Learned that one the hard way too @charliestone, threw my back out moving the machine that extra three inches.

That part about not dragging contaminants back into the pile makes sense. But I think people miss that it also keeps your mix more consistent. Like when you reach in deep you're pulling up the wet stuff from the bottom and it messes with your carbon to nitrogen ratio. I've noticed if I just work the top layer and add material slowly everything stays more... balanced I guess? Less surprises when you go to use it later.

Ha, @logan236 I just shove everything in a grocery bag and call it good, wrinkles are part of the look.

My buddy Pete counted 12,000 grains once.

Same thing happened to me with a tiny fleck of pepper last summer.