Winter Composting with MCR Terry K.

Winter composting can be tricky in our climate, so we asked MCRs to share their experiences with year-round compost bins. MCR Terry K. details how he composts his organics when the weather turns cold!

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My winter compost consists of 2 phases. I keep a worm compost indoors, and a traditional bin outdoors.

Worm Compost

The vermicompost bin consists of 2 five-gallon containers, one inserted into the other. The inner container has holes drilled into the bottom as well as into the lid for air. This is home to the worms and where the material gets added. I have placed a spacer in between the buckets, approximately 8 inches high, to keep them separated. This allows compost juice/tea to drain from the inner container to the outer. My house plants love a dose of this juice about once a month!

My worm bin, closed on the left, open in the middle, and on the right, the "compost juice" that drips down into the outer bucket.

The actual composting takes place in the inner container, where my worms turn kitchen scraps into castings. I keep this indoors during winter, and it is doing well! I have a sizable worm population now and plan to transfer some to an open-tub container soon.

I have one batch of completed compost ready for use on my lawn as top dressing in spring. I started to add it but waited too long in the fall. The ground had frozen and I didn’t want it to get washed away at spring thaw. I did add some as seen in the photo, and saved the rest. Part of this compost is in a garbage container and some in a hole I dug into the ground. I hope it is still good/active when I go to use it in the spring! I am still learning, so I will see what happens.

On the left, the initial application of compost as topdressing. On the right, the finished compost being saved for spring.

Outdoor Compost

My outdoor project is in a wooden container, consisting of garden and household organic scraps that was progressing well until I added too much liquid and froze it—it is pretty much dormant now due to the cold weather. There is a layer of tissue paper and coffee filters on top now thanks to the flu that I had last week.

My outdoor bin. On the left, covered up and hibernating! On the right, you can see the top layer of paper and tissue that I added after the freeze. 

Hopefully, when it warms up, I can get this working again and the paper will absorb some of the excess moisture. I may have to use some sort of starting process to get it going again. I will check with Mark, the City's Compost Programs Coordinator, on this.

During the winter, if I have more household scraps than the worms consume, I save them in a large container outdoors for use in spring. I was also saving my pasta water indoors, however that started getting pretty rank so I dumped it on the outdoor pile rather than waste it! That’s when the freeze problem occurred. The worms also seem to enjoy the pasta water.

I made some mistakes preparing for winter. I understand that although the process will slow down in winter it should still be somewhat active with microbes working in the middle of the pile. I hope to gain more information and be better prepared for next winter!

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I am semi retired from the civil engineering field but continue to work on projects that interest me, especially if travel is involved to a warm climate during our winter.

I enjoy volunteering for worthy causes, most competitive sports, cycling, fishing, and gardening. I am most proud of my tomatoes, which I start from seed in April, then transplant to my garden in late May. I grow most of my own vegetables that I preserve for winter by freezing and more recently fermenting, although I have much to learn about the latter.

That’s me!

Icy Conditions - Make It Safe

Recent freeze/thaw weather and freezing rain over the past two weeks have resulted in extremely hazardous conditions on Edmonton's walkways and sidewalks. These treacherous conditions are a safety concern for everyone - particularly for those with limited mobility, waste collectors, and other service providers. Over the past two weeks, bylaw officers have investigated more than 2,600 complaints for snow and ice on sidewalks.

The City of Edmonton is reminding owners to keep sidewalks, walkways, and waste collection areas free of ice ans snow. The City encourages citizens to use sand or ice-melting products. Courtesy sand boxes can be found at many local community centres. Although these courtesy sand boxes are topped up regularly, demand often exceeds supply. When this occurs, citizens are encouraged to buy sand or ice-melting products at their local department or hardware store.

For a listing of courtesy sand box locations, please visit community sandboxes.

It's Snow Joke for Waste Collectors

Snow is falling, and so could waste collectors as the collection of garbage and recycling becomes increasingly challenging with hazardous winter conditions.

Falls due to slippery waste collection sites are a common cause of collector injuries.


Residents can help make the job safer for their collectors.
What can we do to help? click here

What to do on a spring day...

Don’t Slip Up This Spring
March 23, 2011

ATCO Gas, Canada Post and the City of Edmonton are asking Edmontonians to stay vigilant and continue to clear snow and ice from sidewalks and other areas around their property this spring.
Spring weather can cause snow to melt and run onto sidewalks during the day, only to freeze again at night. These freeze-thaw cycles create slippery conditions for everyone, especially people that provide valuable services to homeowners – like meter readers, waste collectors and mail carriers.

read more...

Collectors Keep It Safe

While the past couple of months have been very challenging with regards to adverse weather conditions, all frontline staff are to be commended for keeping their focus on safety.

Collectors have had to deal with the usual winter challenges navigating narrow, rutted alleys for back lane collection, but this year provided new road blocks (literally) to safe and efficient collection on front streets.

Injury rates continue to move downwards, and this clearly shows that staff are keeping their eyes and mind on task at all times.

Thanks also to residents who ensured snow and ice were at a minimum around their bins.

The City is committed to the health and wellness of its employees, collectors are keeping safety in mind, and residents support their city workers by considering collector's needs and timely attention to collector safety. With these groups working together we will never know how much the winter of 2011 might have cost us in injuries, lost time and insurance.

Well done!


I challenge any top athlete to climb a pile of ice chunks, pick up a dynamic 20kg load, turn around, and gracefully throw it into a one metre wide space, and do it again 299 times, and then do it again tomorrow!

