Question:
I'm building a composter out of a 55 gallon drum and wanted to know if I should drill holes in it to let air in.
Answer:
Yes, the composter definitely needs to have air holes to have oxygen flow through the composter. The holes should be drilled in on the sides of the drum. The bottom should also be cut out and the bin placed on earth (dirt, soil, grass, etc.) so earthworms can naturally dig their way into the composter to increase bioactivity, decomposition, and aeration in the bin. The air needs to be flowing into the bin because the bacteria in the bin that are responsible for decomposing materials need to be aerobic (with oxygen), if they do not have a supply of oxygen they go into their anaerobic state where they decompose materials much slower and, more importantly, produce a foul odor.
I'm building a composter out of a 55 gallon drum and wanted to know if I should drill holes in it to let air in.
Answer:
Yes, the composter definitely needs to have air holes to have oxygen flow through the composter. The holes should be drilled in on the sides of the drum. The bottom should also be cut out and the bin placed on earth (dirt, soil, grass, etc.) so earthworms can naturally dig their way into the composter to increase bioactivity, decomposition, and aeration in the bin. The air needs to be flowing into the bin because the bacteria in the bin that are responsible for decomposing materials need to be aerobic (with oxygen), if they do not have a supply of oxygen they go into their anaerobic state where they decompose materials much slower and, more importantly, produce a foul odor.