Arts & Leisure Gardening

Ask a Master Gardener: How to compost in winter

A COMPOST THERMOMETER can be used to determine if compost is at the optimal temperature for active decomposition. photo / Amy Record

Compost, the dark, crumbly, earthy-smelling material produced by natural decomposers, provides many benefits to gardeners and non-gardeners alike. Converting garden waste, kitchen scraps and various paper items into compost at home reduces the amount of waste that ends up in landfills and saves households money on garbage fees.