Master Composter Class Updates 

Class announcements for  Master Composter Students and Friends

2011 Master Composter Class Notes

• Bibliography of great books related to composting and soils (2-page pdf)
• 2011 Suggested reading list (pdf)
• Session 1: Composting basics, types of bins  (pdf)
• Session 2: Healthy soils, Jon Dahl, Michigan State University (pdf)
  Home soil test web link.
• Session 3 Yard waste reduction, mulching, trench/pit composting. Chris Simmons PowerPoint (pdf). Plus Healthy lawn care program for homeowners from SOCCRA (37-page pdf) 
• Session 4: Worm bins, special composting, compost teas (Jessie Raudenbush of Starr Valley Farms).Jess's handout (pdf). Plus Wonder Worm Bins - Directions to make a home worm bin. (4-page pdf)
• Session 5: Tour of the municipal compost center, 4150 Platt Road map to the Compost Center (pdf). Class will meet at gate marked C at 6:30 and we'll get into two passenger vans to drive through the site together. Following the compost site tour, we will all drive to the recycling plant/MRF education center, on the same road about 1/4 mile away at 4150 Platt Road. Municipal Compost test results posted online. Hands-on activities. Open book exam (pdf)  distributed. Soil test demonstration (pdf).  
• Session 6: Volunteer opportunities,(new Web page). Open book exam corrected together. Presentations and discussion about volunteer options for Master Compost certification.

General resources

• Home Composting Recipe & What is Compost? - Learn how to begin home composting (new Web page)
• Build or Buy a Home Compost Bin (2-page pdf)
• Also see www.a2gov.org/compost

Useful Web links

• www.mastercomposter.com Program based in the Northeast U.S.
• www.wormwoman.com For worm composting information and supplies. Based in Kalamazoo, MI.
• Soil structure test (Adapted from Teaming with Microbes) http://lagardennotes.blogspot.com/2009/10/notes-on-soils.html

Volunteer opportunities for Master Composters (link to a new page)

Congratulations to Our certified Master Composters!

The class of 2011's certified Washtenaw County Master Composters include:

Jesse Raudenbush
Joet Reoma
Roger Storm
Colette Szabo
Sue Wedzel

The class of 2010's certified Washtenaw County Master Composters include:

Melina Adler
Luna Delgado-Wood
Crystal Delgado-Wood
Catherine Fischer
Liz Kaminsky
Pat Kaminsky
Christine Muscat
Kim Wehrmeister

Graduates have all passed their written Master Composter exam and volunteered for 10 hours in order to obtain a Michigan Master Composter certificate and badge. Please check the Master Composter volunteer Web page to download the volunteer hours log and criteria, and for suggested activities.

Back to the Master Composter Web page
Back to www.a2gov.org/compost
Back to www.a2gov.org/recycle

Back to www.a2gov.org home page