hlsour02 You could cut out a piece of wood in a circle and mount a hinge on it and on the barrell and maybe use a slide bolt lock like is used on doors to lock it closed and thats all i can think of at the moment!

[shortywarn]

while good in therory this design sucks and doesn't work well

sorry but it's the truth,,,, and 50 bucks for barrels many are giving away sems steep in price

[TomsUniverse1]

so basicly... it's a barrel