getting started - should I add manure/soil

[muggs]

I'm new to both gardening and composting. I tend to jump into things with both feet, with varied success rates.

I have a compost bin started. I've been told the ideal ration is a 70 to 30 mix of brown matter to green matter. So, I've been sticking with that, but I'm wondering if it would be beneficial for me to add some bagged manure to help get things started.

Thanks for any advice.

[treehopper]

I would think that is ok...if you bagged it yourself, but I'm reluctant to feed $$$ into a compost pile...kind of defeats the purpose-something from nothing

[rainbowgardener]

If the manure is aged, it probably does you more good just to put it in your soil. I don't use any manure in my compost pile and it does fine. I agree about not buying stuff to feed the compost pile.

It will get started on its own. Remember to keep it moistened and throw a handful or two of soil in every once in awhile to seed it with soil micro-organisms.

[muggs]

Great, thanks!