Organic debris is broken down by bacteria and fungi during the composting process. Microbes grow lethargic in the cold, just like people do. They need heat to function properly. Your compost pile’s microbial activity decreases as the temperature rises.
Reducing the amount of waste sent to landfills is easy to do by composting. It’s simple in the spring, but as the cold weather arrives, you might start to worry if you can still recycle your food scraps.
You don’t have to let your pile go dormant throughout the winter, as many people do. Even during the worst winters, composting is still viable in northern America and Canada. All you need to know is how. And I’ll explain how to you.
How To Heat Up Compost In Winter
1# Make sure you have plenty of brown items on hand
The ideal ratio of brown and green components is required for every working compost pile. To prevent freezing, winter piles require more brown materials than piles constructed during the growth season. Overly wet piles are more likely to freeze, which will entirely stop the composting process.
So, it’s preferable to run your pile just a little bit dry to be on the safe side. Brown waste dries up your compost.
Unfortunately, it can be challenging to find brown materials throughout the winter. One of the greatest brown materials you can get is dry, shredded leaves, so be sure to stock up on them during the fall.
2# Turn quickly
As previously discussed, oxygen is a critical agitator in the chemical reaction that produces decomposition, thus you should turn your compost pile to generate heat.
During the winter, adding air to the heap gives it life by stimulating microbial populations that cause the compost to heat up and decompose more quickly.
Empty the bin, then fill it with compost, turning the sides toward the center to ensure balanced composting. To create compost as quickly as possible, fill a bin with waste all at once, then empty and flip it as frequently as you can. Invest in a tumble compost container if moving compost by hand sounds like too much work.
How Do You Activate Compost In Winter?
In the winter, there is no need to turn the compost pile because doing so will just cause the interior of the pile to lose heat. This may cause the degradation to proceed more slowly. Wait until the pile has fully thawed in the spring before turning it.
How Do You Heat Compost Quickly?
- Utilize modest-sized materials in the compost bin.
- Combine brown carbon-rich resources like dead leaves and sawdust with green nitrogen-rich elements like grass clippings and plant trimmings.
- Between each layer of the mound, strew 1 inch of nutritious garden soil.
How Do I Reactivate My Cold Compost?
2-3 times per week, mix the compost.
You don’t want it to be too wet or too dry, so make sure the moisture level maintains the same.
To hasten the decomposition process, add some earthworms. Incorporate a 60/40 split of greens and browns.
