Managing moisture content in your compost pile is important. Too little (or two much) moisture can inhibit the breakdown of organic matter. Here is a question asked by one of our clients and the suggestions Peter provided:

"With no stall bedding in the mix, how do I keep the pile wet before the aerating process begins? Our climate is quite dry and hot during the day."

ANSWER: Wet down the manure as you place it in the bin. Our goal is for the initial mix to have a moisture content of 60-65%, such that if you squeeze a handful very tightly it will yield a few drips of water or a bead of water will form between your fingers. The manure will also form a "ball" that will crumble fairly easily with a poke of your finger.

When you add manure to the bin, wet down the top (exposed) manure if it appears dry before adding the new layer.

If you do not use any stall bedding material, managing the moisture in the manure can be challenging. If it becomes too wet, it will also become too dense and prevent adequate airflow through the mix. If this becomes a problem, I suggest adding a small amount of wood pellets in with the manure. The pellets will break open when they get wet, returning to their fine sawdust consistency. The sawdust will create porosity in the mix which will allow for airflow. Alternatively, you can do the same thing with wood shavings or pine needles, but they will break down slowly because of the large particle size.