no, you need some moisture for it to cook anyway. worst case is it will slow it down a few days, but i doubt it even have that effect.

I agree. No worries. You didn't mention that you wetted the pile to start, so Mother Nature is just giving you a helping hand.

Managing a compost pile and a reluctant spouse is taking on quite a lot, but I have been doing it for years, so it can be done. You want to encourage his interest in it, that's for sure.

If rain ever does become a problem, you can cover your bin with a tarp, cover the pile inside the bin with some cardboard or a plastic bag, or possibly seal up some of the extra holes.

I compost in an enclosed bin on pavement and you do have to watch the moisture level more carefully than you do if you are composting directly on the ground. I suggest raising your bin on some old bricks or something so it can drain freely. When you do add water, don't pour it in, just sprinkle a bit (I use a watering can), stir and repeat until it seems wet enough. If I use the hose, I inevitably get it too wet.

Usually the rain only dampens the very top of the pile.

I would check the contents of the can and make sure its not too moist. If its dripping wet, then its a too wet. (You can always mix in some dry browns, if your compost gets too wet.) It should be moist, not wet.

Excellent - thanks to all of you! My bin is on small gravel over weed mat and ground, so there's excellent drainage under the bins (no where for water to pool). I didn't add water to start, since the weeds weren't dried yet, and there was some moisture in the leaves & kitchen scraps (didn't want to add too much water). I have a ton of cardboard to rip up and add, so I'll just keep an eye on it, and depending on whether it looks just soaked clear through or not, I'll add as needed.

As for hubby, I just have to "prove" that it won't stink or attract unwelcome insects, and he'll be fine after that. I figure as long as I keep it on the "brown" side, that shouldn't be a problem. ;-)

My 35 gallon trash can has very little holes in it and never has the cover on it. I use it to feed my main bin when it becomes full and heavy. It frequently gets hot but stinky so turn often and layer with browns.

It sounds like DH did a thorough job with your bin! The few holes in the top are probably not needed, but will not cause your pile to be saturated with rain, too many wet kitchen wastes will. Continuously add browns (shredded paper, cardboard, tissues, napkins, sawdust, straw, etc.) to the bin if it ever stinks or the green layer is more than 3" thick.

Can he make you another one to use while this batch is finishing?

I checked it yesterday - hardly any rain is getting in at all, just enough to dampen the top layers. And I felt heat when I held my hand over the middle!! How exciting to have a warm compost bin in the cold rain! :-) It's shrinking too - it was almost to the top, now it's a good 3-4 inches down from the top.

There was no smell either (well, a bit of a "damp newspaper" smell, but nothing offensive). I'll add another layer (kitchen scraps and browns) either tonight or tomorrow. I've been adding our paper towels to the compost crock, so those get mixed in with the kitchen scraps too, as well as tearing up paper and boxes to top everything off with.

Yes, hubby actually made me two bins, and one is empty. I'm going to get a third eventually, but that will just be to hold extra "browns" so that they're available and ready to add whenever I toss greens on the pile.

Now if my worms would just get here...I have a worm bin all set up just outside the back door, so I can split the compostable waste between the regular bin and the worm bin, but I'm still waiting on my worms...

My advice is not to buy a thermometer for your compost. Does it matter what the thermometer says? Or will you just keep composting whatever it is you have? I have never had a need to know the temperature of my compost pile, and I have been composting for over 20 years. Save the money and buy a nice plant for your garden instead. :-) And what is this turning gadget you speak of? A pitch fork or spading fork works well, or even a shovel.

Marcia

"My advice is not to buy a thermometer for your compost."

I composted for decades (no need to know how many decades) without a thermometer. I have one now, but only because a neighbor whose leaves I grabbed one fall bought a pallet of "stuff" at an auction. One of the things on the pallet was a compost thermometer. He had no idea what to do with it, so he put it on my porch.

Since I have it, I use it. But I use it more out of curiosity, although at times I've been able to time a turning better because of it.