What you have there is a pile of leaves that could be used as mulch, or if some more Nitrogenous material was added it could get digested into compost. Check the link below for a good tutorial on composting.

Here is a link that might be useful: Online Composting Center

I bet I'm not the only one who looked at that picture and thought "How pretty!"

Thank ya'll for tips!
Do I have a pretty looking pile?

It may be a dumdum question but....If my compost digested OK and becomes usable, which season should I mix with my garden?

Looking at that picture it is hard to tell what the stuff on the bottom of the pile looks like. Might I suggest you dig into the center of the pile and see if there is any compost that looks like that black soil on the right of your pile? If there is you can use that on your soil this season.

I too would suggest you try to make your pile a little taller/wider if you are trying to make a hot compost pile. Adding a nitrogen source as suggested will give good results as well. The larger your pile is the faster you will have compost to an extent. Also as stated, you could use the pile as mulch this season; it should turn into a good amendment by the end of the season.

Regarding which season, most create a pile for composting during "spring cleanup", adding to the pile as material becomes available. The resulting compost can be added to the soil at the end of the season (fall) and covered with a nice mulch layer for protection from the elements. Of course, making another pile if the materials are at hand could be called for; this compost can be used next year for spring plantingÂ

Blutranes

Blutranes and everyone,

Thank you for a bunch of useful advice.
I dug inside of my pile and there was a chunk of soil under near center. I cut grass yesterday so I sandwiched grass in starting from bottom layer. I attached a finished project picture. In the series of picture, you can see some wet leaves that are still surrounding and also bunch of them are still in a pile itself.

Next question would be, after this, how often should I mix?
If I mix it too soon, the layers I created may not be effective isn't it?

Thanks everyone.

Here is a link that might be useful: Sandwiched pile pics!

The pile as is appears to be a bit small IMO. A nice start though and a good mix. Scratch around the yard and pile everything organic right on top and mix grass clippings in when you get them. The bigger the pile the more likely you'll get it cooking right along. Keep it moist but not soggy. If you need browns, which become scarce in summer, you can use shredded paper, cardboard, sawdust. You'll notice that the pile will keep shrinking as it works and that's good. Avoid things like meat scraps, fish, milk, etc. as they rot and draw foraging animals to the pile. By the end of the growing season you can incorporate some of the broken down material into the garden to winter over and enrich the soil. That's when you gather all those leaves the trees will drop and start a second pile or just lay a thick layer all over your garden area to protect the soil. Rake them off come spring and start that second pile. Hope this helps and makes sense. Best of luck.

If I mix it too soon, the layers I created may not be effective isn't it?

Layering is the traditional way to make a compost pile, but layers aren't necessary in and of themselves. You could just as well mix everything together right at the beginning (and as you've surmised, this will begin happening after the first time you turn it). I think of layering as an easier way to get the proportions right, and an easy way to do "good enough" mixing to get thing started.

Different people have different opinions about how often to turn the pile, ranging from daily until never. Personally, I aim for about once a week (but don't always succeed, and don't worry about it much).