Worst thing about compost piles: it attracts wildlife. Now out in the foothills and mountains that is just a given but if you are like most suburbanites wanting to keep animals away from your home: barrel it. It’s really simple actually. Imagine taking a barrel and drilling a hole into the side. On the base and top of the barrel either attach a moving disc, almost like a lazy susan. Two poles firmly placed in the ground and attach the top and base to the supports. Finally attach a handle to one side (to turn the barrel) and it’s complete. This is a nice contraption to keep away animals and bugs, but it also allows turning in the winter. The cold slows down decomp but turning the barrel a few times a day combats the decreased rate in decomp. So you can use it all winter and get ready-to-use top soil in the spring. This is a very helpful way to compost all year round without all manner of beast coming around your home. Even better, you don’t have to buy one. The retail prices on one of those can be out right ridiculous. We built one though very cheaply and it works just as well. That might solve your winter time issues with compost.