The way I do it is put in pine shavings/chicken poop, grass clippings,dirt I rake up from the chicken run, leaves and other raked up yard debris, old veggies and eggshells, toss a little garden lime in the mix makes the pine shavings break down faster, water and turn once a week. If ya let the pile sit a year it will be good to go. I usually keep 2 big piles going, one almost ready pile, and one just starting.