Three years ago the sustainable living company Eartheasy sent me the Jora JK125 Tumbling Composter to try out in my garden. This weekend we emptied and moved the contraption from a shady corner against the house to a newly cleared spot beside a composting bin that we built from an old futon frame. I posted a photo of the garden to my social media accounts mentioning this fact, and since a few of you asked how the tumbling bin has worked out for me, I thought I’d write an update here.

Most of my original assessment of the bin has held up in the 3 years since I last wrote about it. The bin is still in good working condition, albeit with a little bit of wobbliness. However, my working knowledge has obviously grown in the last 3 years and I will share the pros and cons with you.

PROS

• Space Efficient: In my opinion, this composter is best for small families living in an urban environment who do not produce a lot of organic waste and who do not have the space for a larger bin system. I do not find this system to be any more or less quick to compost than a regular bin on the ground, but I haven’t put this to the test. Since I have a productive garden, I primarily use the tumbler for kitchen waste and require a second open bin to help with the volume of plant matter that is chopped down in the spring and fall. Were I living in a larger space I would just go with big piles or an open air multi-bin system. However, since I can’t afford to dedicate the space to a 3-bin system, the duo-chamber tumbling composter plus the in-ground bin work well in tandem.
• Tumbling verus Pile Turning? I personally find that tumbling a bin like this is easier than turning a large pile. The fact is that we are never as good about turning the big compost pile as we should be, especially during peak times of the year when we clip back large amounts of plant material all at once. With the tumbler I simply add small quantities of material each time, and then I give it a few spins. Done. That said, composting in a big, open bin is more forgiving because the contents are touching the soil below and are accessed by all sorts of organisms that aid in decomposition. The tumbling composter is more dependant on constant aeration to keep it active.
• Sealed Environment: The up side to this is that there is no overwhelming smell and you do not have to worry about rodents getting into the bin. However, as with all compost bins airborne insects can get in through the air vents, so be prepared for a cloud of flies and gnats when opening the chamber doors at peak times. Last summer I hurt my arm and wasn’t able to turn the bin as regularly as it required. A paper wasp got in and started to build a nest. That would not have happened had I been spinning the composter daily. But it’s worth a mention since we all have times when we go on vacation or just can’t keep up with certain chores for whatever reason. I don’t mind wasps in the garden and consider them gardening allies; however, I do not want a nest inside my compost bin. Another positive to note about the enclosed environment is that is stays moist much more readily than an open pile that needs to be watered during periods of drought. I have never had to add water to the tumbling bin. In fact, the problem I usually encounter is too much moisture, hence the liquid compost that drips through the seams.
• Easy to Unload: Without a doubt this system is easier to harvest from than any bin I have tried. The trick is to remember to stick to one chamber, adding material until it is filled up. The filled side decomposes while you work to fill the second side. Each chamber has its own door so when you’re ready to harvest you can simple put a bin underneath, open the door, and turn it out.
• Year-Round Composting: One of the claims for this product is that it is insulated and therefore stays warm and continues composting through the cooler seasons. I haven’t found this to be the case, but then again, this could be a matter of misuse on my part. Until this week, we kept the bin in a shady spot that is also the coolest part of the garden. Now that it has moved to a full sun area, I suspect that the added heat will be a help. The other issue is that I do not go out to add to the bin as often through the winter months. As a result, it is not getting that required daily spin that keeps things active. My hope is that moving the bin will help with these issues. I’ll provide an update next spring.
• Good Construction: As previously mentioned, I’ve had this bin for 3 years and it’s holding up well. It is holding up better than our futon frame bin and is certainly outlasting any cheap plastic bin I’ve used in the past. My impression is that a bin like this has to weather aggressive daily use and is built with this in mind. I have not tried any other tumbling composters and have nothing to compare it against, but I’ve been happy with this one so far.

CONS

• Leaks: I mentioned this in my original review, and that has not changed. Liquid leaks out of the seams. It’s not a huge problem, but there are times when I need to be careful not to get any liquid compost on my clothes as I spin the device.
• Weight: Spinning the contraption can be somewhat difficult when both chambers are full. This was especially obvious last summer when I did not have use of both arms. For this reason, I think this could be a problem for some people and it’s something you may want to consider. The weight also means that once you’ve chosen a spot for the composter, you’re stuck with it until you have occasion to empty it out as we did.
• Sealed Environment: Since the chambers are not in contact with the soil, there is little opportunity for certain organisms such as worms to get inside and be a part of the decomposition process as is the case with a regular bin that is in contact with the soil.
• Greens to Browns Ratio: Again, because contents are not in contact with the soil, this system is less forgiving and really depends on the greens to browns ratio to be well balanced in order to achieve efficient composting. However, I have found this to be the case for any system that doesn’t touch the earth.

My overall attitude is that composting does not require a lot of bells and whistles. One can absolutely get by just fine with a hole in the ground, a series of open piles, or a makeshift bin constructed from an old futon frame. However, if you live in a small space, are intimidated by the process of composting, are concerned about rodents, or don’t think you can keep up with the work needed to keep a regular bin active, then a tumbling bin such as this one is a good option, should you be able to make the financial investment.