SRS is right.

And if you throw some 10-10-10 fertilizer in under the newspaper, wet the newspaper, put on even a few more inches of compost than she described and water the whole area regularly, the ground underneath can soften up as the pile breaks down and earthworms (where present) do their tunneling and mixing magic. Dry grass clippings can be used in place of the fertilizer. The idea is to jumpstart the heat and moisture of a working compost pile.