I think your question about the compost ratio is a good one. I've been using a mix of about three parts brown material to one part green and it seems to break down nicely. The browns I use are mostly dried leaves and shredded cardboard while the greens come from kitchen scraps and grass clippings. I keep the pile moist like a wrung-out sponge and turn it every two weeks. The temperature in the center usually gets pretty warm which tells me the microbes are active. I started a second bin this spring so I can let one finish while I keep adding to the other. The finished compost from last fall had a nice earthy smell and crumbled easily through my fingers. I used it as a top dressing on the flower beds and the plants seem to appreciate it. One thing I learned is to avoid adding any diseased plant material or weeds that have gone to seed. Also I try to chop up the larger pieces before they go in which speeds up the process quite a bit. I'm still experimenting with different combinations but the basic formula has been working well for my setup.

I've been thinking about your question regarding the best approach for the community garden plots. We set up a rotation schedule last year that worked reasonably well with four sections and different plant families in each. The legumes went in the section that had heavy feeders the previous season so they could replenish nitrogen. We used cover crops in the fall on any empty beds which helped suppress weeds and added organic matter. The watering system we installed uses drip lines on timers which saves a lot of time compared to hand watering. Each plot has its own valve so people can adjust based on what they're growing. The biggest challenge has been coordinating the shared tools and making sure everything gets returned. We set up a simple sign-out sheet this season and it has helped quite a bit. A few of us are planning to build a small tool shed near the entrance which should make things more convenient. The harvest share days have been popular where people bring extra produce and trade with others. I think we'll expand that idea next year with a more organized schedule.