I've composted ever since I've had a house. As far back as I can remember (more than 60 years), my dad composted.
I live in a climate in which temperatures are below freezing more than half of the year and I'm not energetic enough to enjoy turning the compost on a regular basis so I have a three bin system, which means that materials will have 2.5 to 3 years to compost before I use the product which results. Each bins is about 3 feet high and 4 feet square.
This year I filled one bin, while the other two sat composting. Next week I'll empty the bin I filled in 2008. The compost will be piled for use next spring and summer in my window boxes and flower beds. It can continue to compost if necessary.
Most of the materials going into the bin come from the lawn and flower beds. Kitchen vegetable waste also finds it way there.