Starting your Heap
Sometimes you can make a compost heap all at once and mix the different types of material together

However, often material is available at different times, and so you make layers. Some general advice
1. alway add an equal amount of shredded newspaper when you add grass clippings - nearly all compost problems are caused by grass clippings going soggy and stinky, and the paper balances this, so you get more and better compost out of your heap
2. Always cover the compost heap (inside the container) with bubblewrap or with old carpet, this helps to get it humming and keep the temperature up
3. Use a compost starter (1 pint urine per gallon, water the heap with a gallon, and perhaps repeat a month later). Or, you can buy Garotta or similar
4. Always remember you are trying to grow moulds and fungi, and to breed worms - these are the key workers in your heap, and they like dark, moist, warm conditions, and lots of nitrogen.