Portable Composter Made From 55-Gal. Plastic Barrel

Portable Composter Made From 55-Gal. Plastic Barrel FARM HOME Miscellaneous 28-6-30 "It isn't as fancy as some commercial units you can buy, but I spent less than $25 to build it," says Dennis Hartman, Williamsburg, Mich, who converted an old 55-gal. plastic barrel into a low-cost, portable composter. The composter rides on a 2-wheel trailer with a handle on front so it can be pulled around by hand. The barrel rests on four 6-in. riding lawn mower wheels bolted to the trailer frame. There's an 18-in. sq. door cut into the side of the barrel and three 2-in. high steel blades bolted inside the barrel to help mix up the compost. He just rotates the barrel by hand. "I built it last spring and use it to compost garden leftovers, fruit peelings, food scraps, and so on," says Hartman. "I rotate the barrel about twice a week. It works great, but a black plastic barrel might work better because it would heat up faster." Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Dennis D. Hartman, 8198 Cram Rd., Williamsburg, Mich. (ph 231 267-5107).

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