From the ATTRA website: "Compost windrow leachateÂthe dark-colored solution that leaches out of the bottom of the compost pileÂmost likely will be rich in soluble nutrients; but, in the early stage of composting it may also contain pathogens. It would be viewed as a pollution source if allowed to run off-site. Compost leachate needs further bioremediation and is not suitable or recommended as a foliar spray." And too, since this liquid is generated from possible anaerobic raw compost, the thought of spraying/pouring this liquid on my plants is not appealing to this member. I suppose one will have to decide for themselves weather this practice is worth the risk or not Blutranes Here is a link that might be useful: Notes On Compost Tea

dalton thanks for the pics. I have been talking to my husband about making a bin. When I saw your pallets I knew that was the bin for me. Maybe because I can get the pallets free and it does not look hard to do. Swanz that is a very nice bin my hats off to you. I tried to do that once and my daughter just laughed at the finished product and my family threw it out. Oh well so much for building things.

I've never bought a tumbler but I use three different sized ones, all home built. They all work well for what they were designed/intended for. They certainly can have issues if one attempts to use them for something way beyond what they were designed for. I also agree that the advertisements are, how can I say this politely, embellished a tad. There are definitely people that hate them and there are people that love them. I would recommend that people seek out local gardeners or clubs to see if anyone close to you has one you can go look at before one makes an aye or nay decision. Most compost whackos enthusiasts are more than happy to show off their compost equipment. Stealing Borrowing an idea/design isn't cause for shame in the composting world, I've done it often enough. (Thanks Vance, squeeze and gonefishin) Over the years the discussion about the practicality of tumblers has gone on and on and on and on. Someone once likened it to the tastes great/less filling debate, I tend to agree with that assessment. Lloyd

To do this right, imo anyway, you really need a three-step system. One is for the current stuff being added daily. One is for the stuff still cooking beyond the day-to-day additions. One for finished compost waiting for the next 'gardening moment'. Here's what I have settled into after about 3 years of composting. I found a barrel composter at a yard sale for $75, this is my day-to-day barrel. When it gets full and difficult to 'flip', I empty it out onto the ground and turn it into a couple of plastic garbage cans that we cut the bottom out of and drilled LOTS of holes in. Periodically, (once a month would be good but I don't get to it that often and frankly weekly would be better), I dump out the contents of the garbage can and reposition the now empty can as close to where it was before but all the debris is now piled up there. Now start shoveling it all back in, watering as you go. In a perfect world I would have first stopped at one or more Starbucks and picked up a bunch of coffee grounds so I could add a layer of grounds and some dry leaves that I always have around as I go. When you can no longer identify anything in the pile, and it's nice and black and smells earthy, it's ready for the garden. Otherwise, it's still cooking. Some of the cities around the Valley sell, for $5, recycle bins that they have cut the wheels and bottom section from and drilled a few holes in. I have one of these but never use it. I'm in NW Phx at 43rd Ave and Peoria and you can have this one if interested. HTH. I think the stacking ones work great but are too pricey for my meager budget.