Burke suggests turning the pile within the enclosure occasionally to move materials at the edge to the center where decomposure is faster. This will also aerate the center, the area that is getting the least air, naturally and effectively. We've all seen them but when faced with a pile of garden waste, it's hard to remember if these are the right ingredients. Home gardeners aren't scientists and can't measure carbon and nitrogen. By mixing browns and greens we can approach the best ratio.
Some people prefer to use a drum type composter that can be turned easily.
Compost is ready to use when it is crumbly, resembles soil and the original ingredients are no longer discernable. It can also be obtained with no formal set-up at all. Organic mulch that decomposes year after year on the beds is a form of composting in place. Some gardeners who use thick mulch find that kitchen scraps can be composted along with the mulch by tucking the day's vegetable trimmings and coffee grounds under the mulch in a different spot every day. The practice of growing cover crops on unused garden areas and tilling them in is also taking advantage of the decomposing plant material to enrich the soil.