In my personal experience and as reviewed by Consumerreports.org, The
Smith & Hawken Biostack, is clearly the best home composter of this
type


"Compost bins: The best cost less


WASTE NOT The Smith & Hawken Biostack is easy to use.



Some of the newest compost bins promise to do their work in just a few
weeks and with minimal fuss. That's wishful thinking, judging by our
tests.

Slow decay. In our test of composting conditions, we found that it
took 8 to 10 weeks to see fine, dark material that resembles compost.
In nine weeks, the low-rated Tumbleweed turned leaves and grass
clippings into large, odorous clumps.

Chemical analysis of some 21-week-old material showed that it hadn't
fully decomposed. It contained levels of ammonia that can stunt
sensitive seedlings and potted house plants.

Even when compost looks ready, we found that it often needs at least
eight to nine weeks more to be safe for all garden uses. One way to
know when compost is ready: Put a small amount in a pot with radish
seeds. If the seeds germinate and grow, the compost is mature.

Pitching in. Composting works best if you turn the pile occasionally,
typically using a pitchfork to break up clumps. The barrel-shaped
Tumbleweed and Gardener's Supply are designed to turn or roll. The
idea is good in theory. In practice, when they were full of composting
material or soaked by rain, turning them was a struggle. Clumps never
broke up.

In convenience, the top-rated Biostack was the best. Its interlocking
plastic “planks” can be stacked or removed to change the size of the
bin or to make it easier to shovel out compost.

Design drawbacks. The expensive Gardener's Supply didn't drain well.
Its compost became soggy--creating odors and inviting insects. The
Tumbleweed can be messy; liquid can spill on you when you turn it.

The bottom line. The Smith & Hawken Biostack, $90, is the best choice:
easy to use and moderately priced. We've judged it a CR Best Buy. The
Scepter Corp. GardenGourmet, $80, is also worth considering.





On Sun, 19 Sep 2004 16:43:11 GMT, "Doug Kanter"
wrote:

20 years ago, I bought one of your typical square plastic composters with a
lid. The ex-wife has it, so I need another one just like it. I do NOT want
any other kind. In one review of the Soilmaker, the owner said that with
enough material in the box, the sides bowed out and made it hard to slide
the compost removal doors up & down, and that it also affected whether the
lid would fit on again. My old box was thick enough that this never
happened, and perhaps this particular writer made his compost too wet (&
heavy).

As far the the Biostack, I wonder about the fact that the box is built with
a tiered design. Not convinced I want something that's already in too many
pieces.

I'd appreciate opinions from people who own either of these two brands. Not
"types", but THESE SPECIFIC BRANDS.