Insulation is what keeps a Jora working through the winter. The drum walls carry 2.16" of HDPE insulation inside galvanized, powder-coated steel, and they hold the heat of decomposition at up to 150°F, or above 160°F in the JK400. At those temperatures fresh scraps start breaking down before they can rot and draw flies or rodents. The drum is fully enclosed and sits on a galvanized steel stand, off the ground and out of reach of rats and other pests. All three are Swedish-designed, each with two separate chambers.
How two chambers work
Fill one chamber while the compost in the other matures. Each chamber takes about 6 to 8 weeks to produce compost; once both are running, you empty one roughly every 3 to 4 weeks and start filling it again. Give the drum a turn by hand after each addition to mix fresh scraps into the working compost and let in air. A Jora takes raw and cooked food scraps, meat, fish and bread included, along with garden waste, shredded paper and cardboard, and small-pet bedding; with meat and fish, add extra dry leaves or sawdust to keep odors down.
Sizes by household
- Jora JK125: 4.5 cubic feet (33 gallons), for 2 to 4 gallons of scraps a week; households of 1 to 4 people. 37" L x 27" W x 48" H, 64 lb.
- Jora JK270: 9.5 cubic feet (71 gallons), for 6 to 8 gallons a week; a family of four or more, a B&B, a school or a care home. 44.5" L x 28" W x 50" H, 86 lb.
- Jora JK400: 14.2 cubic feet (106 gallons), for 13 to 21 gallons a week; large households, restaurants, schools or several families sharing one. 55" L x 32" W x 53" H, 161 lb.
Set the tumbler under a roof overhang, beside a building or under a tree. The steel stands up to hard freezes and summer sun, but long exposure to rain brings rust and soaks the compost. Assembly takes two people, and each model carries a 2-year manufacturer's warranty. For how a tumbler compares with an open bin, read compost tumblers vs. compost bins; other composters are in Composting.
