Yea I put about 12" of stuff on the bottom then the air pipes. Speed up the process by giving the composting bugs some air. Damp is key , not wet, just damp. Soon as I get green grass, I mow & mix it into the compost I started last fall, if froze mid winter, grass gets it cooking again. At your temps, should be pretty good compost in 6 or 7 months, might not freeze thru winter there. FYI, some composting , if interested http://forums.outdoorsdirectory.com/showthread.php/98598-Alaska-compost
I do that, Dave. You can put some vertical pipes in too for more air, or add them as you layer up. Here it takes about a full year to get good compost. Then there isn't that much, but enough to top dress a bit and put some in the planting holes. I usually add a 5 gallon bucket of fresh horse manure to the new pile int he spring (the one I have been adding stuff to all winter. Then, about mid summer, I add a bucket of well rotted manure. Also put some dog hair in to try to help keep the critters away. At least here, it is nonsense to think that the critters will stay away of you don't add meat, dairy or bones. They like veggies just fine.
