Comments about Aerobin® Composter:

The two reasons we purchased this composter: 1) it had high reviews, and 2) it claimed to be varmint-proof.

Unfortunately, we've had the same experience as Garden Girl, with the additional pain-in-the-neck fact that the wind blows the cover off. We have to keep a concrete block on top, which makes it a pain in the back, too. We've followed directions to the letter, and it takes forEVER for things to break down. And it stinks. The only really good thing is that we got it cheap(er) because it was the display model at the store. And [knock on wood], so far we haven't had a skunk or other varmint get into it.

Comments about Aerobin® Composter:

Easy to assemble and to use. Very durable.

Comments about Aerobin® Composter:

I bought this composter in November 2009. It was easy to assemble and looked very nice. I was really excited about making compost all year round from my kitchen scraps and shredded office paper! The unit was VERY expensive, but it really looked good and the promise of self-aerating bin sounded really good. I followed instructions to the letter, we jump-started it with a bunch of good mature compost from my 2-year old outdoor compost pile, also we were always layering "green" kitchen scraps with shredded paper as was recommended in the instructions. We never added anything to the bin that was not supposed to go there, only "green" scraps and shredded paper, never glossy one only regular paper and newsprint.
Anyway, the composting process is painfully slow, in fact I finally tried to get some compost out of the bin 1.5 years later (!) and there is this half-composted dripping wet mess at the bottom, full of not composted sticks and packed full of earth worms. ( I like earth worms, but where is the long-awaited beautiful compost???) Meanwhile, the composter smells really bad, and the stink is actually very strong, I think that there is just not enough air circulation and without physically mixing it it just sits there and rots, just like a regular garbage can. Yesterday I saw a roach in it, and it didn't make me happy.
I have my doubts about the "self-venting" system, because it doesn't seem to work very well.
The lid design is not great, IMO. The lid doesn't stay open and you have to take a it off completely every time you put stuff in it and it's pretty large and bulky. They should have designed it so it stays half-open when you use a composter.
Anyway, I would not recommend this composter to my gardening and composting friends, because i think it just doesn't work so good. The amount of money I paid for it, I should be able to get some dirt out of it in 1.5 years! The looks of the unit are great though, and the construction is pretty solid, it is by far the most handsome one out there. I wish it worked.

Comments about Aerobin® Composter:

We don't know yet how long it would take to compost since we made the purchase recently. The bin is really well made and looks great; it comes with clear directions and any questions about composting can be emailed to the manufacturer who replies within a day.

Comments about Aerobin® Composter:

This composter was super easy to assemble. I put it on blocks as recommended, so I could fit a container under the valve where the compost tea is supposed to come out. It does, but also, unfortunately, it leaks from all over the bottom and has stained the concrete. My husband was not happy about that! It's my first composter so I don't know how it compares to others. It's easy--all I do is throw stuff in the top and it breaks down by itself.

Comments about Aerobin® Composter:

I bough this after couple of failures to compost. Simple pile in my garden smelled and turn bin composter did not work for my constant adding garden stuff and kitchen scraps. This composter is very nice looking, sturdy, easy to assemble, make of great quality plastic. It did not smell bad, except few times when I loaded it with grass load (albeit mixed with shredded paper) - in that time I just aerated (turned) the top layer few times and smell was gone the next day. One time garden stuff fell down the aerator pole (the top become loose) and the smell was really bad, but was gone in a day after I vacuumed the grass from the aerated pole. The biggest downside for me is that it doesn't compost as quickly as I was hoping for. I had is for 6 months and to make room for the scraps, I got some of the compost out. But the compost is really very partially made. It is all dark, but there is lot of wigs plus you can see occasional grass. It is not soil yet. I just piled it in my garden and I will let it finish its process. I am not sure how much longer it would need to really make it into a nice, ready to use compost. For me though, this is the only way how to process my garden cuttings/ leaves and grass and some kitchen scraps. I just wish the composting would be done faster.

Comments about Aerobin® Composter:

I bought this for my husband and he seems very pleased with the quality.

Comments about Aerobin® Composter:

We just got our composter a few weeks ago and started loading it up with lots of kitchen scraps (which had been accumulating in anticipation of getting the composter delivered) , leaves and the recommended super hot composer starter which is definitely a good investment . Everything seems to be decomposing quickly -- the aerater seems to be working nicely. The capacity is very large and we are excited to see the end result.

Comments about Aerobin® Composter:

Did lot's of research prior to selecting and purchasing a composter. So far I am very happy I made the decision to invest the extra $$ for this model. Very well built, easy to assemble.

Comments about Aerobin® Composter:

I just purchased my Aerobin composter about 2 months ago so I haven't had the opportunity to reap the rewards of mulch. However, thus far there is no odor and my neighbor commented that is was the nicest looking composter he had seen. I haven't gotten any compost tea as of yet,but hope to soon.

