Sad Little Compost Pile

I've been tossing all my yard waste (grass, leaf) into the "dug-outs" this past fall and winter.  Along with shredded paper, egg shells, coffee grounds and any store bought (boo-hiss) veggie trimmings from the house...

(*Sidenote:  This is the first year that I've refused to pay the high prices of "fresh" vegetables during the winter season.  Being in NC, most of our winter veggies travel up from Florida and in years past I've bought the broccoli, cauliflower, green beans and zucchini to help us get through the winter blahs.  This year, I just can't do it.  And it's not just the price.  Last year I ate my own fresh veggies (and also purchased from the local farmers market).  So I know what good taste is about now.  Can't do it anymore.  Sorry grocery stores!  The only thing I do buy right now is romaine and carrots for the occasional salad and frozen peas and corn are a staple for me right now.)

Anyhoo...Getting back to the compost piles...When we built the raised beds, we built them over some of the other compost piles.  I didn't even think about digging those up and out.  So they're at the bottom of the beds.  Oh well.  (That was my "duh" moment of last month.)

So all I've got left is this one puny little pile to work out of.

Sad isn't it?  Even the dogs are circling in sorrow.  "Is this all ya got?"

I tossed in the wood ash from the big burn and gave it a toss and a good watering. 

There's a section in the book on composting.  I haven't gotten to it yet but I thumbed through it.  This is an area that I really need to educate myself on.

I see in the gardening catalogs these fancy drum turning gizmo's for hundreds of dollars.  Ha.  Ain't happening here I can tell you that.

So what's the mystery of composting?  As a novice gardener, I'd appreciate any links, sites or words of wisdom that you might like to share.

Dig into my pile please!