Compost Barrels, made of wood or metal that rotate within a standing frame, depend on the tumbling action to break down waste material faster for quicker composting. The compost barrel drum usually has a hinged opening, air vents at the end and a turning handle. In recent times, barrels are increasingly made of reinforced plastic. Readymade compost barrels are available in the market; however they are priced steeply. Alternately, a compost barrel can be made at home also.

Building a Compost Barrel:
It is relatively simple to build a compost barrel at home. Below is a step-by-step guide:
1. Purchase a plastic 32 gallon waste barrel for a low $10-$12.
2. Drill opposite 2 inch holes in the center of the barrel.
3. Pass a 48 inch PVC pipe through the center holes.
4. Build a wooden sawhorse to support the compost barrel in its frame. Now nail two sets of 2x4' in an x-frame and nail two x's together at the bottom for support.
5. Set the barrel with the PVC pipe in the wooden 2 x 4 sawhorse.
6. Use 1 inch drill to drill holes in the body of the barrel for aeration.
7. Rotate the barrel in the sawhorse frame using the PVC pipe as an axle.
8. Attach an adjustable bungee cord around the top of the barrel to hold the cover in place when rotated.
It is preferable to paint the barrel a black color because this absorbs light and raises the temperature of the waste material to fasten composting.

Alternative:
Another alternative is making a Compost Barrel of discarded oak wood wine barrels. An oak wood wine barrel composter heats up waste material faster than a metal or plastic container. Additionally, wine barrels are watertight, the wood breathes for proper aeration, and the wood acts as an insulator and moisturizer to shorten the time period to finished compost.
Wine barrels are now commonly used. A galvanized stainless steel rod goes through the midsection of the barrel for easy tumbling action; this breaks down the waste material even faster. Easy tumbling is aided by the weight of the tumbling action. A wine barrel comes with a lid to put in wastes; when open in a downward position the finished compost can be unloaded easily into a bucket or container.

Advantage:
The biggest advantage is large volume of waste can be rapidly decomposed . There is a large turnover of waste into finished compost on an ongoing basis.

Disadvantages:
1. With metal and plastic barrels, problems of poor drainage exist. Excess moisture creates anaerobic conditions which have to be constantly monitored and corrected by adding dry leaves and garden lime.
2. Metal and plastic barrels are an expensive proposition.

A word of caution: Compost barrels require investment and hard work. Evaluate your composting options before opting for a compost barrel.

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