Become a Master Composter! Join us at Fallbrook’s beautiful Palomares House to gain in-depth composting knowledge to expand your sustainable gardening practices. You can earn a certificate of completion after attending all five weeks, then go on to receive the Master Composter certification and badge after completing the additional requirements! Meet new people in this fun, hands-on course! Class size is limited.
Course Fee: $25*
*If this course fee presents a financial hardship, it may be waived upon request. Please contact Erin Stone at erin@solanacenter.org before registering to inquire.
Master Composter Schedule:
Saturdays, March 14, March 21, March 28, April 4, April 11
9am - 12pm
Location - Palomares House, 1815 South Stage Coach Lane, Fallbrook, CA, 92028
Field Trip - April 18, 10am - 11am at San Pasqual Valley Soils
After completing this 5-week course, you will have a better understanding of how to:
Minimize your carbon footprint and reduce methane emissions by keeping food and yard waste out of the landfill.
Create natural nutrient-rich soil amendments with your food and yard waste that help your garden grow.
Avoid using synthetic fertilizers and pesticides.
Reduce water use and increase water retention. Compost increases your soil’s water-holding capacity and improves water retention.
The Master Composter course provides training in the art and science of composting through lectures, demonstrations, and a field trip. The course covers the following topics:
In-depth traditional composting and the basics of composting with worms (vermicomposting)
Compost bin building and troubleshooting (in teams!)
The microbiology of composting, including the role of fungi and bacteria
Bokashi fermentation for saving food scraps to compost
Macrodecomposers in your compost pile
The environmental impacts of composting
… and much more!
Field Trip
Our field trip's leader, Craig M. Kolodge Ph.D., serves as the Business Development and Sustainability Manager for San Pasqual Valley Soils. This large-scale composting facility processes up to 75,000 cubic yards of yard trimmings and cow manure from their neighboring Konyn Dairy each year. These materials are added to their beautifully tended windrows, and result as high-quality mulch and compost. This is an optional part of the course but is highly recommended due to Dr. Kolodge's expertise.
About Dr. Kolodge - Craig Kolodge, Ph.D., is the former academic advisor, field plant pathologist, and county director for the University of California Cooperative Extension (UCCE) in Santa Clara County. And he is a Certified Professional in Erosion and Sediment Control (CPESC) and an expert in the use of compost-based Sustainable Management Practices (SMPs) for stormwater management and industrial pollution management (Trainer of Record for Qualified Industrial Stormwater Practitioner - QISP statewide program).
Residents of unincorporated County of San Diego receive preferential registration. All others will be placed on a waitlist and apprised of space available 1-2 weeks before the start of the course.
BEFORE REGISTERING, please enter your address here to check your residency. You can select the County of San Diego Residents ticket option ONLY if your jurisdiction boundary result is exactly “S.D. COUNTY.” All others must select the waitlist option.
How to get certified: Master Composter certification requires attendance at all 5 classes, as well as 30 volunteer hours of related community service. Certification is optional.
Made possible through generous funding by:
Thanks to our host:
Palomares House & Park