FARM SHOW Tests "Ball" Composter

FARM SHOW Tests "Ball" Composter FARM HOME Miscellaneous 34-4-13 After seeing ads for the Ecomposter globe-shaped composter, FARM SHOW bought one to test it out ($179). The results were sketchy at best. First, it looks pretty neat and is easy to use. You just roll it around to mix the compost. Lids with snap-lock hands are located on opposite sides of the ball so one is always "up". Air tubes are fixed to the inside of the ball, pointing to the center. These also serve to break up clumps of materials and "stir" the contents when the ball is rotated. One of the worst things about the Ecomposter is that it consists of more than 1,200 parts, all of which require assembly. On a positive note, the instructions were clear and easy to follow. The 1/2-hr. to 2-hr. suggested assembly time stretched into nearly 4 hrs. However, once completed, the ball was impressively sturdy. FARM SHOW ordered the optional spider stand with the Ecomposter. The stand went together fast and the empty ball spun easily when set in place on the light plastic wheels. Problems started when the Ecomposter was filled. The more material that was added, the harder the ball was to spin. Rollers instead of wheels might have made the job easier. Eventually, it was moved off the spider stand and onto a lawn ring that comes standard with the unit. While still heavy, it was much easier to roll around the lawn than to turn on the stand. Material was added, including green stuff, leaves, and horse manure, and the ball was rolled. The company claims compost will take as little as four weeks. It also claims that the dark green color of the ball will help heat the material and speed decomposition. FARM SHOW found both claims questionable. While a well-made compost pile will quickly warm up and even hit the magic 140 to 160-degree range that kills most weed seeds, I never detected composting warmth in the ball, even on a warm day. One knowledgeable composter looking at the ball questioned if the capacity (variously described as 82 or 71 gal., often in the same ad) offered enough mass for heating to occur. It took 8 weeks for the material inside to decompose. Perhaps if the entire 11 cu. ft. of interior space were filled, heating would occur, although 9 cu. ft. is the recommended minimum volume. Whether the ball could still be rolled around, however, is questionable. Bottom line: I think I'm going to build a simple composting drum on a stand and pack the Ecomposter back into a corner somewhere. Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Ecomposter.net (ph 800 293-2923) or check major retailers such as Sears, Home Depot, Walmart and others.

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