Container choice
Enclosed bins hold heat and deter wildlife, open piles turn easily, and tumblers speed mixing in small yards. The right format depends on space, local animals, and how often a pile will be turned.
Home Composting · Canada
Turning kitchen scraps and yard waste into garden compost
Practical reference notes for households across Canadian climate zones, covering bin selection, the balance of nitrogen-rich and carbon-rich material, moisture control, and what to do when a pile stalls over a long winter.
Where composting starts
Three decisions that shape a backyard pile
Most home composting questions trace back to container, feedstock balance, and moisture. The notes below summarise how each one behaves through a Canadian year.
Greens and browns
Nitrogen-rich greens such as vegetable trimmings sit alongside carbon-rich browns such as dry leaves and shredded paper. The working ratio is closer to volume than to weight, and it shifts with the seasons.
Moisture and air
A pile that feels like a wrung-out sponge decomposes steadily. Too wet turns sour and compact, too dry stalls. Turning reintroduces air that aerobic microbes depend on.
Reading
Reference articles
Each note focuses on one part of the process, with specifics that apply to Canadian gardens and winters.
Bins
Choosing a Compost Bin
How enclosed bins, open piles, tumblers, and wire mesh formats compare for backyard use, and what wildlife and bylaw considerations matter in Canada.
Read the article
Balance
Greens and Browns Balance
What counts as a green or a brown, how to judge the mix by feel rather than fixed numbers, and how to stockpile autumn leaves for the year ahead.
Read the article
Troubleshooting
Cold-Weather Composting
Why a pile slows or freezes through a Canadian winter, how to keep activity through the cold months, and how to read common odour and pest problems.
Read the article
What belongs in the pile
Common household materials, sorted
A quick orientation on frequent kitchen and yard materials. When local collection rules differ, the municipal program takes priority.
| Material | Category | Notes for home piles |
|---|---|---|
| Vegetable and fruit trimmings | Green | Break larger pieces down so they decompose evenly. |
| Coffee grounds and paper filters | Green | Grounds add nitrogen; the filter counts as a brown. |
| Dry autumn leaves | Brown | Shredding speeds breakdown and prevents matting. |
| Shredded uncoated paper and cardboard | Brown | Useful for soaking up excess moisture. |
| Meat, dairy, and oily food | Avoid at home | Draws pests and creates odour in backyard bins. |
Contact
Send a question
Questions about a specific note can be submitted with the form. This is a static reference site, so the form simulates submission in the browser and does not transmit anything to a server.
Plain Harvest
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
hello@plainharvest.org