Q: I’ve come across several big sealed buckets of twenty-year-old dry beans and popcorn. Is it possible to add these to our compost bin?

A: I think crushing the beans/corn into pieces would be fine. A flour-like consistency might allow caking, so “pieces” would be the best size. I’d build a compost pile by scattering a thin layer of the material over a two-inch thick layer of leaves and repeat. Dampen the pile after every couple of layers. Things should compost nicely. If the pile has a bad odor, turn it with a pitchfork.