Winter Composting

It’s cold outside and the compost pile is frozen. Do you really feel like hauling kitchen scraps out into the winter wasteland only to have them picked through by scavengers? There is an alternative. Keep your kitchen scraps cooking this winter producing buckets of black gold for the garden next spring while you stay warm and cozy. Try our three bucket system in your basement or heated garage. No odor, no pests, very easy!

Try these easy step for our 3 bucket composting system in your basement or heated garage. Five gallon painter buckets with lids work great or plastic trash cans with lids and wheels make the job a cinch!

1. Fill bucket #1 with sawdust or peat moss mixed with equal parts dry soil, add a little limestone and cover with lid.

2. On the bottom of bucket #2, place about one inch of dry straw, leaves, or shredded newspaper. Dump your kitchen scraps on top as they become available, each time sprinkling on some of the sawdust/soil mixture from bucket #1 to absorb odors and excess moisture. If you have a lot of scraps to add all at one time, portion out and add as smaller amounts and cover each addition with the sawdust/soil mixture. Replace lid after each addition. If there are any large pieces of scraps you may want to chop them smaller before adding. If your scraps are holding excess water, let them drain well before adding them to the bucket.

3. When bucket #2 is full start filling bucket #3. By the time bucket #3 is full, the contents of bucket #2 should be well on the way to becoming compost.

4. Use and enjoy in the spring!