Adding compost is one of the greatest things you can do for your lawn or garden. It is surprising to know then, that many people have been composting for a year or more without reaping the benefits of the finished product. Once these benefits have been realized, chances are very good that you will want to continue composting and that is good news for the environment!

When to Harvest

How quickly you can produce finished compost will depend on how well-managed your composter is. Generally, twice yearly harvesting works well for most people. Since the composting process slows during the winter, it would make sense to clear the material out of your composter in late fall. In this way you will have lots of room in your composter during the winter when it will be filling up more quickly.

For people who have less time for composter maintenance, you might consider getting a second unit and start using it as winter approaches.

If you do harvest in late fall, the other obvious time to remove material would be late spring. This is assuming of course that you need to remove material twice yearly. Many people find once per year is sufficient.

Harvesting Compost From Different Types of Composters

• Bottom Door Composters

  Composters with bottom doors make harvesting of finished compost an easy job. Simply lift off the door and use a hoe or shovel to dig out the compost. You could also lift the composter off of the pile and move it to a new location.

• Barrel Composters (bottom intact)

  Barrel composters with the bottom intact are best used as a batch system. It’s difficult to get the finished compost out with the fresh stuff on top. The solution is to use 2 of them. Once one is two-thirds full, start using the second one. Let the material in the first one decompose completely, then empty it all out.

• Barrel Composters (bottom removed)

  If your barrel composter has the bottom cut off, all you need to do is tip it on its side—remove the finished compost and then set it upright again.