Remedial Composting 095

Let us, just for a moment, forget that it has been in the 20's down here in Tennessee for the past few days. Pretend that nitrogen is infusing all those weeds and unidentifiable green things known as "forbs" with power so that they take over the lawn. Let's ask a few random questions about composting.

1. If the toddler/preschooler throws a 2mm-thick fruit leather down because "it's too sticky!", and it becomes stuck with dog hairs that have been on the kitchen floor for awhile (quite a long time), will this piece of fruit leather then proceed to decompose in the compost pile?

2. What about peanut butter? Or will my dog get to it first?

3. Macaroni and cheese? Does the expensive organic kind break down faster?

4. A pumpkin from last Halloween? Or should I just keep rolling it around the pile in hopes that a raccoon will eventually carry it off?

5. Chex Mix? Does anyone think that the powdered cheese that's stuck on there will affect this process adversely?

6. Bills, if they are finely shredded?