It may hardly be fall, but it’s time to start thinking about your spring garden. One of the most time consuming parts of preparing for a garden, is getting your compost going. Whether you have used homemade compost in the past or you’re thinking about trying it for your next garden, fall is the perfect time to start collecting material.

Many people believe that composting doesn’t work in the fall or throughout the winter because of the cold weather, but fall may actually be the best time to start a compost bin. Your new compost bin will be a great place to discard fallen leaves, remains from your last crop, or dead summer plants. Not to mention any food scraps from all of your visiting holiday guests. Cooler weather does mean that your compost will decompose a little slower than it would in the warmer months, but that’s okay. The process of decomposition creates heat on its own; plus there are enough warm days left this fall to get the action going. To learn more about composting year round, click here.

Another essential to composting, is having the right bin to store your decomposing matter. Ideally, you want your compost to be covered so that it doesn’t become water-logged by rain and so that the heat stays trapped. The material of your bin is also very important. Wood is not always the best material because of its ability to rot. Something more like plastic or steel are going to be your best bets for a sturdy composting bin.

The Rare Fruit and Vegetable Council of Broward County in Florida has found the perfect solution for their composting needs. RFVC was founded in 1975 as a non-profit organization devoted to encourage the extension of human knowledge of tropical fruit and vegetable plants in all their aspects, including scientific research, exploration and study of chemistry and physics of the earth and the environment. In an effort to remain ecologically friendly, they use a steel building for their composting latrine. While their project is not fully complete, here are some pictures of their progress.

Need a steel building for your composting needs? Click below.