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Too cold to compost?

I live in southern Oregon.  Day temps are mid-40s; night temps down to 30F.  If I shred the fallen oak leaves and mix them with grass cuttings, pile them on the ground and cover with a tarp, will I have compost by April/May?  This would be my first attempt at compost.  Thanks.
 
Think about what happens in nature without any human intervention - leaves fall off trees, hit the ground and start decomposing. The decomposition is slowed by cold temps, but it does not entirely stop unless you're in REALLY cold temps, which you're not. (Think glaciers for this.) Shredding helps speed up the rate of decomposition. 
 
But will they compost enough by April/May? I'm not sure - how low do your temps get during your winters, and for how long?
 
No, you won't. But it will be Brown/Black already. Leave it for next season. The bigger the pile the warmer it will get inside, the faster it will compost. Tilt it once every few months. If you have access to it, add manure.
 
Thanks. I was thinking I could also add the spent barley from by home brewing. Manure is no problem either. Lots of freebies in my area. I've got several bags of composted chicken crap that I could throw in the mix right now.

I saw a youtube video where a guy stood some pallets up on end to build a box. Is this a good idea rather than just throwing everything on the ground? I guess I would need a cover for the top to keep rain out, right?
 
Rain can flush out nutrients, especially when you add a lot of dirt to your compost.. But on the other hand you need moisture for composting. I wouldn't worry to much about it. I always dig a pit, put greens, pig manure and weeds in it and cover it up again, but I don't use it for peppers (I wait 2 years and plant a fruit tree in the pit).
Rain can flush out nutrients, especially when you add a lot of dirt to your compost.. But on the other hand you need moisture for composting. I wouldn't worry to much about it. I always dig a pit, put greens, pig manure and weeds in it and cover it up again, but I don't use it for peppers (I wait 2 years and plant a fruit tree in the pit).
 
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