How to compost during winter months
Winter is when temperatures become low and the decomposition process naturally slows down. But that doesn’t mean you should stop composting during this time. You can still turn your kitchen scraps and other materials into organic fertilizer that can be used during the spring season.
Photo by Seth Cottle on Unsplash
Here is how to compost during winter months
- Choosing a compost bin
Take a compost bin that has holes in the bottom and the sides. Make sure that it also has a proper lid.Place the compost bin in a warm location that gets good sunlight.
- Filling the bin with finished compost
Fill the bottom part of the bin with some finished compost this helps to start the composting process.
- Adding alternate green and brown material
Next, fill the bin with one part nitrogen or green material and two parts carbon or brown material. Avoid adding cat, and dog faeces, eggs, meat, and milk as it can ruin your compost.
- Repeat this process
Repeat this process until the compost bin fills up.
- Place your compost in a safe location
If your location gets rain and snow you do not need to water your compost.
- Turning your compost
You can turn your compost once in 12 to 14 days. Turning your compost too often can prevent the trapping of heat essential for the decomposition process.Decomposition process is slow during the winter season. When the spring season arrives the decomposition process will hasten and your compost will be ready. When compost turns dark, and crumbly and has an earthly smell, it is ready to be used in your garden.
- Storing the compost
You can store your compost in plastic containers. Drill some holes in your plastic containers and fill your compost. Store it in a dark place away from rain and sunlight.
Important things to note when you compost:
- Always track the temperature of the compost using a compost thermometer.
- If your pile becomes too wet, then you can add extra dry material such as dry straw, leaves, and cardboard.
- If the temperature of your compost pile becomes too low you can add more nitrogen-rich material to increase the heat.
- To maintain the heat in your compost pile, you can insulate your pile by using layers of leaves, straw and cardboard.
- Fill plastic bags with dry leaves and stack them around the sides of the bin.