It's been 10 weeks since I started my first batch of compost. I emptied out the composter to start another batch. This is what my first batch looks like:

It looks and smells like soil. It sure doesn't look or smell like table scraps, coffee, leaves, and shredded paper! I have been keeping my scraps and coffee grinds in a large trash can beside my composter. Each time I add a large amount of scraps, I cover it with a generous layer of dried leaves. Not only does this help keep the proper ratio of green to brown material, but it also keeps it from smelling and attracting so many flies. I filled my composter with a new batch, which only emptied out half of my trash can, and added a large amount of dried leaves. This is what my new batch looks like:

It already started the decomposition process in the trash can, so I don't figure it won't take as long in the composter as the first batch did. We will see.