- Mix the pile one – two times a month, because an unmixed pile will break down 3 times slower. Oxygen is needed to break down materials in the pile, and by mixing we can increase oxygen flow.
- Keep your pile damp by occasionally watering and covering it. Don’t over water, though, and perhaps shelter from the rain if you experience a lot of rain in your area. Too much water increases anaerobic conditions, making a foul odor.
- Make sure nothing in the pile is too big. Grinding or shredding materials helps increase surface area on which microorganisms feed, and allows the process of breaking down to go faster.
- Monitor temperatures, and try to maintain between 130 degrees and 150 degrees Fahrenheit. You can do so by controlling moisture, oxygen flow, particle size, and nutrient balance.
- Be careful about not putting the wrong materials into your pile, because certain materials cannot break down like others, for example, plastic.
- Mix green and brown organic materials in your composting pile, because you want a good balance of nitrogen and carbon. Also, coarser materials should go to the bottom of the pile first.
This link shows an animation about composting that may be helpful!
http://d3tt741pwxqwm0.cloudfront.net/WGBH/ess05/ess05_int_compost/index.html