Comments about Aerobin® Composter:

I shopped around for well over a year and thought that [$] was expensive for a composter, especially those with mixed reviews. When Gardener's Supply began carrying this one, I started researching it immediately, despite a substantially higher price. Here in Las Vegas, it gets pretty hot most summers (100-115F) and down to freezing at night in January - February. The sun is unrelenting for most of the year. Some of the other composters cannot be placed in direct sunlight or the UV light will degrade them; those were ruled out immediately. In summer here, the surface temp of black items is 60F higher than those that are white. Thus, a green, insulated wall composter was much better than an all black uninsulated one. I should be able to compost 365 days per year here. When the Aerobin arrived, I assembled it by myself and the only tricky part was the pressure required to get the lid hooks attached. I was worried I might break something! No worries though, everything is well made. You kind of have to jam these hooks into the Styrofoam insulation in the lid...I knew from the instructions that I would need to raise it up to facilitate gathering the compost tee. As we are part of two Home Owner's Associations (HOAs) that are prevalent in Master Planned Communities in Las Vegas, we had to get this composter approved prior to purchasing and installation; one of the HOA conditions is that we not alter the drainage grade of our backyard. The attached photo shows how we did this while maintaining drainage through the bottom of the cinder block walls we have here. Note that at the time the photo was taken, I had not yet attached the recommended hose and spigot that a previous reviewer suggested (GSC now includes a sheet recommending this be done and how). The next challenge was that the instructions recommend that 10 cm of sugar cane stalks (manufacturer is in Australia) or leaves be added to the bottom - to keep larger pieces of organic material from filtering down into the compost tea reservoir. Neither is readily available in the Mojave Desert. I solved this by buying a straw bale at a farm feed store (still the wild west here), the rest of which will be used at the bottom of raised beds to act as the sponge recommended in permaculture books. After the straw was in place, I added some GSC compost starter and then we began adding kitchen waste, shredded cardboard, newspaper (we pick up the Sunday paper on occasion). So far, when I open the lid, it smells sweet (means everything is working properly); I know, it is hard to believe, but sweet is the only word that summarizes the smell. Given that we are in the Mojave and the humidity is usually in the 5-15% range, my concern will primarily be keeping things moist. So far, the fruit that might make things too wet back east, well, it is keeping things perfect. We do have a variety of flying insects (flies, fruit flies) in the composter already, but I'm guessing the summer heat will take care of them. If not, a black widow has moved into a cinder block at the base and is taking care of some of the bugs (relax, widows are everywhere here and are great natural pest controllers for pesticide free yards). Anyway, invertebrates (worms, bugs, etc) are simply a part of the composting process.So, it may be the most expensive backyard composter on the planet, BUT:1) it works in our climate;2) doesn't smell bad; 3) doesn't have to be stirred (low maintenance)4) will provide compost tea (added bonus)I view this as a green investment in our backyard. As they say, you get what you pay for...

Comments about Aerobin® Composter:

IT CAN SIT ON MY PATIO AND LOOKS GREAT WITH NO SMELLS

Comments about Aerobin® Composter:

Easy to fill and empty.
Time will tell how well it makes compost

Comments about Aerobin® Composter:

Even though it is large it is attractive and looks more like a storage box than a composter. Great design.

Comments about Aerobin® Composter:

I picked this up at the Williston store in July, after having read about it for almost two years (since it has been available in Australia). It is a big package of components that go together fairly easily -- though the mostly-graphic instructions could be better-described with notes.

It's best to build it near where it will be installed because once built, it's a handful to move. I made it on the driveway then used a hand-truck (dolly) to roll it to the side of the house. The Aerobin has a "tea" reservoir on the bottom with a finicky little valve, so the compost does not contact the soil below, unlike simpler composters. Level off a 30"x30" area and install four 16" patio stones. Shim them properly so the base is level. I recommend installing a one-foot section of 1/2" poly hose and a spigot to the "tea" valve before going any further. Then you can leave the finicky valve open permanently, and draw off the tea into a shallow pan every week or so -- I use a trash can lid.

The Aerobin gets to work right away, though I recommend jump-starting the process with fresh, living compost or some commercial booster. I stuck my 19" compost thermometer in a week after loading it half way, and it read 145 degrees! As such, there is little odor emanating from it, but there are quite a few insects buzzing around inside and out. Also watch for the bajillions of mites crawling all over it when you remove the lid to add materiel. I drew off my first compost a couple of weeks ago (about 14 weeks' processing) and it looks and smells like fresh humus, maybe even better than commercial compost.

The Aerobin may seem expensive, but it is far and away one of the best things you can do for your garden and the environment.

Comments about Aerobin® Composter:

Sturdy and well constructed, it is easy to assemble and operate. I have had it less than one month so it is too early to say how well it produces compost. There is not objectionable oder so I think it is working properly.