My compost froze ...

[MariesMama]

I've been composting in a large garbage can with drainage holes. It was working really well until we got a TON of rain and then a freeze. Apparently I have a block of ice/compost now. Any suggestions to get it going again?

[GardenStream]

Leave it alone and it will thaw out eventually and drain. The process of freezing and thawing will actually help the decomposition of your compost. The water will enter the cells of the organic matter. The water will expand when it freezes, thus rupturing the cells. It really doesn't matter in the long run, just keep adding to it like you normally would. When the spring thaw hits, your compost bin will pick up right where it left off.

[janasmama]

it sounds to me like you don't have enough drainage holes in your can. We have two homemade compost tumblers that we made from garbage cans and we used a hole saw (for doorknobs) to make the holes in the can. I think we have about 20 total with 3 on the bottom. The holes are covered with screen and we can roll the cans once a week. I'm not sure what the purpose of composting in a can would be if you aren't tumbling it and giving it oxygen. I think you are going to end up with a bunch of soggy, rotten crap if you leave it there. And I'm also not sure how freezing is going to help the composting process. Compost needs heat and dampness.

[gmvh]

My compost freezes every winter and once it thaws, it gets going again very quickly, though my compost just sits on the ground and the worms find their way in fast. I would say, though, to be prepared to empty your container onto a tarp (or just the ground) and refill the can layering the mushy winter collectings with shredded paper or some other brown.

[kdabbler]

We have a similar set up except ours is set up as a bioreactor so it is inside another barrel with a spigot. Ours is frozen too. Like the others said, be patient and wait until it thaws in the spring. Or, look into vermicomposting in your house

[MariesMama]

I've started another bin with larger holes, and have been layering it much better with brown stuff. When we get another thaw I'll start moving the other bin into it.

I would love to vermicompost, but our house is so tiny that there's nowhere to put anything. My kitchen appliances live on my washer/dryer, for instance.

Thank you ladies!