"SteveB" wrote in message
...
We recently moved out in the country. Nothing to do but we had to make a
compost pile. I admit, it's a handy place for garbage we would usually
put
in the can for a week. Yech!

Does it work? How much work is it? How often are you supposed to turn
it?
Do you keep it wet? Do you get enough compost to justify the work?

Composting can be as much or as little work as you want. As Janet said,
turning is optional and just speeds up the process. I went nuts a couple of
Falls ago, and made a 10'x20'x4' bin and collected as many leaf bags as my
neighbours would put out, piled it high as possible and kept adding. I
supplemented alfalfa meal for the green component and kept it moist to get
it steaming hot. I also added the brown paper bags and newspaper, as well.
Some of it was ready in a couple of months. And, I still have some of that
pile left.
I built a smaller one last year and just add stuff in a slightly less
frenzied fashion. I probably won't use it until next Fall, so it can break
down more slowly and no effort on my part.
I layer it on the existing beds and use it for potted plants, including
tomatoes. I don't use any artificial fertilizer and rarely supplement
watering. So yeah, it works great.