2022 In-Person Class: Backyard Composting - Making Your Own Black Gold

As long as we're growing and eating fruits and veggies, we're creating lots of kitchen scraps and plant debris that has to be dealt with.  Why toss that material into our green waste bins when we can compost it instead? Compost is a super affordable (mostly free) and incredibly useful soil amendment, adding organic matter and increasing the biological activity in our soil.  It also helps to retain moisture if used as a top dressing (mulch) and improves soil structure and drainage. 

This workshop will help you understand the science behind great compost and the ingredients needed to make a healthy, productive compost pile. Topics will include building, watering, turning, and troubleshooting your compost pile as well as a review of different composting methods so that you can build a pile that matches your lifestyle, space, and gardening needs.  We have several different types of tumbling composters on-site for you to check out, too. 

Now's your chance to come learn the basics of making your own "black gold" at home and maybe share some of your own successes or challenges you've faced composting in the past.  Each student will get to handle, smell, sift, and compare some amazing "finished compost" from the instructor's home garden.  

Please come dressed for being outside and for working in the garden, and feel free to bring garden gloves if you have a favorite pair.  Please come prepared with sunscreen, water bottle, and don't forget your mask :-)

This workshop has a limited number of spots available and is expected to sell out quickly.  No walk-ins permitted the day of class, so please register on line ahead of time.

If rain is expected we will cancel THE DAY BEFORE the event via EMAIL, so please check your email inbox (and SPAM folder) if the weather looks iffy!

Instructors:  Marybeth Janerich and Katie Sue Mulliken

This workshop is $25.

Discounted rates available to community gardeners with WCG or the WCG Network.

Pre-Registration is required.  

NOTE: We offer a limited number of reduced-tuition scholarships for low-income individuals.  If you would like to apply, please fill out and submit our scholarship application before continuing the on-line registration process.