I've been battling with huge piles of compost for almost 2 years now and have given up! Well, not entirely, but on-ground composting is just not happening anymore. Aside from the physical exertion of having to use a shovel to turn it, it's just too dry where I am for it to retain any moisture no matter what I put it in. Not only is the air pulling out all the moisture, which is going to happen no matter what I do, but the soil it sits on dries it out as well. Yep, the ground itself is so dry, instead of helping keep moisture and good bugs and things in the compost, it sucks it all out. Adding plenty of green matter doesn't work, as it just turns from green matter to brown matter within a day or two. I've had to resort to watering the compost when I water the garden, and that's only been possible because thanks to all the flooding last year and early this year, water restrictions haven't been a thing here for a little while, but next time El Nino pays us a visit, that'll be a thing. So, a compost tumbler is going to be the only way to save myself from this problem - if it'll hold enough moisture. At least in a tumbler the ground won't be sucking most of the moisture out of it!
I've been looking at all the different types available in Australia, trying to figure out which one to get, and I've stumbled upon this one: https://www.easycomposter.com.au/
It's made in Australia with Aussie steel, colourbond coated... but there's bugger all info about it to be found, no reviews online, no video giving reviews or comparisons on YouTube or anywhere else I can find, and even the webpage looks like it was made by someone that creates scam websites for a living. However, I have managed to find the physical location of the company that makes it on Google maps, it is indeed there, the ABN and the business name and all that legalise stuff checks out, and most of what I've found out about the company seems to suggest they're a small family company, run by older Aussies that aren't internet savvy, and mostly sell their compost tumblers at markets and fairs and the like rather than by any other method, though they can be ordered online from their sadly lacking in valid information website.
On one hand, if their product is really as good as they claim, one would wonder why it's not available nationwide through stores like Bunnings. On the other hand, product supply and price competition is a thing that keeps a lot of Aussie-made products by small companies hidden in the depths of the internet, local markets, and word of mouth. The strangest thing I can't seem to find out (though I haven't actually phoned them to ask yet, might do that tomorrow) is the actual volume of the barrel - why aren't they advertising this openly? I just don't know if this product's promotion or lack thereof sits well with me as to whether or not I should trust this company least of all their product.
This all screams one of two things to me:
1. It'll last a lifetime, does a great job, is worth the $475 price tag, and is another one of Australia's little niche secrets privy only to those that search far and wide enough to find it.
2. It's the sort of product that should be in a different type of bin.
I'm sure I've spotted an almost identical looking one on some of Mark's videos, and am wondering if it is indeed the same product? He hasn't done a review or even make any real mention of it that I've found so far (I've only watched 95% of his videos to date), it's just been a thing sitting in the background of several videos, some of which are a few years old... but he did make a review on a plastic one some time ago, and I'm also curious as to how well that one has stood the test of time and if it's still going strong, as I can get that exact one through my local hardware store.
Ultimately though, between the plastic ones being cheaper, and in some cases bigger by the appearance of them all, I could probably buy three to five of them locally for the same price, not to mention save on the shipping. But, I don't like and don't trust plastic, the UV here in the desert eats plastic for lunch, even properly UV stable stuff fades and gets brittle after a while in the sun over a hot summer or two. That being said, with the moisture and acidity and heat that composting process creates, most metals would rust in the time it's taken me to type this when used as a compost bin unless it's specially lined, and then one has to question what it's lined with and how good that lining actually is. Allegedly these bins are lined with something, but how good it is... ??? I dunno.
So, does anyone have one of these already? If so, for how long have you had it, and how well has it worked? How well has it stood the test of time? Pros and cons?
I've been looking at all the different types available in Australia, trying to figure out which one to get, and I've stumbled upon this one: https://www.easycomposter.com.au/
It's made in Australia with Aussie steel, colourbond coated... but there's bugger all info about it to be found, no reviews online, no video giving reviews or comparisons on YouTube or anywhere else I can find, and even the webpage looks like it was made by someone that creates scam websites for a living. However, I have managed to find the physical location of the company that makes it on Google maps, it is indeed there, the ABN and the business name and all that legalise stuff checks out, and most of what I've found out about the company seems to suggest they're a small family company, run by older Aussies that aren't internet savvy, and mostly sell their compost tumblers at markets and fairs and the like rather than by any other method, though they can be ordered online from their sadly lacking in valid information website.
On one hand, if their product is really as good as they claim, one would wonder why it's not available nationwide through stores like Bunnings. On the other hand, product supply and price competition is a thing that keeps a lot of Aussie-made products by small companies hidden in the depths of the internet, local markets, and word of mouth. The strangest thing I can't seem to find out (though I haven't actually phoned them to ask yet, might do that tomorrow) is the actual volume of the barrel - why aren't they advertising this openly? I just don't know if this product's promotion or lack thereof sits well with me as to whether or not I should trust this company least of all their product.
This all screams one of two things to me:
1. It'll last a lifetime, does a great job, is worth the $475 price tag, and is another one of Australia's little niche secrets privy only to those that search far and wide enough to find it.
2. It's the sort of product that should be in a different type of bin.
I'm sure I've spotted an almost identical looking one on some of Mark's videos, and am wondering if it is indeed the same product? He hasn't done a review or even make any real mention of it that I've found so far (I've only watched 95% of his videos to date), it's just been a thing sitting in the background of several videos, some of which are a few years old... but he did make a review on a plastic one some time ago, and I'm also curious as to how well that one has stood the test of time and if it's still going strong, as I can get that exact one through my local hardware store.
Ultimately though, between the plastic ones being cheaper, and in some cases bigger by the appearance of them all, I could probably buy three to five of them locally for the same price, not to mention save on the shipping. But, I don't like and don't trust plastic, the UV here in the desert eats plastic for lunch, even properly UV stable stuff fades and gets brittle after a while in the sun over a hot summer or two. That being said, with the moisture and acidity and heat that composting process creates, most metals would rust in the time it's taken me to type this when used as a compost bin unless it's specially lined, and then one has to question what it's lined with and how good that lining actually is. Allegedly these bins are lined with something, but how good it is... ??? I dunno.
So, does anyone have one of these already? If so, for how long have you had it, and how well has it worked? How well has it stood the test of time? Pros and cons?
