Automatic Composter by NatureMill

Sang Eng
1 review
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wow it actually works!

I got this as a gift and at first I thought: oh gross that's not going to work. But then I set it up and it got going and hot inside and WOW it's amazing! Half the stuff you put in there just vaporizes overnight and by the next morning you have the richest dirt you've ever seen. It is really great. Now I am experimenting with all the stuff we can put in there and it is fun to see what things look like after they are composting away for a few days.

Andrew D.
1 review
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not perfect but still the best

Let me start by saying that this machine is not perfect. It is a composter after all. It has a few oddities that take some getting used to and you have to read the instructions and take some time to get used to it. Mostly you have to remember to "balance" the misture like baking a cake with certain ingredients. Apparently kitchen food scraps are primarily "green" waste and so you have to counterbalance that with "brown" waste like leavs and grains which are in short supply (in my kitchen anyway) and so they provide sawdust with it for that purpose. As soon as the initial sawdust supply runs out, you need to go to your local lumber place or home depot and ask for some leftover sawdust. You can also get it fom the company for not a lot money but the shipping is as much as the sawdust - not a great way to buy sawdust. I think the pet stores have the right mix of hamster wood shavings which I am told will also work.

Having said all of that, now let me say that this machine is OUTSTANDING. It takes food scraps, makes fertilizer, and good golly it is fun to watch. Who thinks up with these kind of contraptions anyway? You can just hear mother nature saying 'thank you' for not contributing to the dirty nasty landfills. What goes around comes around if you believe in karma. Once you get into the swing of things, it is easier and cheaper then taking out a big stinky trash totter every trash day (now I skip every second trash day because there is so little to take out) and also you con't have to buy so many trash bags. Everyone wins. The design has some very clever little features like when it jams (and it WILL jam on bones) it stops, takes a rest, and tries a few more times rather than just giving up or damaging itself. It also comes fully assembled (no assembly required) and there is not silly plastic peanuts or styrofoam packing. It is solid and a real work horse because it eats more than me and I eat a lot.

Julie K.
1 review
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compost machine

I have had this compost machine for nearly a year. It takes some getting used to at first because you have to balance the greens and browns with the sawdust pellets that they give you. If the balance gets out of whack then you have to add more pellets and just wait a day or two for the mixing to happen and the balance will reorient itself. Everything else happens automatically and you only have to remember to empty it once or twice per month. The light that tells you it is full is not always accurate so it is best to check now and then My power supply died at one point but they replaced it very fast no questions asked. Overall it has been a positive experience and it is nice to do something for mother nature.

Ty E.
1 review
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EASY TO USE

THIS IS VERY EASY TO OPERATE AND IT WORKS AS ADVERTISED. I HAVE HAD IT FOR A YEAR AND HAVE NOT HAD ANY PROBLEMS WITH IT YET.

Jill jameson C.
1 review
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so far so good

This machine does what it says it will, and makes very good compost. I've had mine for about a year and it took a few batches to get used to it but now it is like second nature.

Others reviews have noted that you have to follow the instructions, especially as you learn to use it for the first time. It's not that hard. Yes there are some limits as to what you can add, but also you can add meat and fish and dairy products which is not possible with any other composter, so there are pluses as well as minuses.

As one reviewer pointed out, you have to empty it when the red light comes on or else it could jam (happened to me once, then they you have to manually empty it which is not that bad once it is dried out). If you are the type of person who wants to just get rid of stuff and not think about it, and you have lots of time and space for an outdoor bin, then I recommend an outdoor bin. Otherwise I recommend this naturemill because it really works if you use it correctly.

Michelle S.
1 review
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works fast and is easy to operate once you get the hang of it

I am very impressed with this machine. It takes out all of the work of composting and you don't have to endure any smells or worms. I have two kids and a dog so there is never enough time in my day to do the "regular" things that other people do like taking care of a compost tumbler. The one downside is that it takes some practice to learn how to use it. As others have noted you have to balance the greens and browns which takes some trial and error. You would also need to do that with an outside compost bin but if it's inside you are more likely to notice if the balance is off. Also you have to be careful not to overload it (and don't let your kids over stuff it eaither) because then it will jam. Take it slow and you won't have any problems. Customer service is only available by email but they are amazingly fast and gave me some good tips as to how to improve my compost even on a weekend. Try to get the newer model called the XE because that has the stronger motor and is less likely to jam. Good luck!

