Backyard Composting Tips for Fall and Winter
Review tips for backyard composting in the city below. Did we miss something? Email audrey@the48thward.org to let us know.
Composting in the Fall
Composting in the fall? Remember to save your leaves: composting works best when you mix a 2:1 ratio of browns to greens, and Fall leaves are the ideal brown!
Here are some tips for taking advantage of fall leaves for your backyard composting operation:
Collect enough fall leaves now to last until next fall. Several large paper lawn bags of leaves should be enough.
Rake leaves when they are dry to prevent your leaf supply from getting moldy.
Store leaves in paper bags or containers that aren’t airtight and keep them in a dry location, such as a garage or under a porch. Avoid storing leaves in plastic bags.
Composting in the Winter
Before you know it, the temps will drop and your compost bin will have a little cap of snow. Colder temperatures may cause the decomposition process to slow down, but as long as you continue to add greens and browns and provide the right amount of water and air to keep the microbes thriving, the composting process will continue. This is because the microbes that consume and decompose the organic matter generate heat. You may even see a cloud of condensed water vapor rising from your bin on chilly days, which is a good sign that active composting is happening.
If temps drop for an extended period (such as a polar vortex) or you want to hibernate and don’t tend to your bin as often, the material may freeze over completely. Don’t worry-- a sunny winter day might warm it up enough to get things going again (aerating it can help too, see below). If not, you can resume the process when warmer temps return in Spring.
Not ready to compost at home? Bring your compostables to any of Chicago’s free food scrap drop off sites, including one right here in Edgewater.
