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Ninibini
True Blue Farmgirl
7577 Posts
Nini
Pennsylvania
USA
7577 Posts |
 Posted - Dec 28 2010 : 08:46:13 AM
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Hi girls - My husband made me a compost bin last spring, and I've been absolutely loving it. It's amazing to see how quickly everything composts - SO exciting to me! Anyhow, now that it's winter, and there is so much snow, is there anything different I should be doing? The bin is made out of old pallet wood, and has open vents on the sides and on the removable top for air flow (he followed directions from the internet). In the good weather, we've been adding our scraps and other compostable materials, then adding a layer of fresh soil, and turning. Everything's been working out beautifully. But, of course, the snow has been falling, and the ground has been frozen, so adding new soil to the pile and turning it isn't possible right now. Over the past couple of weeks, I've been saving scraps and grounds in baggies and other materials are waiting in the mudroom. I am wondering if it's okay to just pop everything out there on top of the pile as it stands now, without adding soil and turning it all over, or should I use a big storage bin or something like that until the weather breaks? Or is there something else I should be doing? And should we be covering the bin with a tarp or just letting it sit as is? I'm sure these questions sound a little silly, but I honestly don't know what to do. I just really want to do whatever is best so the compost to be perfect for spring planting time, you know? So any advice and guidance would be GREATLY appreciated! Thank you!!! - Nini
God gave us two hands... one to help ourselves, and one to help others!
Farmgirl Sister #1974 |
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vegetarian farmer
True Blue Farmgirl
249 Posts
Jane
Freedom
pa
USA
249 Posts |
Posted - Dec 28 2010 : 08:52:58 AM
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I am from PA also, and we have had one cold December. What I do is I keep piling my scraps on the pile, then put some leaves I saved from fall on top. I keep this up until spring when temperatures get above 60. Nothing composts when temps are below 60.Then in the spring turn and add something that gets the heat up like fresh cut grass. I have three different types of compost piles because I need as much as I can make. The only thing is you will want to make sure you cover the food scraps with a brown material because they will attract rodents. I don't worry so much about that, but depending on where you live you may. Happy composting.
http://hardworkhomestead.blogspot.com/ |
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Question: Composting during the winter months?
