I found my design plans for my compost tumbler. Because I built Blue for school, I had to show an in depth version of my notes. 

In the summer, my yard remains cool because of the 2 maples and 5 pines and their plentiful plumage that shade out the harsh sun. Come fall, this benefit is forgotten and I begin to resent the plentiful plumage as it gives in to gravity and coats my grass in thick layers of leaves and needles that must be raked. To the right, is a picture of the very last of the bags.  After I steal some of the leaves to feed Blue, the bags will be put on the curb to join all of the other bags at our local municipal composting site. 

I designed and built a rotating compost bin using 80% recycled material. In the picture it is 2/3 full of dry leaves that I raked up from my yard. Soon, the remaining space will be full of food scraps and old grass clippings. 

I harvested my first crop of compost this weekend and the bounty was better than I could have expected. All summer, my family and I have added kitchen and yard waste. After about 2 months, I removed the rich brown product and I was pleasantly surprised. I had my doubts when, in its early stages of decomposition there was the smell and the bugs, but as I took it out of the bin, I found a thick soil had replaced the insects and stench.