Stephen T.
1 review
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Do Not Buy

I bought the NatureMill Pro version from Costco after reading many reviews both good and bad (jams, smell, etc.). My intent was to use it for kitchen waste, as intended. I followed the instructions exactly, and got hot, steaming compost in the first batch. I had cut everything small (beyond that needed for most composting) and avoided tough, stringy vegetables, etc. The machine was too noisy for the kitchen, smelled "ok" but not something I would want in a living area. Anyone getting sour or ammonia smells is not working the C:N ratio correctly (by adding the right amount of "browns."

As the second batch filled up, I waited for the red light telling me to remove the first, but it never did. So, I pushed the transfer button on the second batch and it partially emptied the material into the bottom chamber -- and promptly got stuck, open. Nothing I did from waiting 48 hours, to manually working with the mechanism, to starting over worked. I had to remove the bottom chamber and the half-done compost in the upper chamber creating a stinky, slimy mess. I cut my fingers twice on a very sharp metal plate in the machine. Horrible.

Note that the instructions say that a used machine is NOT returnable to the manufacturer. That is, you use it, you own it (at $269 or so). Well, luckily Costco took the whole thing back after I cleaned it up (as their policy is to accept returns on anything).

For those intent on trying it, the wood pellets are easy to find either as pellet stove fuel (from any stove dealer or home depot) or as biodegradable kitty litter ( Feline Pine non-clumping Cat Litter), available at Petco, etc.

A two chamber tumbling compost bin is a much better alternative to the NM. The best one is made in Sweden is the Jora JK 125, is insulated and even composts in the winter outside. It is easier than the NM and I know of someone who uses this on their apartment balcony. Also, shredded cardboard will work as a substitute for pellets - no need to buy!

Stephen's keywords: NatureMill composter Jora tumbling

Andrea D.
1 review
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very good composter

This works as expected and I am very happy with it. I recommend it to anyone who wants to compost without the mess of a regular compost bin.

Garrett Lee
1 review
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good composter

I like how it just does the composting for you and you don't have to turn it or tumble it or water it or smell it. It even comes fully assembled so you don't have to screw anything together. The mulch that comes out is perfect for plants and you don't have to remove anything if you are careful about what you put in (no bones or pits). Two weeks every time. We've made about 30 batches so far.

Henry M.
1 review
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it works

The product works. I have been using it for about a year. I researched all of the other composting methods and this one seemed to be the best option for me because I live in an apartment. I give the compost to my neighbor down the street who has a small garden and likes the compost very much. I don't have to take out my trash very often now.

Jakiella Hein
1 review
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automatic composter

This is a review of the new automatic composter. I first purchased it in April and have been using it continuously since then. I add to it a little every day, including coffee grounds, leftover rice, banana peels, and other kitchen scraps. I have been careful to not add any of the restricted items listed in the instruction manual, including bones, paper, tea bags, or corn cobs. I transfer the compost to the lower tray by pushing the button when the upper chamber becomes full. After the red full light comes on, I remove the compost from the lower tray. It has made about one tray every two weeks. The compost is very dark and stable when it comes out of the machine, and ready to be used on the garden plants. There is a faint odor of wet mud but not much more. It is too early to tell if the plants are improving as a result of the compost. Customer service seems to be very good as I emailed them once and they emailed right back right away.

Here are some other review sites for this product which I found to be useful:

http://www.naturemill.com/press.html
http://www.target.com/NatureMill-PRO-Red/dp/B0019CF2ZQ
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704107204574471330808326984.html
http://www.popularmechanics.com/home_journal/home_improvement/4320997.html
http://www.metaefficient.com/composting/naturemill-pro-indoor-composting.html
http://www.peoplepoweredmachines.com/naturemill/
http://www.compost-bin.org/naturemill/

S T.
1 review
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good garbage gobbler

This is a good way to gobble up your garbage. I would prefer if it could also power my house. But you take what you can get. Seriously, it works well and I would recommend it. In face I have recommended it to some of my friends and two of them have bought it and have had similarly good experiences. The instructions are a bit tedious with lots of repetition, but if you follow them you will get good results.

