Turning the compost pile

Winter, or what passes for it here, has arrived. It is cold and wet, having rained hard yesterday. I am certainly glad I have already turned over the soil in the early season beds. This time of year it will take quite some time for the soil to dry out enough to turn it and we are in the time frame for planting peas. I had hoped to put mine out this weekend, but the soil is too wet. The weather forecast is for rain for two days and sun for two days, rinse and repeat for the next week or two. I'll probably put the peas in next weekend, so long as it's not raining. I can't wait for the soil to dry out or it will get too late and the peas will get tough and starchy if they ripen in the hotter temps.
 There wasn't much to do in the gardens today, but I did get on the tractor and turn the compost pile. If you are curious, this is my little tractor here.

 These are the compost bins were the whole process starts.

The pile on the left is the older one. It has the remains of the ornamental grass I cut back a few weeks back, and the bedding of the neighbors barn (seen in the background). It has already taken on a nice rich chocolate color and it was good and hot inside the pile.
 The pile on the right is fresh bedding from this week's clean out.
This is what the two finished piles look like.

The pile on the left is almost gone, maybe a yard left .  I'll be using it and the other pile to amend the summer beds with and to use as mulch on them as well. By that time the pile that is in the bins will be pretty much ready and I'll move it out here to make room in the bins for the summer.
 You can see the standing water behind the pile from yesterday's downpour.

And for those who may be wondering, here are the two surviving chickens.

A view of the garlic bed.

As you can see, the garlic is doing well. We haven't had anything near a hard freeze this year, so they'll keep growing. Even a hard freeze won't do too much harm. Garlic is a pretty hardy plant.