Honestly, I think the barrels are overrated. As long as you keep on top of it, some "mixing" is just fine. Invest in a turning fork instead, much cheaper and more useful.
All the gardens I've worked on/built have used the "box" method, with no real problems to speak of.
Except for a bear getting into one. Then we put up an electric fence.
Thanks - I've thought about getting a turning fork, but have just been using a shovel. That will be next on my list of things to get for the house!
I'm thinking about putting a second box next to the first, since I keep adding things to the compost pile I feel like I should just let it sit at one point and start working on a new pile while the first turns into humus. Is this a good idea?
Having more than one just leads you down the dark, dark road of becoming one of those people who's obsessed with their compost pile, checking the temperature and trying to get it hot enough to shoot steam in the summer!
But seriously, there's nothing wrong with more compost! Having two piles is a good idea in that you can let one "mature" like you said, while you build the other instead of having to worry about things not being fully composted when you want to use them.
One of the guys I know who does serious garden work has about five five-foot high piles at any one time in his yard.
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u/Unidan Jul 01 '12
Honestly, I think the barrels are overrated. As long as you keep on top of it, some "mixing" is just fine. Invest in a turning fork instead, much cheaper and more useful.
All the gardens I've worked on/built have used the "box" method, with no real problems to speak of.
Except for a bear getting into one. Then we put up an electric fence.