There’s no reason to let compost go dormant over the winter. By keeping your compost active year-round, you’ll keep nutrients flowing, eliminate kitchen waste, and have an excellent spring fuel source for your garden.
Tip One
Know what can be composted
Kitchen scraps like fruit/vegetable peels, rinds, and cores
Coffee grounds and paper filters
Eggshells
Tea leaves and bags (watch for stickers)
Tip Two
Establish balance
Compost should have a good balance of green (nitrogen) and brown (carbon) ingredients. Most of the scraps from the kitchen will be nitrogen-rich, be sure to add yard waste such as straw, dried leaves, and plant debris.
Tip Three
Things to avoid
Woody twigs and branches larger than ¼-inch in diameter. Create a brush pile that will become a wildlife habitat instead.
Wood and leaves from plants such as pine, spruce, juniper, and arborvitae.
Plants that have been treated with weed killers.