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Compost heap cover or lid?

louisenbarberalouisenbarbera Posts: 8
in Problem solving
Good day!
I built a large (1 cubic meter) wooden compost heap like Adam did in GW June 2021. It is on my alottment where there is no water supply. If I do not cover the heap, I am afraid the composting material will dry out and the process will stop. If I do cover it, the rain cannot get in. What is wise? How could I cover my heap (and some nasty looking green stuff from the kitchen)?
Thanks for your help!
Louis

Posts

  • Hostafan1Hostafan1 Posts: 34,889
    cover it. 
    there should be enough moisture in there to get things going.
    Devon.
  • LynLyn Posts: 23,190
    We have one metre bins,  we cover them with carpets,  when it’s turned into the next bin we put galvanised on top as well as carpet. 
    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    It's often hot and dry here so we open the lids on the covered ones when rain is forecast and close them when it isn't.   Seems to work.
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    I put layers of brown cardboard (flattened boxes from internet shopping, mostly) on top of mine, under the lid. If I leave the lid off (which I do in summer when rain is forecast, but not in winter) rainwater soaks into it. You could maybe try that, and check the forecast each time you go to the allotment to decide whether to leave a more substantial lid on or off.
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • bédébédé Posts: 3,095
    One cubic metre, I don't call that large.  My 3 cu m (medium?) is in the shade with no lid or cover.  I am topping it up too frequently to bother.  It seems to do OK'
     location: Surrey Hills, England, ex-woodland acidic sand.
    "Have nothing in your garden that you don't know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."
  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    It's all relative. My three bins are about 1 cubic metre each (by which I mean 1m by 1m by 1m) which is big compared to some of the bins for sale. I turn the part-done compost from one to another so a single bigger bin wouldn't work for me although it wouldn't dry out as quickly because of the lower surface area to volume ratio. Horses for courses.
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
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