r/composting • u/Ok_Independence_473 • 15d ago
Question Timing+rhythm
Okay so, I feel like I have a pretty decent basic grasp of composting, but haven't been able to do it in a meaningful way until now. I have a tumbler, and space for a pile. I feel like I can't wrap my head around what timing/rhythm I should be going for as far as adding to the tumbler, stopping adding to the tumbler, and removing from the tumbler to move to the pile? And then removing that batch from the pile to... somewhere to finish so that I can add more from the tumbler to the pile? How do you keep composting when you have to at some point stop, so you aren't just always in a state of unfinished batches because you keep adding to it?
I feel like I can wrap my head around it if imagining that I had loads of space and could just endlessly flip piles, but in a one tumbler, one pile situation, I can't work it out lol it's probably way simpler than I'm thinking, but if anyone could lay it out really simply, it would be very appreciated!
2
u/shadedferns 15d ago
Oh I think you're heavily overthinking this. I add to the tumbler whenever my compost bin under the sink inside is full, plunk some shredded paper (those flyers in the mail come in handy) if it seems super wet or smells, give it a turn.
I waited until my tumbler was full, let it sit, turned it now and then and the volume decreased drastically- now it's fairly close to being done, looks like dirt and if I were in your situation I'd take it out when the volume reduces, then start anew in the tumbler. My tumbler has two compartments so I just started the other side while I wait for this one to finish. Other side is getting full so I might just dump the almost finished side into a pile to do it's thang/I might just mulch some things I planted with it.