NatureMill NM5125 Manual - page 2
naturemill.com
5.
In the future, avoid whatever jammed. Add smaller,
softer items. Paper should be shredded and spread
out across the width of the reactor, not clumped up.
for more information
visit www.
naturemill.com
for more information
INSTALLATION
• The air pump may initially make a humming sound.
This is normal. It will become nearly silent after sev-
eral days, as the unit fills and warms up.
• Choose a convenient location indoors or outdoors.
Warmer is generally better, up to 120F (50C).
• For outdoor use, protect from rain and do not freeze.
• Unpack the power cord and other items from inside
the unit (open the side door). Plug the power cord
into the back of the unit. Never unplug for 1 hour or
more – composting may cease.
• To operate in a closet or cabinet only: install the
air extension tube, enclosed separately.
•
CLEANING & MAINTENANCE
• DO NOT clean the inner reactor. Never use soaps,
sprays, or chemicals. These can destroy cultures.
• With a damp paper towel only, wipe exterior sur-
faces, lip area, and cure tray area, as needed.
• Rinse the trays with a hose when you empty them.
• Clean any loose compost from the cure tray area.
• Clean any debris from lid and side door seals.
• Replace the air filter every 1–2 years, if odors de-
velop. See www.naturemill.com.
• Optional: add more soil periodically to the reactor.
This ensures vigorous compost reactions.
• The wait light may come on for up to 48 hours. To
override the wait, hold the OK button for 5 seconds.
CLEARING A JAM
In the rare event that the JAM light comes on:
1. If the reactor is full all the way up to the lid, remove
some material until it is only half full.
2. Wait 24 hours and then push the OK button. This
may clear the jam (material softens up with time).
3. If the jam light comes on again, locate and remove
the jammed item in the reactor. Often it is string, a
hard item, or a thick wad of paper.
4. Press the OK button to resume normal operation.
IMPROVING COMPOST QUALITY
Compost takes time - and practice! Healthy compost is
dark, spongy, moist, and warm, with a mild organic
“earthy” aroma of damp wool, mushrooms, parmesan
cheese, or coffee. Steam and heat rising from the
compost are good signs. Here are some tips:
• Leave compost in the machine as long as possible,
in both the reactor stage and cure tray stage. Ide-
ally, allow 7-14 days between cycles.
• Add extra “brown” items: shredded paper, saw-
dust, bread, rice, etc. Add at start of each cycle, and
keep adding. These fuel compost reactions. Food
alone may produce wet, sour smelling compost.
• Cut items smaller, especially items visible in the fi-
nal compost. Avoid items that do not break down.
• Curing will improve overall compost quality. See
“Gardening with Compost.”
• Wetness: If compost is wet (especially at the bot-
tom) or the white drip tray is overflowing: position the
white drip tray as per drawing. Add less fruit, lettuce,
or other wet items. Add more dry, brown items like
shredded paper, sawdust, bread, rice, etc. Wetness
may result in surface mold, which is harmless.
• Dryness: If compost is dried out or crunchy, with dry
areas poorly composted, in the future add more wet
items (fruit, lettuce, etc.), or add 2 oz (60 ml) water.
• Texture: Compost should be spongy and loose, like
mulch. If it is very hard and chunky or you recognize
individual items, add smaller, softer items in the fu-
ture. If runny or powdery, add larger pieces. For un-
composted items, avoid or chop smaller in the future.
• A strong odor means cultures may be dormant.
Compost may be light brown, cool, and wet. SOLU-
TION: add more “brown” items and wait 24 hours.
Be sure the air pump is humming at all times, with air
flowing in via the carbon filter and out via the ex-
haust. If odors persist, press the OK button to cycle,
then add two cups (500 ml) healthy soil to reactor; in-
crease brown items (shredded paper, sawdust,
bread, pasta, rice, etc); limit acidic or wet items; add
1/4 teaspoon baking soda when adding food; review
all instructions. Odor should cease in 24-48 hours.
INSTRUCTION
MANUAL
AUTOMATIC COMPOST MACHINE
MODEL
NM5125
IMPORTANT: READ INSTRUCTIONS
CAREFULLY FOR BEST RESULTS.
visit
www.