Composting is easy. By itself, a compost pile will cook in about a year. You can hurry that along using several techniques.
The most basic step is aerating the pile. This is done by turning the pile with a fork or using a specialized tool. The more you turn, the faster your pile will cook.
Another speed-composting technique is to make the components as small as possible. If you have access to a shredder you could shred the pile as you turn it.
Adding manure would speed things along as well. Manure can be substituted with finished compost and/or garden soil.
Start a second pile for next season and let the original cook until it finished. Finished compost will have an earthy smell and most of the components are broken down to where they are un-recognizeable.
I hope I have not over-complicated the issue. The bottom line is simply this: Compost Happens. Good luck.
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