In addition to a shovel, pitchfork, and water hose, there are optional tools you may want to consider to aid your composting efforts. They let you know if and when your pile heats up. When it cools down, it is time to turn the pile.
Many people use their hand or arm to test the pile's heat, but high temperatures require caution.
A thermometer tells you how hot it is without getting your hands dirty. Aerators The best way to turn your pile is to use a shovel or pitchfork to move the contents into another bin. A less effective way is to just stir contents. These tools take on various forms. One works somewhat like a corkscrew, another like a claw on a long handle.