Composting
"This is not my father's compost pile," a frustrated gardener admitted after several futile years of trying to turn massive piles of leathery sycamore and oak leaves into usable compost. He said his father used to generate an endless supply of rich, black organic mulch from the same material. What was he doing wrong? Turns out his leaf pile was a victim of a more environmentally friendly lawn care practice. Dad used to capture clippings behind a gas-powered mower, regularly adding them to the ever-present leaf pile. Son, on the other hand, being a trendy kind of guy, used an environmentally friendly reel-type push mower that left the clippings where they fell. His leaf pile, void of a fueling nitrogen source, was left to its own slowly aging devices. For a faster acting compost pile, try this system: 

Fence It In 
A low, sprawling pile of leaves will not generate as much decomposing heat, thus slowing the process. Plus, the leaves tend to blow all over your neighbor's yard. An inexpensive framing material, such as 2-4" mesh poultry wire secured with steel posts will work well. Other people use wooden planks, well spaced to provide adequate aeration. Ready-to-use plastic bins and tumblers are also popular for small amounts of composting. 

Layer It On 
Begin with several inches of leaves, hay, twigs and other bulky yard waste. Add a layer of nitrogen-rich material like grass clippings, green shrub trimmings or garden weeds. A dusting of nitrogen/protein activators such as alfalfa meal, horse or cow manure, blood meal or rich garden soil will speed up the process, adding microorganisms and bacteria necessary for decomposition. Adding other materials such as vegetable scraps, egg shells, coffee grounds, shredded newspapers and ashes from the fireplace can give your compost other nutrients that will benefit your plants. Don't add meat scraps, bones, grease or dairy products, though, as they will attract animals. Then start over with another layer of bulky material. Continue layering until your bin is full or material reaches a depth of a couple feet. A pile much deeper than that will be difficult to manage. 

Add Water and Cook 
Just like other growing things, the fungi and bacteria responsible for decomposition need water. You can sprinkle water on each layer or add to the finished pile. Don't saturate the pile. Just add enough water for even moisture throughout. When decomposition begins to take place-usually within 6-7 days, you'll notice things heating up in the compost pile. If you don't notice any cooking going on, add more green material and/or water. A good, hot compost pile, while not necessary, will actually kill many weed seeds and plant disease organisms. 

Turn Turn Turn 
If left unattended, your compost pile will just take longer. To keep things moving along, grab a pitchfork and turn the pile. If you have a compost tumbler, this job is easier. Just give it a spin every few days. The more you turn it, the faster you'll get to the finished product. Turn larger piles once a week and your compost cake should be done in a couple months. With less frequent attention, it might take 6 months to a year. You'll know it's done when the heat begins to die down and the compost has a rich, soil-like texture and a sweet, earthy smell. If at any time during the process, neighbors start complaining about the smell, your recipe probably has too much moisture or nitrogen. Add dry materials like straw, twigs, and leaves to return things to normal-and be sure to save some finished compost for the folks next door.

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