You’ll get more compost, faster, if you put in some effort. “If you leave the pile alone, it will turn into compost, just as leaves that fall in the forest will eventually decay,” she said. “But it will be slow.” To speed things up, turn the pile with a garden fork every couple of months to mix it up and add oxygen. In dry weather, moisten it. A bin that holds in moisture and warmth will also speed up the process. Even so, expect it to take several months to a year. “Don’t believe claims that gadgets can produce compost in just a few weeks,” she said.