Woah -- just found this post in another thread
"Sun can be helpful, though, when you get 8 inches of rain in 3 weeks and you didn't cover your pile (like I just didn't). Now what were the things I can expect from a too wet pile? Flies, maggots and one other, oh yes, planarians. Better turn the pile and add some dry carbon."

so now I'm wondering if I cover them, if that would be enough oxygen?

No problems. ;) Many do what is called "sheet compost in place" in existing beds. It takes advantage of the winter to do your composting for you.

Also read some of the lasagna bed building posts too as that would be basically what you are doing. If you layer all your components you wouldn't even have to turn it all that much and it would be ready for spring planting. ;)

Good luck! ;)

Dave

can't see any problems from this end, we use this sort of system pretty much now.

len

Here is a link that might be useful: len's garden page

I just fill my beds & walkways with leaves for the winter.

Livvy:
I agree with the others, I have raised beds and the soil in them mostly began the way you are describing - I dumped in a lot of organic material and what soil I could get ahold of, plus fertilizer. I started out planting easy stuff like beans and garlic that can handle less than ideal soil, and as the quality improved, planted more challenging crops. Of course the soil level keeps dropping as the materials decompose, so you have to keep adding. I am still adding, mostly in the form of coffee grounds at this point. Keep in mind that your nitrogen is going to be tied up by all the decomposition so you want to be generous with the fertilizer - cottonseed meal is good.
-O

Thank you so much for your responses. I'm reading a book about lasagna gardening right now, but I will look into sheet composting. I'd never heard of that. I'll be sure to add more nitrogen in some organic form like the cottonseed meal too - thanks for the tip.

livvy: Sheet composting is basically the same as lasagna gardening. There's also "interbay mulch", which is still another term, which involves the same process and just adds a sheet of burlap on top.

All 3 of these terms are pretty much synonymous, incorporating the same principles.

Karen

Here is a link that might be useful: FAQs