This is where thinking in terms of "greens" and "browns" can get you onto a slippery slope since animal manures are a "green" (Nitrogen source) even thought they are brown in color. In a compost pile with a close C:N ratio (less then 30:1) the bacteria will get busy and digest what is there fairly quickly and generate lots of heat, but if the food source, Carbon, is not there they soon slow down and stop. Although advocated by many covering an actively digesting compost pile with a tarpaulin is not a good idea since that can limit air exchange and could create anaerobic conditions. Covering as compost pile with a tarpaulin does nothing to create the conditions the bacteria need to digest that material. This link may be of some help for those wishing to make compost very quickly. Here is a link that might be useful: Compost in 14 days

My compost piles are big and out in plain sight. So long as you don't mind the look of leaves or straw, they look fine to me. If it looks messy to you then add more cover material like leaves or straw. If it smells bad, add more cover material like leaves or straw. If it is attracting flies, you probably need to add more cover materials, like you guessed it, leaves or straw. We don't bother turning out compost, too much work. Just add to the pile for a year or until the bin fills up and then just leave it sit for a year. When we add to the pile, we dig the well or hole in the hot top center and dump in the bucket of yucky stuff, then dump another bag or other people's bagged leaves on top. Plants, weeds and other stuff from the garden usually just gets tossed on top until we dig in to add more kitchen scraps or other stuff. This works well for us with minimal fuss or work. As to the moisture, it only needs to be moist, like a wrung out sponge. Don't worry too much about his though. If you are getting lots of rain, perhaps put a big piece of cardboard over it to help the pile shed some water (probably have to weigh or pin the cardbaord down so it doesn't blow away though.) I it seems really dry in there, perhaps you need to dump the dish pan in it on occasion. Don't worry too much about compost, it will happen, you can't really break it or ruin it unless you go dumping gas or oil or other nasty chemicals on it. If it is becoming nasty in any way, you probably just need more cover materials like leaves and/or, need to let it dry out a bit. It's about that simple, anything else is just getting picky and trying to making it go faster or be "better". Here is a link that might be useful: TCLynx

Is compost alone enough. Good question. If you're short on cash, you can get by with compost alone, sure. Though if you want the drainage, water retention and aeration that vermiculite and peat moss give, then you won't be sorry to add as much as 1/3 each. For the compost, if it's solely leaf compost, I'd augment with more variety, either what you can throw together from your kitchen scraps, coffee grounds (Starbucks gives them for free), etc., or even buy some if necessary. You want diversity in your compost. I'd be careful throwing bloodmeal, bonemeal and greensand in without knowing what you need, but if you're an experienced gardener, maybe that's a good thing. I don't know your area at all. Hope that points you in the right direction. Keep asking questions and we'll help how we can. Here is a link that might be useful: Sinfonian's garden adventure

My thanks to all of you who posted comments, both good and bad. I can't begin to tell you how feedback about my florals opened my eyes, so I was able to change things for my next set of photos. I'd never think that removable "props" would turn someone off. I also have to say that you're taking it well and seem to appreciate the feedback. Those of us selling can now see our house through strangers eyes and what a potential buyer might think when seeing our house online. How the photos look will dictate whether they take the time to actually walk our houses. The last time our house was for sale we did not get any feedback, so I'm very thankful for this forum and hope that the feedback you got helps you. I noticed that the wallpaper in my home got some of the most frequent and critical remarks and it's left me wondering about something. Is wallpaper no longer in vogue in new or remodeled homes or is it that my particular wallpaper is not to the liking of most of you? I've walked a lot of new communities with model homes and can say that here they are still using wallpaper but not in all of the rooms. You might pick the nicest rooms to keep the wallpaper. I love the foyer wallpaper but not with the door color and not with the flooring. You might think to leave some of it up and paint other walls, using it as an accent. Back entrance wallpaper - I would take it down. Half bath - I like the wallpaper but not with the light fixture. Study - I've seen similar paper used in homes I've walked. Utility - dislike the walls - would sheet rock & paint 1st floor master - would paint 1st floor master bath - I like the paper but not for a room like this. I would paint and think about putting up beadboard 2nd floor master - while I like the top paper, I think it would look better painted. The wood on the door is much too dark. I'd also think about putting up a scarf on the windows, then opening the blinds for the photo. While I like pink, others do not :( Second floor vanity/dressing area - this paper you could get away with leaving. Bath 2, second floor - I would try to lighten this room up or leave the picture out. Living Room - I would paint this I also realize that the paneled family room is dated but my thoughts on that is to either paint the paneling a neutral color or rip off the paneling, put up sheetrock and then paint. I also want to install engineered wood flooring in that room and perhaps extend it in to the foyer where, I admit, the tile color is also dated. Another area of critical comments was due to my home having so much carpeting. Has carpeting also gone out of style or do I just have too many rooms with carpet? We just did this in the master bedroom. I would sheet rock. The carpet wouldn't bother me here. I'm one of the weird ones that actually likes carpet, especially for my bad back. Walking on wood floors kills me. BTW, the Saint Bernard that appeared in at least one photo and brought about a comment or two that some people wouldn't even consider buying a home where a dog had been passed away on June 10 much to my hurt. I'm in the process of cleaning up all traces of his presence here. That is, everywhere but in my heart! Very sorry for your loss. After 22 years, I still miss our German Shepherd.