Comments regarding ComposTumbler (PBM Group)

I can't say that I have had any direct dealings with this company, since I got my ComposTumbler secondhand from a gardening friend who was getting rid of it. Judging from the pictures, I must have an older version. However, it is holding up well, and makes pretty good compost, especially with our 90+ temperatures. I've had to go to an enclosed composting system, since my dogs like to raid the piles.
I would recommend this product.

If you garden within the suburbs like I do, the Back Porch Compost Tumbler (BPCT) is the way to go. It's far superior to turning piles with a pitch-fork (which is not even possible for many people), as well as to storing compost in bins.

I have composted using the pile and bin method, and I can say in most cases, it's more trouble than it's worth, not to mention a potential breeding ground for insects and small rodents - regardless of the materials added to your compost.

The BPCT is relatively easy to assemble, sturdy and pleasing to the eye. A really nice feature is that the BPCT can be moved around easily to other spots in your yard or on your patio.

If you purchase the BPCT, just be sure to take your time assembling it, especially taking care to position the door securely - there is also a door latch now, so your compost materials will stay securely inside the BPCT's heavy plastic drum.

I highly recommend this to those with average sized gardens, and it makes excellent dark rich compost.

- Kevin Willis
Southern, Ca.
klwillis.dsl@verizon.net

I've owned the large Compost Tumbler for nine years now. I've used it in Colorado, Alaska and now Montana. The past two years in Montana I've loaded it completely and have nice compost in 14 days. The compost does not looke like the pictures in the brochure but I can guarantee that all the weed seeds are dead due to the high temps and the constant shifting of the materials based on the tumbling design. I have all the original parts on my tumbler and it's been through all kinds of weather especially in North Pole Alaska! I emptied the tumbler in Alaska and sprayed water in to completely clean it out. In Colorado and now in Montana I leave stuff in it over the winter and there is sits until the weather warms up when I resume my active compost making.

A friend gave us the large tumbler because they downsized into a condo. I have had great results with this gadget but the quality of the compost after just 14 days is far from mature. 14 days is about right for the initial "hot" stage but a whole lot of decomposition still has to occur. To get to the full mature, deep, dark chocolate color normally takes 6 to 8 weeks even in the heat of Texas. I have tried the bin system and this tumbler really cuts down on the backbreaking work of turning piles with a shovel. I also have never gotten such deep brown/black color from a bin-generated compost as I do from the tumbler. Constant aeration is the key and the tumbler is about as easy as it gets. I have owned the tumbler now for over 7 years and the support frame is heavily rusted on the bottom rails. This section of the frame should be made of galvanized or stainless steel. I am also seeing corrosion along the seams of the tumbler wall galvanized sections. I have never cleaned out the tumbler (except for rough scraping) between batches and this remnant compost is probably contributing to the corrosion. My biggest complaint is that the door latches do not clear the axles carrying the gears when the hatch cover is removed and the latches are left loose. I find it useful to rock the tumbler back and forth on its axis to get it totally empty but my first attempt at doing this resulted in the hanging hatch latches catching on the axles. They got slightly bent and lost some of their holding power. I also disagree with how the company recommends rotating the tumbler such that the hatch is on the bottom. I feel that this puts too much stress on the latches and I have always left the hatch in the top position. I do not find that this hampers in any way the air flow and its ability to compost, however it has probably contributed to a "bowing" out of the seam on the opposite side of the tumbler. I would buy one of these tumblers again but I would only buy the large one. You really can't get the high temperatures unless you have approximately 1 cubic yard of composting material to be self-insulating. However, even in winter here in Texas the high temperatures in the pile cannot be sustained and composting takes even longer than 6 to 8 weeks.

Back in the beginning of 2006 I bought the Compact ComposTumbler which did arrive a little late due to their backlog, but that I can understand that as being reasonable. I single handily put it together in a few hours since I wasn't in a rush. I was short on having enough leaves but managed to dig up enough in a wooded area and with a supply of donkey manure I did get compost in 14 days. Due to the drought and lack of leaves I didn't make anymore until recently. I was so pleased with it that I ordered the Backporch CT also since I don't always have enough on hand to make a larger batch. All my calls requesting help where very politely handled and a few missing parts where sent with no problems. I did have a harder time putting the Backporch one together due to the sides where not marked and I had overlooked the small holes that tell them apart since I was outside in the heat wave trying to put it together. I have no complaints and my plants love the compost and tea. If it holds up it will be well worth the investment. I rate the company highly which doesn’t happen very often these days.

I have used the ComposTumbler for about a decade now and am about to order a second one. I have the large size and live in Houston. No, I don't get compost in 2 weeks, but I add nearly daily to the unbalanced mess inside. At first I did measure things as instructed, but in the real world I have more dry leaves than grass at one time of year and vice-versa at another time of year. I do use a microbial additive, but usually overload it and am bad about remembering to turn the thing. Also, it sits in the shade. Still I get 4-6 batches of compost a year, at the right times for my garden's needs. It's much slower in the winter, but ready when needed in the spring. During our super-hot summers it produces fast, so we can spread compost in June, wait out the hot,"dormant" period and have another batch ready for use in late August, when the plants start to revive. To give us more compost each time, I'm adding a second machine, but have to say that my original one has a rusted drum and may need replacement soon. I have been bad over the years in not thoroughly cleaning it out between batches, believing that it's wiser to have a "broken in" machine with a collection of its own microbes from batch to batch.

I Purchased A BACK PORCH COMPOSTUMBLER & I love it. It's easy To turn, easy to assemble, easy to use, It's PORTABLE! & It composts quickly. A+++ I Love It. BUY ONE!
Nathan Parker
Weather Garden Weekend Project(r), Hot Springs, AR

I have had my full size tumbler for 3 months and am delighted with the product. I live in the south, and our warm temperatures may contribute to the success of the composting. I add kitchen garbage every day, and garden waste at least once a week. I have compost in 2-3 weeks after I stop adding material.
It was a bit of work to put together, but the instructions are good.

I had purchased the ComposTumbler this past season and to my surprise It really worked, though not quit as fast as they claimed it did make compost with in a few weeks (depending on material composting). As others have stated it was a bit pricey, and not the easiest to assemble. All in all I feel Its a good investment.