You were busy building your beautiful greenhouse so no wonder it fell off the schedule. Building up my pile in fall is one of my favourite gardening activities. No bugs, not hot but not yet freezing and I've been missing gardening for a bit. My pile was still at 140 a few days ago but I haven't checked yet today. It won't be long before it cools right down. Winter is coming to the prairie! ❄

Hardy people gardening is an art, science and love that may be quite challenging for those in mild environments. It's November 10th for me now, no deep snow yet although I've had to come indoors to warm up from frigid yard work and the Autumn tasks for over a month now. I just wanted to say I appreciate your winter composting techniques, thank you. Also I just wanted you to know that I LOVED when you went to set the thermometer into the ground to get it out of the way and the soil in that spot was frozen at first. I completely understand and relate, but I found it so funny, giggled a bit and giggled some more thinking of our hardy spirits and love of gardening, cold fingertips and all..... As winter is nicking at my door, smiles to you

From Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan. Glad to hear from you.

great video! looks like summer there! we're buried in snow here in N. Central Sk.

Interesting how you deal with the lower temps in Sask. The black colour on your bins should help on the cold but sunny winter days. What i do with our bins (pallet sized) is put a floating polyestyrene internal lid inside the bins. Something you can raise put the latest compost offerings in then close. Ot does work as it keeps the heat up maintains humidity through the condensation it causes and of course perpetuates composting. Did this on one bin & not on the other - makes a difference.

I gave up composting. My wife couldn't get the concept of covering it with dirt, to avoid the fruit flies. Then I could never remember to water it, so it got too dry and attracted red ants to nest. I now use red wiggler worms to dispose of my food waste.

Alot of good methods and info. Our bins are frozen right now but hoping to flip them next warm spot we get to. Lots of great soil being made for next season. Thanks for the share!

Howdy Prairie Plantgirl!👋 It's nice to see you bundled up in that cold. Another good post...love hearing about the measures gardeners have to take in different climates. You have a sweet stack of bags with compost in them.👍 Stay warm! Howdy to loveable Buster!🐕 Maybe next year do a vid on things we can grow for our fur babies?

I just came across your channel. Great video on winter composting! I’ve composted in winter too but didn’t do the leaf layer in winter. I think I’ll keep a bag of leaves handy. Good info! I’m a prairie girl too. Where are you located?

Hey there Praire Girl, I am just south of you in eastern Montana. I just found your channel! I love composting with leaves too. Have you tried composting in a Johnson Su bioreactor? I set up 3 of them this year and posted a video on how to set one up. I moved the most finished compost into my root cellar and added worms to it, looking forward to seeing what it looks like in the spring. How cold did you get down to this last week? We set the record low of -50F. I am looking forward to following your channel, good luck with the rest of the winter. Take care

I think we have the same basic approach to winter composting, but you have much more challenging conditions. Here in NS we still have not had a hard frost. It’s the warmest fall ever! A friend even heard spring peepers! I’ll continue to add kitchen scraps and leaves to my composter, but I don’t expect much action. In effect, it’s a huge insulation blanket for my worm colony that will congregate in the centre, which gets cold but never freezes.

Bigger the better 😅

Would boiling water or an electric blanket bring the compost pile back to life in the winter?

Do rats ever find their way into your compost bins?