Composting in Colder Climates

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Permalink Reply by Chris Byers on December 9, 2009 at 6:30pm

Yes you can keep them going but it is harder in many of the tumbler styles. Small mass and small working volume of most of these styles means it is very hard to do in the cold climates. A pile on the ground is much easier to keep hot through the winter, even then it can be a challenge.
Boosting the nitrogen level will help to raise the temperature but once it has gone cold it may not be possible to get any heat out of it until it warms up.

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Permalink Reply by Polly on December 10, 2009 at 8:24am

Thanks for the advice Chris... I'll pass it along to my friend...

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Permalink Reply by Anita Mahaffey on December 10, 2009 at 8:47am

She can dump out the bin in an area where she would like to create a new garden bed, preferably in a sunny location. Cover it with a black plastic bag or any other medium which will absorb the heat. Piling LOTS more leaves on top and saturating everything would be ideal prior to covering. Jump up and down on the pile every now and then to break it down into smaller bits, and turn with a pitch fork every few weeks. Bury kitchen wastes deep within the pile daily, and it will provide the aeration needed to cook the heap. It needs to be a BIG pile, not something you keep in a small bin. It really isn't that cold in Albuquerque; I lived there from 1974 until 2005 and started and maintained a number of compost heaps there.

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Permalink Reply by Chris Byers on December 10, 2009 at 9:14am

Anita, has the answer for you friend. Has to be big and on the ground to make and keep that heat it needs to work.

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Permalink Reply by Anita Mahaffey on December 10, 2009 at 11:16am

This time of year, it's easy to drive around ABQ and find bagged leaves waiting for disposal by the city, at least that was the case a few years back. You only have another week or two to collect them before they're gone for another year ....

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Permalink Reply by Polly on December 10, 2009 at 9:28am

Thanks to you both...

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