Update: My compost pile finally heated up after a whole winter

I started a backyard compost bin in October here in Minneapolis, but it just sat there cold and wet for months. Turns out I needed way more 'brown' material than I thought, so I spent three weekends collecting dry leaves and shredded paper to mix in. It finally hit 130 degrees last week, which means it's actually breaking down now. Anyone else in a cold climate figure out the right brown-to-green ratio for winter composting?

3 comments

3 Comments

wader7118h ago

Used to think greens were key but learned browns make the heat happen.

the_viola21h ago

Feel your pain, that first winter is brutal. Took me forever to realize my pile was basically just a wet salad. Congrats on the heat, that's a huge win.

jenny_lee20h ago

Getting the right balance is a lesson that applies to more than just compost.