What you Need to Know about Winter Composting
Composting in the winter is tough for people who may not know how to compost under harsh, snowy, and/or freezing conditions. To some, it may seem impossible.
There’s more than a few reasons to keep one’s compost bin active during the winter months. For example, if you are in a household that puts out a lot of waste, a winter composting bin can help reduce what has to go to the curb.
Winter composting can make for a fun challenge for the winter, especially if it’s for a household with kids. It makes for a great conversation piece. Depending on the way it is used, it could also be a source of supplemental heat for a winter greenhouse.
Also, you won’t need to worry about it drying out or overheating, a common worry during the summer months.
The Basics to what you need to Compost in Winter
First off, you need a heat source to ensure your system stays active. Keeping the compost warm and active requires an external heat source. Secondly, you will absolutely need to insulate your compost in some way. For an easy, cheap way to do this, using straw bales around your bin can do this. Thirdly, you will need to ensure that it is provided consistent fuel throughout the winter months. Many families keep a bucket or container of some kind in the kitchen to put scraps in.
If it’s your first time composing in Winter, be Patient
Anybody’s first time composting in winter is typically met with frustration at times. Keeping it heated and insulated can be a challenge if you have never done it before.
The best recommendation is to try to consult with someone who has done composting in the winter before. This can help point to the challenges you may experience in your neck of the woods.
Depending on where you are located in Canada, a heat source may not necessarily be required year-round if the winter weather remains warmer than expected. That said, always having one set up and ready to go goes a long way towards guarding against your composting system shutting down due to lack of heat.
Take the challenge this winter and jump into some winter composting. Feel encouraged to research online similar setups that people may be using to brave the harsh winter weather. That way, you can draw up some rough cost estimates to gain a sense of what it may cost you to keep things moving during the colder days.
If you’ve been successful at composting during summer, taking things to the winter is the next step. Try to develop your own tricks of the trade and see what shortcuts work for you. Browse blogs and YouTube to see the experiences that others have had doing the same. Better yet, many composters create their own blogs and videos to share with the online community. All in all, winter composting no matter how you approach it is a rewarding activity for all ages that goes a long way in promoting eco waste management services and proper waste disposal.
