Hey CV...
Where do you live? Beginning a compost in frosty weather will probably be frustrating. As your heap picks up steam [literally] its temperature will rise and it will keep doing its thing, albeit slower, through the winter...but [from my indepth knowledge of Ontario winters] if you start one in the fall I bet all you get is frozen banana peels, until it thaws.
I know nothing of pre-made composters. I grew up with one my dad had made which was a box made of wooden slats, with one slat missing at the bottom to take the compost out as it progressed. They probably start putting the composters out in the spring because that's when most people suddenly develop an interest in yard work and being outside, not because you can't start a heap at another time of year, particularly if you have warmer weather. Also, look for some of the recent vermicomposting threads on AR issues with worm composters.
Where do you live? Beginning a compost in frosty weather will probably be frustrating. As your heap picks up steam [literally] its temperature will rise and it will keep doing its thing, albeit slower, through the winter...but [from my indepth knowledge of Ontario winters] if you start one in the fall I bet all you get is frozen banana peels, until it thaws.
I know nothing of pre-made composters. I grew up with one my dad had made which was a box made of wooden slats, with one slat missing at the bottom to take the compost out as it progressed. They probably start putting the composters out in the spring because that's when most people suddenly develop an interest in yard work and being outside, not because you can't start a heap at another time of year, particularly if you have warmer weather. Also, look for some of the recent vermicomposting threads on AR issues with worm composters.
