blue compost barrel

Discussion in 'Organic Gardening' started by pattysoo, Jul 19, 2009.

  1. pattysoo

    pattysoo New Seed

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    I followed Toni's suggestions (http://www.gardenstew.com/about8112.html) and made one this weekend. I used skate board and in-line skate wheels, thinking that they may be more weather-resistant. And inside you can see metal baffles to keep things stirred up when i rotate it. If i like the mechanics, i can put it on a stand later.
    Check the pic here and in the photo album.

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    former Kikkoman home ( photo / image / picture from pattysoo's Garden )
     
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  3. daisybeans

    daisybeans Hardy Maple

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    HAAAA! That is brilliant! Esp the skateboard wheels!
     
  4. Frank

    Frank GardenStew Founder Staff Member Administrator

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    So clever, I love it. Wonderful implementation Pattysoo.
     
  5. toni

    toni Mistress of Garden Junque Staff Member Moderator Plants Contributor

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    Oh, I have to show Randy when he gets back home a little later. I am very glad you got yours made, baffles inside to help stir, great idea.
     



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  6. cajunbelle

    cajunbelle Daylily Diva

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    Where did you get the barrel? I would love to make one of those.
     
  7. pattysoo

    pattysoo New Seed

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    I saw an ad in a local paper. Just chance. Unless you live near Charleston, WV, you'll have to find a local source.
    Cost me $16 each. I thought a little steep, but that seems to be the rate, if you can find them at all.
     
  8. toni

    toni Mistress of Garden Junque Staff Member Moderator Plants Contributor

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    Mine was $10 a few years ago and I have not been able to find more since then.
     
  9. pattysoo

    pattysoo New Seed

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    Well, now that weight is in it, i'm having trouble keeping it on track. I wants to move to the right and run off the wheels. Next, i will try a set of in-line skate wheels under the right rim--that may hold it in place.
    Check new pics in my photo album.
     
  10. gardenmama

    gardenmama In Flower

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    So awesome! I will have to see if I can come up with wheels and try this out!
     
  11. pattysoo

    pattysoo New Seed

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    My brother-in-law sez "just wait outside the ER door for a while".
    I bought mine at Goodwill for $2.65.
     
  12. Evil Roy

    Evil Roy In Flower

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    That's wonderful. The skateboard trucks are a great idea! I wish I'd thought of that.
     
  13. toni

    toni Mistress of Garden Junque Staff Member Moderator Plants Contributor

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    Oh, yeah, Pattysoo, EvilRoy is my husband Randy who built my compost barrel. :stew1:
     
  14. daisybeans

    daisybeans Hardy Maple

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    The barrels are readily available on Craigslist around here -- all kinda price points. They seem to have been previously used for food products, like veg oil and such but are cleaned out.

    FYI -- I saw them listed under the heading Rain Barrel. Some folks also retrofit them for rain barrels. Any good ideas about how to do that, smart Stew-people?!
     
  15. toni

    toni Mistress of Garden Junque Staff Member Moderator Plants Contributor

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    Daisybeans, my hubby also made me a rain barrel. I will have him give directions soon.
     
  16. pattysoo

    pattysoo New Seed

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    I changed the wheels and screwed the wood into a solid mass, and that has cured (i think) the running-off-the-track. The barrels got really symptomatic when loaded. In fact, if i could do it again, i would get 30 or 40 gal barrels. In the pics, you can see in-line skates under the rim (too keep it in line) and skate board skates on the base of the barrel, to distribute the weight.
    Another problem that i was having was that the barrels wanted to dent in at the in-line skate wheel on the left (base of the barrel) side. Just too much weight for the plastic. So, i replaced the in-line with a skate board wheel set.
    This and reducing the amount of compost seems to be working. Good luck in you own permutations.

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    ( photo / image / picture from pattysoo's Garden )





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    ( photo / image / picture from pattysoo's Garden )
     

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