WORMS!
There is an amazing symbiotic relationship between earthworms and the compost pile. Earthworms can consume their weight in soil each day and will leave behind the richest compost known to man (Rodale 1992, p.166).
The Indore Method is the best place for worms, because they can begin from the bottom of the heap, pulling nutrients up to the top with them, without being killed right away by the heat of the center of the pile. They will also re-circulate the nutrient-rich liquid run-off back into the ground, making the area around the heap ideal for growing plants. It is suggested to relocate the compost pile as much as possible for this reason.
There are several different kinds of worms, and each their own preferred environment. Red worms or brandlers survive best in a compost heap and will help produce humus more quickly. They will reproduce quickly and exponentially, but may be driven off or killed by the heat of the pile. Other types, like nightcrawlers and field worms, will attack the bottom of the pile, but would be killed more quickly by heat than the red worms.
There is no denying the benefit of earthworms in a compost pile; the humus is created more quickly and is fortified with more nutrients from the worm castings. Worms are fairly inexpensive from bait stores. It is possible even to take a quantity of soil from a compost pile already using worms and incorporate into another pile, because the worms multiply so quickly and abundantly.
photos: http://www.rspb.org.uk/youth/learn/foodchains/decomposers.asp
http://www.jmgkids.us/index.k2?did=3013§ionID=2016
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