Compost bin vs. pile

I like the idea of a contained bin (one that rotates), however is a pile better as to attract worms and such? Does it matter? Our neighbors are within spitting distance, would hate to offend them.

Can anyone offer information why bin or pile is better?

Hi cindye, it is purely a matter of choise, space and convenience wich way you make your compost, a bin can be tucked away out of sight as can an open pile if you have the room for it, one that is rotated will take up about the same amount of space, needs turning every other day etc and as regards worms, it is true that the rotating one wont get worms into the drum, but when you place the compost into the soil, worms will soon find the fresh compost, no compost heap/ bin or pile should smell in any way, what you have to do to prevent that, is, always add your compost layer at a time, say you add all your kitchen waste as you prepare your meals, next day you add some garden waste like pruneings etc, then you would add some shreded newspapers so this will help add heat to the compost which in turn, helps the decaying prosses quicker, then if you add say grass cuttings, just dont put a three foot layer in at the one time, devide this up into thiner layers by addding shrub pruneings, more shreded newspapers etc, so that you let air into the compost as this stops everything getting too wet from the juices that seap from the grass, as your bin/heap/ pile gets full,the best thing to speed up the prosses is to get your garden fork, lift the compost out, then refill it, top stuff onto the bottom and the stuff from the bottom goes to the top. I have my bins beside my veg garden and I add any worms to it if I work close enough to the bin but when I use my compost from the pile, there are always some worms managed to find their way into it anyway. dont know if you have done composting before so I will tell you what you can add to your compost making. ANY greens from the garden, even weeds so long as you chop the roots off and any seed heads, you dont want these as they will regrow as you put the compost into the soil, you add any household waist so long as it aint raw or cooked food, this attract mice etc, you can add newspapers cut/shreded, coffee grounds/tea leaves/bages etc, egg shells and binnana skins, seaweed if you can get your hands on it. if you add shrub pruneings/hedge etc, and these are too thick/big, they take too lony to compost, so chop them up with the lawn mower, but these things allow air to circulate and stops any smells, you can even add pure wool as it aint man made so there are lots of ways and things to add, cardboard needs shreded also but will rot down. dont know where you live, if a really warm zone, you may have to add some water to your heep or it will dry out and stop the prosses, if cold area, you will need to make a cover to keep the heat in. you get so used to composting that it becomes second nature and trial and error, so go ahead, it is a real cheep way to benifit your soil, I am sure there will be books in the librery that could help you choose the right way for you. Good luck WeeNel.