How do you add new stuff to old?

I've been reading through all the postings and was wondering:

If you're only supposed to turn the compost pile every 10 to 14 days - how do you add new stuff to it? Do you layer it? Pile it on and cover with leaves? Dig a little hole and pour it in? (I have a 2 gallon bucket I keep in my kitchen that needs to be emptied about every other day.)

:oops:

[Mr. Clean]

Hi moogie!

I don't have my compost pile contained, it is just a pile; but I just dig a hole in the pile and add my new ingredients. I don't worry too much about how often I do this, I just do it when my containers are full. This is usually about every 5-10 days. I may or may not toss in a handful (or two or three) of dried molasses and/or cornmeal. I also take that opportunity to mix the pile up a bit, and finally add a fresh layer of straw from the bale(s) that sit next to the pile.

[Dchall_San_Antonio]

Some folks turn their pile every other day and some never turn. How much work do you want to do?

I dig a hole and dump stuff in. If the pile is hot it will disappear in a couple days. If the pile is cold, it takes a couple weeks, tops. If the pile is cold and dry, the stuff could be there next spring.

[Bostonian]

I start my new pile in the bin (est. 4'H, 4'W, 6'L, wire fencing) and when it's roughly 1/3rd full of yard wastes/kitchen scraps I get a truck load of horse manure. I'll add leaves or straw. I'll keep adding kitchen/yard scraps (buried) and when the pile starts to cool I stop adding scraps and turn it, leaving one side empty for new wastes. When the pile cools the second time, I move it to old trash barrels that I drilled holes in to age a bit more or I use it as a mulch type dressing. Then I start all over again. I don't have the room for a three bin system. The old trash barrels are ugly but I get a lot of rain here and don't want to let it wash away. I'll have to build a better holding bin and get rid of the eyesore barrels in the spring. Anyway, this works for me.