Yes, you have it right. You don't have to cut up the kitchen waste, but if you do things "cook" faster. Same with leaves or shredded paper, the more shredded, the faster they compost fully. Not a problem if you don't have a bin. Try to keep the stuff piled up because it will heat up better, but even in a large flat pile on the ground, all things will compost over time. It would just take longer. If you have only one pile, it is a bit harder to get to your finished compost, in my experience, because you are constantly adding chunks of raw material and if you mix things weekly, you will always have tiny bits of finished compost mixed with big chunks. If you don't turn it, then usually the stuff at the bottom is composted and the stuff at the top is the most 'raw' or chunky. I used to do it this way in south Louisiana, where things composted quickly in the heat and humidity, and i would just shovel from the bottom as needed. Now if you are only adding very small pieces of organic matter (all shredded up or cut up) you won't mind having some old and new material when you use it. I am now doing several bins, and once one bin is full, I just leave it to compost (it shrinks in size as it goes) and start adding the raw material to a new bin. Hope this helps you but you have the right idea already.

wow, this is fast, Thanks. :)

Yeah, the goal is not getting as much compost as possible, but to keep perfectly compost-able waste out of land fill.

Worried it might not compost away being small pile and not getting a sunny spot, it's a totally shaded area at the base of fence. Sure would like to keep bad smell and rodents away too so not planning putting any meat, bone, or fish to the pile. So you'd agree in this set up, after 6 months the waste would be composted already? Some sites say years, and that would be too long too. I think as not putting any woody stick to the pile, that should not be the case.

How much shredded leaves should I put to the pile? 1:1 with the kitchen waste volume? I can stock up the leave mulch now, it's free out there in the park in a huge pile and is cooking by itself, perfectly composting already. But I'm sure it's gone in Spring with all the avid gardeners out there. :)

Can use the finished compost for the small vegetable garden but not needed. It's been fun growing stuff too. :D Sure can choose the varieties way better than I can get from grocery stores.

Ciao.

Hi layne,
Go to the hardware store and by a 10' long piece of hardware cloth (welded wire/used mostly for Rabbit cages) that is 3' wide,tie wire that together to make a 3' tall circular fence that will contain your compostables...keep mixing in browns and greens and you will have compost before you know it... Ciao babyyyyy

Layne,
Oh, if only everyone did the research that you have done, the world would be carpeted with happy compost!
We "no bin" composted for years, and found that if we kept the compost in a bird's nest shape more surface was exposed for watering and it composted faster.
Two piles are best--one working, and one that you are using. If you keep the browns (leaves, paper) and the greens (kitchen waste) in about a 1:1 ratio, that will be fine. Just don't overdo either, even though the leaves are plentiful and free.
If you can't do two piles you can sift. We have a sifter that is 18" wooden square with cheap handles on opposite sides that has coarse hardware cloth stapled to the bottom. I can manually sift out the bigger stuff and toss it back in the pile.
Your gardens are going to benefit from your work!

Yes, your filling out the FAQs was brilliant!

Ditto what others have said about your use of the FAQ ... makes it so much easier to get the picture of your situation and what you want/need.

I note that you said "not really" to question about a worm bin. Since it appears that disposing of your kitchen waste is the primary motive for your questions about composting AND since you have limited space, it seems better suited to vermiculture. If you scan the vermiculture forum, that will lead you to some excellent information.

Thanks for all the encouragement.

I looked at the worm bin options and wife doesn't like the idea of having worms in the house, basement or not. Outside? They are doomed, it's really cold this Winter here.

My guess is that -IF- you have a small compost pile and -IF- your pile is on the cold side and -IF- your pile will consist mostly of food wastes with some leaves ..--THAT-- you might count on attracting rats, which are plentiful in every urban/rural setting. On the ICK-EEK-Scale ... rats trump worms.

May I suggest that you start a worm bin/box/ranch outdoors when the weather warms up -- maybe side-by-side with the smallish compost pile -- and then if your wife is still grossed-out by the worms, you can either donate the "herd" to a friend or to the bottom of your compost pile, or to the nearest flower bed.

What you want to kind of watch is your ratio and keep the mix at about 3 parts high Carbon material to 1 part high Nitrogen material. If your compost pile starts to emit a disagreeable odor then something is not right and needs to be corrected. Generally an ammonia odor indicates too much Nitrogen and a putrid odor generally indicates too much water, moisture, that is causing the pile to go anaerobic (in the absence of air) which is not good.