Compost bins?

[in-parentheses.livejournal.com]

I've decided I'm sick of turning my compost with a trowel; it's a pain in the ass and it doesn't work very well. I want to buy the kind of barrel that is raised off the ground on a stand and turned with a handle, like a tumbler. But apparently nobody in the Boston area sells compost bins. I've tried Pemberton Farms, TAGS, Home Despot, Sears Home & Garden, Loews...nada. They're big and therefore expensive to ship; I just want to walk into a store and walk out with a compost bin. Any idea where I might be able to do this?

(Yes, I know the City of Somerville will sell me one, but it's just a big bin -- no turning.)

Comments

[srakkt.livejournal.com]

I seem to recall that there's a master composter (whatever that means) who reads this LJ Comm who can probably weigh in with some authority on this. That said, my two cents:

Get a big trash barrel with a locking lid (anti-raccoon or whatever) perforate it with dime-sized holes. When it's time to turn, lock the lid, knock it on it's side, and roll it back and forth a couple of times, then stand it back up.

If you're feeling particularly DIY, add a couple of short baffles inside with some scrap 2x4 or something. (think baffles like the inside of a dryer)

[plumtreeblossom.livejournal.com]

I think the master composter is turil. Not 100% sure though.

[magpie-leah.livejournal.com]

I'll admit that I don't know anything about composters but I'm on the email list for this new store in Porter Square called Greenward and they've mentioned carrying composting supplies:
http://greenwardshop.com/

[magpie-leah.livejournal.com]

oh... I just found that newsletter I was talking about and it doesn't sound like the kind of composter you are talking about:
http://greenwardshop.com/newsletters/newsletter9-07.jsp

But it might be worth calling them or popping in to see if they have other kinds. It's a very nice store. (Run by some friends of mine.)

[whodameg.livejournal.com]

Can't help with the compost bin, but have you tried turning the compost with a pitch fork rather than a trowel? Just an idea - it's what I do.

[pearlythebunny.livejournal.com]

I don't think they are that expensive to ship. The ones I've seen are plastic, and many of them you have to assemble, so they aren't even that large.

Have you tried Agway? There's one in Waltham, I believe.

Also if you google "composting tumbler" or "spinning composter," you will get all kinds of online sources.

I think they might also have them at BJs and similar places, but probably not this time of year.

http://www.composters.com/main.php
This site has many composters, tumbling and nontumbling.

[nomacmac.livejournal.com]

Try the Boston Building Materials Co-op http://www.bbmc.com
I bought my black bin composter there several years ago. I don't know if they have the tumbler type, but seems like the kind of product they would have. (Let me know if you find any locally. I've been thinking of getting one too)

As a long shot, but cheap option, you could try the Somerville High School VoTech metal shop. They might weld a frame for you, that you could add your own barrel to.