Cold Composting

Cold composting a lazy and genius method of composting. It’s simple and generally doesn’t require much work.

Table of Contents

• Why Cold Compost?
• Hot Compost vs. Cold Compost
• Cold Composting in Raised Beds
• Cold Compost Bin in Wood Material
• Rolling Plastic Compost Bin
• What Not to Include in Cold Compost

Why Cold Compost?

Making cold compost is easy since you don’t need to initiate processes to get started. Plus, you don’t need to turn it like you do with hot compost.

There’s less off-gassing of nutrients like nitrogen and carbon dioxide because the temperature is lower, and it allows soil biota to create humus over the long maturation period.

Another significant advantage is that you don’t have to haul away what you prune from bushes and branches to waste stations.

Hot Compost vs. Cold Compost

With cold composting, you simply keep adding garden waste to the compost pile without turning it.

This is unlike hot composting, where you regularly turn the pile to generate heat during the composting process.

Heat also breaks down the structure of garden and food waste quickly so that they can be used in the garden combined with or instead of soil.

Cold composting, on the other hand, usually takes from 8 months to a couple of years or even longer. It’s best not to worry too much about time since it can a take long time to have finished soil. Also the process will stop in cold months.

The main difference between a cold and hot compost bis, is that the hot bin are insulated in order to work in winter time.

Cold Composting in Raised Beds

Placing cold compost directly on the ground is beneficial because worms can move in and out as they please. If the pile gets too hot, they’ll retreat until it cools down, and in cold weather, the pile stays warmer than the ground underneath.

Gradually add various organic components, including bokashi, grass clippings, branches, paper/cardboard waste, and wood shavings. I also add some soil to aid the process.

I also add sticks and clippings to create ventilated layers, along with torn paper and cardboard strips, to create a support network (like a hammock) to prevent the pile from collapsing too much and becoming anaerobic. This also helps provide an open structure for worms to crawl through and feel secure. And it makes overwatering practically impossible.

It’s important to keep the cold compost pile moist, so I tend to water it if it becomes very dry.

A significant advantage of cold composting is that you can grow vegetables directly in the compost while it decomposes. In the image above, I’ve planted some cabbage plants directly in the compost. The advantage is that the plants receive good nutrition while helping to sustain microorganisms.

Cold composting in raised beds is very easy since you can have several piles that you alternate filling up.

After about 8 months, some of the compost will be ready. At the very least, the bottom layer should be mature.

To harvest the bottom layer, simply lift the raised bed out of the pile, move the top layer of semi-finished compost into a new container, and harvest from the bottom.

There may still be larger sticks visible, but you can sift these out or simply remove them by hand and add them to the new cold compost.

Weeds add nutrients and organic material to cold compost. Weeds with deep roots draw nutrients from the lower levels of soil where shallow-rooted plants cannot reach, bringing it to the surface in their leaves or storing it in thick roots.

I usually let the weeds sit on the ground, preferably in sunlight, for a couple of days before adding them to the cold compost. This prevents the weeds from continuing to grow in the pile.

When composting that’s not entirely finished, it’s perfect to add to the bottom of raised beds.

Building Your Own Compost Bin

You can build simple bins out of wood with good openings for adequate ventilation on the sides. This is a bin my father built:

Large plastic trash bins with lids can also be converted into compost bins by cutting out the bottom.

Purchasing a Ready-Made Cold Compost Bin

At Vida XL, you can purchase ready-made cold compost solutions to get started with composting right away.

Cold Compost Bin in Wood Material

This is a smart solution where you get everything you need in one kit.

• Solid pine wood: Solid pine wood is a beautiful natural material. Pine has a straight grain, and the knots give the material its distinctive, rustic appearance. This compost bin is made of solid pine wood, making it sturdy and stable.
• Large capacity: This compost bin has a large capacity, making it ideal for recycling organic material and waste.
• Convenient lid and flap: The top lid makes it easy for you to fill from above. The flap ensures easy removal of humus.
• Slatted design: This recycling box has a slatted design, ensuring good air circulation for composting and turning organic waste into valuable nutritious compost.
• Dimensions: 63.5 x 63.5 x 77.5 cm (W x D x H)

Rolling Plastic Compost Bin

With drum solutions, you can more easily rotate and aerate the compost for the most efficient process.

• Durable material: The compost bin is made of PP. Polypropylene (PP) is a popular plastic that is lightweight, tough, and resistant to shocks.
• Drum design: The drum design of this compost bin increases mixing productivity. And with internal mixing rods that accelerate the breakdown process, you can expect rich, fertile compost in just a few weeks!
• Excellent aeration: The compost bin has air holes to mix plenty of oxygen into the compost.
• Practical design: The compost lid with wide opening ensures easy access. The special drawer also allows you to produce liquid compost, and a built-in handle allows you to move the compost bin around with less effort.
• Easy to use: The efficient drum system is the simple way to get perfectly prepared compost without having to dig, turn, and mix by hand. All you need to do is open the light sliding door, add scraps, and turn the handle about every other day.
• Dimensions: 49.5 x 44.5 x 57 cm (L x W x H)
• Capacity: 50 L

This is a smart solution where you can streamline composting and create up to 140 L of compost.

• Durable material: The compost bin is made of PP. Polypropylene (PP) is a popular plastic that is lightweight, tough, and resistant to shocks.
• Solid legs: The metal legs of this compost bin ensure durability and stability.
• Drum design: The drum design of this compost bin increases mixing productivity. And with internal mixing rods that accelerate the breakdown process, you can expect rich, fertile compost in just a few weeks!
• Two-chamber compost bin: Two independent rotating compost bins help divide into multiple compost batches. One lets you continuously switch sides while the other allows for adding new scraps, providing an uninterrupted flow of rich and healthy compost.
• Excellent aeration: The compost bin has air holes to mix plenty of oxygen into the compost.
• Easy to use: The efficient drum system is the simple way to get perfectly prepared compost without having to dig, turn, and mix by hand. All you need to do is open the light sliding door, add scraps, and turn the handle about every other day.
• Dimensions: 63 x 60 x 74 cm (L x W x H)
• Capacity: 140 L

Using Compost

On well-established beds with good soil, compost can be sprinkled on top of the soil instead of being dug in. But if your soil is nutrient-poor, it’s best to dig it in.

What Not to Include in Cold Compost

Do not add seeds, diseased material, or resistant weeds to cold compost as these can survive the process and cause problems later on.

Purchasing Ready-Made Composted Soil

Some waste stations sell ready-made compost that you can load onto a trailer.

Community composting is a model of composting that sources organic materials locally, engages the community in the composting process, and uses the compost produced in local soils.