What are your Tips for Winter Composting

According to some resources we use, you can compost over the winter with kitchen scraps, goat barn bedding, and tree leaves. Here are some tips:

• Keep your compost pile warm: The ideal temperature for composting is between 130°F and 160°F. To help your compost pile stay warm in the winter, you can insulate it with a layer of straw or leaves. You can also add a compost activator to help generate heat. We started by having Faith our garden master fill the raised beds with tree leaves over the already organic soil mix. Then we added several wheel barrows of goat barn bedding full of manure. Then over the last three months we have been burying the kitchen compost material bags as far we can get them into the leave/bedding mix.

• Turn your compost pile regularly: Turning your compost pile helps to aerate it and keep it warm. You should turn your compost pile every few weeks, even in the winter. Help we need a farm hand - our beloved Hunter has resigned!

• Chop up large items: Large items, such as tree leaves and branches, will take longer to decompose. You can help speed up the composting process by chopping up these items into smaller pieces. We only use limbs in the fenced piles not in the raised beds.

• Be patient: Composting takes longer in the winter than it does in the summer. Be patient and your compost will eventually decompose. Patience?

• 
  

Here are some additional tips for composting with kitchen scraps, goat barn bedding, and tree leaves:

• Kitchen scraps: You can compost most kitchen scraps, including fruits, vegetables, coffee grounds, and eggshells. However, you should avoid composting meat, dairy products, and oily foods. We also learned last year in our compost workshop with Dr Lim from UMC that onions and potatoes are hard to get to decompose. Any feedback?

• Goat barn bedding: Goat barn bedding is a good source of nitrogen for your compost pile. You can compost soiled bedding, but you should avoid composting bedding that has been treated with chemicals. We are sure to NOT use chemicals here at RGM, chemical free for since 1995!

• Tree leaves: Tree leaves are a good source of carbon for your compost pile. You can compost most types of leaves, but you should avoid composting leaves from diseased trees.

If you follow these tips, you can successfully compost over the winter with kitchen scraps, goat barn bedding, and tree leaves. We welcome hearing from you about your successes and learning experiences!

Come visit soon (and maybe join in on the chores!)

Chuck n Donna

#welovecountrylife #welovefarming #joinus #goats #cats