Composters come in...

jallen76

We want to start composting. Can you tell me any tricks or hints to get going.

We just got 2 acres out in the country and want to have an "open" frame compost pile.

Can you still compost in the winter?  We live in Michigan...so stuff won't break down will it?

I want to compost for soil for my garden, I hate to buy it!

TIA

bim38106

Here's a good site about winter composting:

http://www.compostguy.com/winter-composting/

I'm also in MI, but we have a closed container to compost. We had a LOT of problems with racoons getting into our bin and pulling fresh scraps out.

For now, I don't compost in the winter. I don't think my pile is large enough for that yet. I do have a friend (who also lives in MI) who has been composting for a good 10 years now (closed container) and she says she continuously adds to it through the winter and it's fine.

As far as how to get going, just make sure you get a good ration of browns vs. greens. I don't know exactly the right ratio, but I'm pretty sure the above site has details on that too

ArcticFox

I compost in the winter, basically to add volume, even though it won't break down until it warms up (I'm in upstate NY).  Some people don't like to add in stuff that won't break down, because then you have to wait longer to use the compost, so it's a personal choice.

I would read about the basics of composting - mostly the right ratios, not too wet or dry, and turn it a lot.  

Another suggestion, just my own personal thoughts - is that I know a lot of people who don't compost stuff like corn cobs.  It is up to you how long you want to wait for the compost to turn.  You can also do things like chop up corn cobs, watermelon rinds, etc so that they break down faster.

tbearsangel

I am in MI and I have a compost bin that is just wooden pallets screwed together on three sides and one side has a couple eye hooks to hold it to the frame, but I can take it off to turn with a pitchfork whenever I need to. I also have a small pallet that I can throw on the top or take off to adjust if it seems too wet or dry. As far as the "winter aspect" I just pile a ton of leaves and garden clippings from the fall in the bin and if I can I turn it a few times whenever we have a warm week (like now) I do that. Otherwise I just add my normal veggie clippings or paper shreds on the top and just turn it in the pile when spring rolls around. This will be my third spring and the first year or so it seemed to take forever to break down, but now I think the fall influx of leaves and the paper shreds help it throughout the year to have a better "mix", so it breaks down faster. I don't break much of anything down before hand except the paper I shred and I don't notice specific greens a couple weeks after I put them in. There are of course more browns, so they take a bit longer... Hope that makes some sort of sense. It's not as hard as it seems really. Good luck!

Jena503

We compost in 2 trashcans with holes drilled in them. I like having 2 because then we can decide to stop adding to one and let it finish while still adding to the other.

I rarely turn mine, but I live in a hot and humid place so things decompose pretty well.

We keep a pile of leaves around and add it on top of kitchen scraps. Seems to attract less flying bugs that way.

CDMay2006

I don't know about composting in cold, as it isn't usually very cold for very long here (PNW).  We have two side-by-side bins made from used pallets (3 pallets for side walls, two for back walls and two removable ones for the front walls).  The pallets required some repairing, but it was an easy, inexpensive way to start composting.  We just pile on top and occasionally mix it in (we're pretty lazy about it).  Given our climate, though, this probably doesn't help you much.

krisandgrace

I have two compost piles. One made out of 4 pallets like a PP described- I put all my leaves, grass clippings garden waste in then I have a closed compost for kitchen scraps like this I bought red wiggler worms for that bin. I add kitchen waste to that bin all winter long. It wont really break down much but the freeze thaw gets it going then the worms will go to town on it in the spring.