Our average low temp in January is 35. Permaculture sounds very interesting but I don't know much about it. Not sure about vermiculture. Seems like the worms and bugs just appeared in my compost last year. They are selling red worms for $12. here. I was afraid it sounded too complicated after talking with the farmer who was selling them. That I would either drown the worms or heat the pile up and kill them. I didn't want to worry about worms. LOL.
I did have a pile of sod that was much smaller and sat for a year. Think there were some bees that nested in there. After a year, the sod pile had broken down and I couldn't see any grass or roots. I was surprised. Mixed it with some chick bedding and poo that had broken down. Am going to test the Ph and nutrient level. I suspect it isn't good as the soil I tested where there is lawn was terrible and the bedding was pine (crazy high in carbon), but it looks better that the original soil. I have no idea what I am doing, but I'd like to improve the soil with the chicken manure and cover crops.
I bought a cover crop the local garden store makes with some crimson clover and will check the local chicken store as they sell many cover crops. I didn't know dandelions were helpful!
My backyard is full of them. The bees like them. Maybe I should plant more dandelions... lol. The pile is about 2' high. I have some OG rye I will throw in. Also got a book, Free Range Chicken Gardens and will see if they have suggestions. Looks good and is giving me hope I can figure out how to have chickens, garden for food, garden for chickens, habitat for pollinators and wild birds and have a pretty backyard. My cover crop will be an experiment as I can't imagine seed will grow sown into straw and coffee grounds. Thanks for the suggestions. Will be rereading them as I keep researching
I suggest the last thing you might want is any sort of wild birds...