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Other than a bin for composting, the
equipment you will need for a backyard compost pile will vary
drastically from yard to yard. Any equipment you might need will
generally fall into the following categories:
 1. Aeration - In order to maintain a
proper oxygen level in the pile, the organic material will need to
be turned over periodically. Equipment for this includes:
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Pitch Fork - A fork of some sort
will help to dig into the pile and turn if over in place or into
an adjacent bin.
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Aerating Tool - These are
specially made tools that allow you to force a point down into
the pile. When it is pulled out, blades expand which toss the
organic matter and allow the influx of air.
2. Particle Size
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 Chippers &
Shredders - One of the easiest ways to increase the speed
of the composting process is to start with smaller size pieces.
Shredding the leaves, branches and other organic material as it
goes into the pile will greatly increase the surface area that
micro-organisms can chew on. It also greatly decreases the
volume of the material you are handling. Many shredders will
take 8 bushels of leaves and reduce them to only 1 bushel for
the compost bin.
3. Monitoring
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Compost
Thermometer - Faster, more efficient microbes will be
encouraged by higher pile temperatures. A long stemmed
thermometer is useful for checking the temperature of the middle
of the pile.
