The Best Winter Compost Accelerators

Composting tends to slow down as we move into the winter months. Proper composting relies on warm temperatures to keep the microbial activity in your pile thriving, but the cold weather can cause these processes to slow significantly. Additionally, with snow covering the ground and a reduction in compostable materials like leaves, it can feel like there’s hardly anything to compost during this time of year.

However, winter composting is far from impossible. With the right techniques and tools, such as compost accelerators (also known as compost starters), you can keep your compost pile active and productive even in the coldest months. These accelerators help maintain microbial activity and keep your pile warm enough to continue breaking down organic matter, ensuring you can compost year-round.

Before diving into the best compost starters for winter, let’s explore why composting during the winter is worth the extra effort.

The Benefits of Composting Over the Winter

As the temperatures drop, you might be tempted to put your composting efforts on hold until spring. But before you do, consider the benefits of continuing to compost through the winter:

• No wasted food scraps: Even in winter, food waste doesn’t stop. Composting ensures your scraps are put to good use instead of ending up in a landfill.
• High-quality fertilizer for spring: By maintaining your compost pile during the winter, you’ll have a rich supply of nutrient-dense compost ready to use when planting season begins.
• A secondary heat source for plants: Compost piles generate heat as organic matter breaks down, which can be beneficial if you have a greenhouse or cold frame that needs a little extra warmth.

These benefits don’t diminish in the winter; in fact, they can become even more valuable. Composting during the colder months allows you to stay ahead of the game, preparing for a productive spring and summer gardening season. Plus, it’s a great way to continue recycling food scraps and yard waste, even when the ground is frozen.

Will Compost Survive the Winter?

The good news is that compost can survive the winter with a little extra care. Here are some key steps to ensure your compost pile stays active:

1. Balance your greens and browns: Green materials (like food scraps) provide nitrogen, while brown materials (like dried leaves) provide carbon. Maintaining the right balance is crucial for healthy compost. In the fall, collect and store dead leaves to use as brown material throughout the winter.
2. Insulate your compost pile: Move your compost bin to a sheltered area or insulate it with straw, hay, or even old blankets. This helps retain heat and protects the microbes from freezing temperatures.
3. Maintain moisture levels: Winter air can be dry, so check your compost pile regularly to ensure it stays moist. Covering the pile with a tarp or lid can help prevent snow from soaking in and disrupting the moisture balance.
4. Keep it off the ground: If possible, elevate your compost bin or use a tumbler to prevent the pile from freezing solid. This also helps with aeration and drainage.
5. Add a compost accelerator: Compost accelerators introduce beneficial microbes and nutrients that speed up decomposition, even in cold weather. They can help keep your pile warm and active when temperatures drop.

As long as your compost pile doesn’t freeze completely, the microbes inside will survive and continue breaking down organic matter. The natural decomposition process also generates heat, which can help sustain the pile through the winter.

The Best Compost Accelerators for Winter

If you’re looking to keep your compost pile thriving during the colder months, here are two highly recommended compost accelerators:

• Espoma Organic Traditions Compost Starter: Espoma is a trusted name in organic gardening, and their compost starter is perfect for winter use. It contains a blend of microorganisms that speed up decomposition and work well in cooler temperatures. It’s easy to use and effective with a variety of compostable materials.

• Jobe’s Organics Compost Starter: Jobe’s Organics offers a compost starter with a unique blend of microorganisms, including archaea, which are known for their ability to function in extreme conditions. This product is particularly effective for breaking down tough materials like woody stems and fibrous plant matter, making it a great choice for winter composting.

• Bokashi Organic All Seasons Compost Starter : From SCD Probiotics. Another high-quality choice. This compost accelerator comes in a much larger package, 3 packs of 2-pound bags, that will surely last you a long time. With over 1500 reviews, high-quality ingredients, and verifiable warmth-keeping during the winter, this is a great option for more diehard composters.

Lesser-Known Tips for Winter Composting

To make winter composting even more effective, here are some lesser-known tips and tricks shared by experienced gardeners on platforms like Reddit, Quora, and gardening forums:

• Use hot water bottles or heating pads: Placing hot water bottles or outdoor-safe heating pads near your compost pile can help maintain warmth during especially cold periods.
• Layer with straw or hay: Adding a thick layer of straw or hay on top of your compost pile acts as insulation, trapping heat and protecting the microbes from freezing.
• Bury your pile in snow: Surprisingly, snow can act as an insulator, keeping your compost pile at a consistent temperature and preventing it from freezing solid.
• Add coffee grounds: Coffee grounds are a great green material that can help generate heat in your compost pile. They’re also readily available during the winter months.
• Invest in a compost tumbler: A compost tumbler keeps your pile off the ground, making it less likely to freeze. It also makes it easier to mix the materials, which helps maintain heat and aeration.
• Incorporate manure: If you have access to animal manure, adding it to your compost pile can boost heat production. Just be sure to balance it with enough brown materials to avoid an overly nitrogen-rich pile.
• Build a mini greenhouse around your compost: Constructing a small greenhouse or cold frame around your compost pile can trap heat and protect it from the elements. This can be as simple as using clear plastic sheeting and stakes.
• Chop materials into smaller pieces: Breaking down your compostable materials into smaller pieces before adding them to the pile can speed up decomposition, even in cold weather.
• Compost indoors: If outdoor composting becomes too challenging, consider starting an indoor composting system. Vermicomposting (using worms) or Bokashi composting are odor-free methods that work well in small spaces.

Other Lesser Known Compost Material

• Chicken feathers
• Grass clippings (without seeds)
• Urine
• Spent Coffee Grounds

By following these tips and using the right tools, you can keep your compost pile active and productive all winter long. Not only will this help you reduce waste, but it will also ensure you have a rich supply of compost ready to fuel your garden when spring arrives. Winter composting may require a little extra effort, but the rewards are well worth it!