Avoid meat, dairy, oily food and huge chunks of fruit if pests are a concern. I chop scraps smaller and bury them in the pile instead of leaving them on top. Composting is not maintenance-free, but neither is buying bags of soil every spring. Once you build the habit, it feels normal.

For a small yard, I actually prefer a worm bin. It handles kitchen scraps without needing a big pile, and it works year-round if you protect it from extreme temperatures. It is not for everyone, but I like that it feels controlled. The castings are amazing for seedlings.

It is worth it if you keep it simple and balance greens with browns. My first pile smelled because I dumped in kitchen scraps and forgot dry leaves or shredded cardboard. Once I learned that balance, the smell disappeared. A small enclosed bin looks tidy and gives me enough compost for containers and beds.