...ok, the grace is optional.

Passive Solar Greenhouse

Just thought I’d pass this along to the Master Composters. I missed the last solar greenhouse presentation.

The Solar Energy Society of Alberta has embarked on a design Charette on solar greenhouses. Members have gone to China to visit their greenhouses and are currently working with the Alberta and Sask governments and others. The China solar greenhouse generally consist of double poly on the south exterior and a brick wall on the north exterior. They are simple, inexpensive and easy to build.

- Brian

image of passive Solar collection from I Dream of Architecture

Thanks Brian. I have known for many years of the benefits of passive solar (my composter in a sunny, sheltered spot works year-round), but after seeing The Ways at City Hall I have been considering adding a greenhouse to an unused portion of my yard south of the garage.
I have been considering a row of dark-coloured rain barrels along the north wall to retain heat - do you think this would work as well as masonry and earth?

Here is information from Brian about the next Solar Energy Society meeting. It is in two weeks; plan to be there early and save me a seat!

T’Sou-ke First Nation
The Most Solar-Intensive Community in Canada
Chief Gordon Planes Andrew Moore – Project Director
Wednesday March 23, 7:00pm MacEwan University CN Theatre Rm 5-142

Following a year-long visioning process the T’Sou-ke community embarked on a programme to achieve energy autonomy, economic self-sufficiency and food sustainability while utilizing the ancient wisdom and skills still available within First Nations communities. Their on-going achievements include three solar electric systems totaling 75kW, thirty eight residential solar hot water systems, and an ambitious energy efficiency programme along with indigenous plant propagation and food-producing greenhouses. In the process of building these many projects the T’Sou-ke First Nation has trained many young people in the solar and sustainability trades and inspired many other communities to follow their lead.

Free, no reservations necessary. Seating is first come, first served. Free refreshments
Further info: go to: www.solaralberta.ca (click on Seminars)

Don't Forget the Compost Pile

If your compost pile is in a sunny, sheltered spot, then our lengthening days will heat the pile enough to get those microbes moving.

If your pile isn't working at this time of year, it is probably because the pile has dried out. A pail of bathwater, aquarium water, non-greasy grey water, or (my favourite) a glass or two of warmed brandy, will provide the moisture needed by the bacteria to do their job.

If you neglect your compost in winter, the nitrogen you are adding now may be lost to our dry air.

and yes, I drink the brandy - it keeps me warm inside while I add it to the pile outside.

Highlights of 2010 - #5

Assisted Waste Collection

Over 80 residents have registered for the service and are, by all indications, extremely pleased with it .
“I thank my stars that this service came to be,” said Lindsay, who signed up for the service in January. “It allows me independence and an easier winter.” She even sent the mayor a letter praising the helpful service, and has mentioned it to everyone ever since the day she signed up.
Lindsay’s appreciation for the service has been echoed by other residents. Bonnie, who lives in an apartment building, thinks it is a great idea. “I mention it to all the people I know who are housebound and alone,” she said. “I just hope they call you and take advantage of this wonderful service.”

Could somebody you know benefit from this service? Send them to www.edmonton.ca/waste for more information and to access the online application form, or call Eric, our waste cartoonist, at 780-496-5698.

Weekend Tips for Winter Composting

Before the snow arrives, take a look at your yard and see if there is an opportunity to work less and get more from your winter composting.

First, see if there is a spot close to your kitchen door that gets a lot of sun. I don't like walking through knee-deep snow drifts to dump my kitchen scraps, so convenience at this time of year is very important.

Fortunately, there is a sunny spot just outside my back door were I relocate my bin for winter. Next summer, my herbs will love the nutrient boost that the compost will leave behind.

A few hours of sun means my black plastic bin will absorb enough solar energy to restart the composting process every day. I can add all my kitchen scraps and not fill the bin - it's MAGIC!

No flies means I don't have to worry about covering the food waste with soil or leaves. I do have a bag of leaves handy, so I can add a layer of browns every couple decimetres to balance the C:N and trap some air for the spring thaw.

During the cold, dark months it is one of my guilty pleasures to soak in a deep, hot bath. I assuage my guilt by taking a bucket of bathwater out to the compost bin (after the water has sat overnight and added its heat and humidity to my home). This keeps the mice away, too.

Shelter will keep the wind our and the moisture in, so when spring finally arrives next July there will be plenty of moisture to keep it working.

As early as you can in spring, move the bin back to its summer location, toss any unfinished material into your wheelbarrow, and let your winter compost cure until it can be dug into the bed.

You can laugh at how easy it was while you pick fresh herbs for the kitchen.

What the...

What did Mark find in his compost pile that should not have been there?

And not just one, but a couple dozen, in the working layer of the pile.

Are there more? From where did they come??


Can you shed any light on this mystery?

Heather's Tidbits

Simple Winter Composting
from Harrowsmith Country Life Magazine, October 2009

Every fall, line up several empty pots in a seldom used but accessible location outdoors.

Over the winter, I fill them about 3/4 full with kitchen scraps and top them up in the spring with soil skimmed from my vegetable garden. I plant then with annuals during the summer and by the following autumn, Nature has done its magic and each pot is full of soil, which I distribute where needed in my garden.

-John Nielsen of Portage la Prairie, Manitoba

Food Storage Tip:

Store onions upside down to prevent spoilage. Water is concentrated in the top of the onion. When you store it with top down, the water tends to disperse and the onion keep longer.

Betty Berg, Russell, MB.

Got a tip to share?