May 25, 2009,  I have been able to empty my composter tumbler of the material that had been in it over the winter months.  I refilled it with leaves saved over, some shredded stems from the fall, and lots of manure from the chickens and rabbits.  Some days are warm, but it is very rainy and cool on alternate days, so again, progress will be slower than 'usual', as my tumbler sits outdoors in my garden.My soil, being 100% sand, is always in need of amending with compost or vermicompost.  The sand seems to swallow up the compost and it dissapears.  It is amazing.  I suspect that the compost migrates to the lower levels of the soil.  Hopefully, over the years of adding more, some of it will become visible on the surface.  I notice the raised beds are not quit as bad at this, as they started our being filled with at least 50% compost to fill them.