It should be about as moist as a well- wrung sponge. Add high nitrogen materials, such as fresh grass clippings or vegetable scraps. If it is smaller than this, add more materials. If pests, such as dogs, skunks or mice, are attracted to your pile, improper materials have been added. Do not add meat, fish, bones, dairy products or oily or greasy food.
Lids are also helpful for keeping out pests.
To avoid problems with flies, make certain that all freshly deposited kitchen scraps are covered over with soil or buried into the pile. If the organic matter is decomposing too slowly, the particles in the pile are too large. Mix in small amounts of topsoil with the materials. Adding livestock manure and bedding will also activate your pile. TOO WET A very wet compost pile signals poor drainage, too much rain, or a lack of air.