COMPOSTING: ANOTHER PASSION?

Here you see a picture of my initial composting heaps. When I was over here last Fall, I was amazed at how many leaves had to be raked and carted out to curbside to be carried away to "whoknowswhere" for "whoknowswhat". However, I noticed that where the leaves had been left they had turned into nice soil.
I thought, This is what I am going to do next year: turn all the leaves into compost for the 2008 garden. The first thing to do was to research composting; the University of Minnesota has some good material on this topic. I determined to use bins constructed of chicken wire. This comes in 25 foot lengths and is 4 feet high, making it possible to construct quickly two bins 3'x3'x4 (with a side that can be opened up like a gate). I have placed them 4 feet apart so that I can use the space between by adding two lengths of chicken wire for a third bin. I may end up with five bins at the bottom of the yard. Our mower has blades designed for mulching and, cleaning out the shed, I found the catch bag. By mowing selected areas of the lawn I have been able to layer grass clippings with leaves (mixed with clippings). The mower chops up the leaves very nicely. Each mowing (about 7 to 10 days apart) just about fills up a bin. I put in coffee grounds and odd kitchen scraps as well. After about a day, I can feel the heat generated in the bin and at the end of one week, the contents have reduced to about half the original height. I turned out the first bin (the one on the right) after about two weeks and noticed that it seemed to be too dry. Once the layers had been turned over I placed them back in the bin and added a few gallons of water. Two mowings in that bin are now only about a foot deep and I can tell you, it is really cooking along.
I have been lucky with the weather as it has been quite warm and this has assisted in keeping the heat going in the mounds. The big test will come as the weather cools and it is mainly leaves that go into the bins. I hope to have the bins working up to Thanksgiving and that will take care of most of the leaves. After that, things will slow down prior to serious cold and possible snow. I may have to wrap the bins with mostly leaves in them (maybe with plastic) to preserve the heat but, my, don't those bacteria go to work!