We used to dump our compost pail behind the shed, causing us to trudge through the snow.

We’ve had an inch or so of snow this past week, which makes everything look beautiful, but is not enough to be too hazardous. It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

I like to check out the tracks in the snow to see what creatures have visited the garden. In the past few days, we’ve had cats and rabbits. No deer – hallelujah!

I used to make human tracks as I trudged across the back yard to dump my compost pail, ruining the nice snowy view from my kitchen window. No more!

We save all of our household kitchen waste and scrap paper for the compost pile. In the summer, you can easily make a quick dash out to the pile whenever you need to. It’s more challenging at this time of year! Not only is it a wet slog across a frozen or muddy lawn to the pile (actually 4 or 5 piles) hidden behind the garden shed, but the pile is often frozen solid, making it hard to bury the kitchen waste. Burying the waste is important if you don’t want critters of the four-legged variety to get into the pile.

Last year, we slogged. This year, I got smart and set up a new compost pile just off the patio. This is just a simple 3-foot diameter ring of concrete reinforcing wire, as seen here.

In a few quick steps, the compost pail that I keep on the kitchen counter can be dumped. I also hid a large waterproof tote full of dry leaves in the empty-for-the-season above-ground water garden. I can dump, cover, and scoot back into the house in no time. If I run out of leaves, I can cover the waste with shredded paper, or pick up a bale of straw at the nearest feed-and-seed store.

Next spring, I’ll sift through the pile, leaving the finished compost in place. The larger, un-composted chunks will get tossed into the wheelbarrow for a ride to the compost area behind the shed.

Happy Gardening, and Happy Holidays!