How to Compost through the Winter

[@juliekovach9784]

I live in Michigan, zone 6a, where cold, snowy winters are expected. This is the second year that I have composted through the winter using the Smart Pots 100 gallon Compost Saks which come with thick plastic covers. My neighborhood HOA only allows compost activities that don't smell, and the covered sak arrangement works well for that, as well as facilitates the cold decomposition process throughout the winter. I store my scraps from the kitchen (along with the coffee grounds and filters) in plastic bags in my freezer until one of the rare days (like today) when the temperature goes above freezing. Today I took all the scraps out of the freezer, took the cover off my compost sak and added them in. I then added straw (I ran out of all my leaves) and covered it back up again. If it works like last winter, I should have nice compost by my last frost date in May.

[@thebeginnersgarden]

Thank you for sharing! That's fantastic that it'll be ready by May!

[@cooki47]

Hot composting is my winter hobby in Northern Montana.

[@martinaparrrish5397]

Thanks Jill I used to give up on composting in the winter.

[@laneeacannon1450]

Start a worm bin

[@OakCity7797]

I visited my daughter in Kansas during Thanksgiving. She and my wife were preparing dinner. I had to remind them I needed the scraps for composting. So I was able to collect and transport the kitchen scraps back home to Texas. The joke in the car was that I was transporting kitchen scraps across state line.

[@thebeginnersgarden]

Good for you! 😁

[@authorcharlieboring]

I made a DIY worm tower from a kitty liter plastic container and placed it into my raised garden. I drilled 1-inch holes in the bottom and sides and it has a lid on top. I put shredded leaves in the bottom and I dump in kitchen scraps and cover again with shredded leaves. Will this work slowly in the winter?

[@thebeginnersgarden]

I don't see why it wouldn't. Depending on where you live, I'm not sure the worms will be active because of the cold, but the composting itself should continue slowly through the winter.

[@larrya3989]

❤❤❤❤❤

[@ColoradoTodd]

Thanks! The other reason I add leaves when I add kitchen scraps is to help deter the raccoons. It doesn't always work, but it definitely helps. I use large half-barrel planter for my winter compost, so as I add scaps, I drop a few leaves on top followed by a couple of concrete stepping stones. The stones tend to add enough deterrent to keep the raccoons out. (Also, we only eat plants, so our scraps don't include tempting meat/dairy/egg smells)

[@thebeginnersgarden]

Good idea with the stones!

[@ColoradoTodd]

@@thebeginnersgarden I like using the planter for daily accumulation, since I can keep it near the back door. When it fills up, I turn it into the actual compost pile, but meanwhile I don't have to march out to the far corner of the yard to empty the kitchen "bucket".

[@ginaladd4520]

I do the same with kitchen scraps. My kids (all adults) know they shouldn't just thrown away kitchen scraps.