And also be sure to avoid the white model. It gets very dirty and although it is easily to whipe clean that is not fun.

Sal Franklin
1 review
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product review

It's a pretty good product. You give it all of your food wastes, and it gives back composter. It is basically that easy. The compost that comes out is very fine grained which is good for spreading on the top of your yard where someone might see it. But you do have to read the instructions. There is a list of foods that you can't compost including bones and corn cobbs. Other than that it is pretty good at composting most things. There is no noise or smells.

Chucky D.
1 review
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a good machine

This is the best composter on the market. It is the only one that is automatic and doesn't smell. I've had the original model for about two years, and I also bought the newer XE model for my father who likes to garden but is not able to compost because of lack of space. I recommend the newer one because it has the upgraded motor and air filter and seems to work a little better. This is a great company with good service and an easy to use product. Be careful when you first set it up because you need to build up the cultures and that can take a few days. After that it is pretty much zero maintenance.

Pete F.
1 review
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works well but requires some attention

This product works well as described on their site. We have the newer model XE which seems to be a big improvement over the original model. It's nice to have a steady supply of compost without having to deal with a stinky compost pile. It is especially convenient in the winter when it is not fun to go outside (our compost pile is covered in snow, and at the far end of the yard which is inconvenient but necessary because of the flies). The automatic composter is definitely the way to go and we are very happy with it. Nonetheless, it does require that you add "brown" material which they include (sawdust). This balances the chemistry as they say, and the sawdust is a waste product so that is a plus for the environment too. Kitchen scraps are almost entirely green and that will cause odors if you don't balance it. This is not the kind of product where you just too aside the instruction manual and expect the product to work. You have to follow the instructions or it won't work right.

William O.
1 review
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it is good

I have owned several composters over the years, and this is by far the best of them. Like all composters, you have to balance the greens and browns which can be tricky sometimes. Nature mill has made it easy by including sawdust pellets with the purchase, and they tell you how to get more of it free. That seems to be the best balancer according to their insturctions. They have obviously done a bit of research on the subject. In my opinion, if you follow the instructions and add the pellets then you can't find a better composter.

Andrea M.
1 review
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Nature Mill

The worst product I ever bought in my life!!!!!!!!!!!!! My whole house stinks like a bad dirty washroom. This composter is disgusting! The compost itself smells so bad that I do not want to be in my small garden!
On top of the terrible smell everywhere, I can not buy wood pellets in my area. I have to order them online.
I can not believe I paid 400 dollars for this thing!!!!!!!!! I can not return it and now I do not know what to do with it!!!!

Randy O.
1 review
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clean and easy

This is a good machine and I recommend it to anyone who wants to compost in a way that is easier than an outdoor bin or a worms. Once you set it up you can basically forget about it except to add food into it and then empty it once a month when the little light comes on. There is no smell and it is nearly silent. The first week takes some time to set it up.

Betty K.
1 review
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as advertised

It works like you would imagine. It's been about 6 months and now that winter is coming we really appreciate an automatic indoor composter so we don't have to go outside in the snow.

Be careful to follow the instructions or else it will jam. That happened to us once because we added bones which are not allowed. It does meat and fish though without any odor (much better than our regular trash bin which stinks the next day if we have fish for dinner and forget to take out the trash).

Don't get the white one. It looks pretty but gets dirty easily. Black would have been a much better choice.

Tyler T.
1 review
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XE is a vast improvement

I had the original Naturemill (from 2006?) and it worked very well for a number of years. It would jam up once in a while but their customer service was pretty good at helping me understand how to keep it running smoothly.

The compost was amazing of course. But it was kind of bulky and unfinished almost like a prototype.

Then I saw that they announced their 'new and improved' version so I figured I got enough mileage out of the last one and it was time for an upgrade. The price has come down a bit also which helps.

Let me tell you that the new one is like a completely different machine. It has a new light weight material and is smaller, but it handles much more compost that the old one without because of the more powerful motor.

It also can process meat, fish, dairy, and even pet waste which is different from the old one where you had to buy a separate model for the pet waste.

Overall this is a big step up for them and it is a product that I highly recommend.