Inoculation

Inoculate your pile with healthy, dynamic soil and/or compost from a previous pile. It is not necessary to add a lot of dirt, but getting soil from distinct sources can be helpful in creating rich biodiversity in your compost.  Limited benefits have been shown from commercially-available compost inoculants, so stick with your soil and nyour neighbors' soil. As always, avoid soils that contain known pathogens or contaminants.

A tupperware full of forest soil after a picnic, a shovelful from a friends' compost pile, a soaking of compost tea: all good practices for kicking your soil off right.