Learn how you can save money and reduce pests by composting your livestock manure! Composting manure helps protect your local watershed, prevents pollution in waterways, and produces a fantastic soil amendment. Composting is easy and inexpensive and can help reduce flies, odors, and waterway contamination. Using composted manure on your garden and landscaping will also help enrich your soil and conserve water.

This workshop will cover:

• The basics & benefits of composting 

• How to incorporate manure into compost piles

• Scaling up or down compost pile size

• Local regulations and requirements

• Preventing odors and flies; and

• Protecting local water sources

Benefits of manure composting:

• Saves water and money (fewer purchased amendments)

• Increases soil health and biodiversity

• Prevents flies and odors; and

• Protects waterways

  
  

Made possible through generous funding by

Thanks to our host Sweetwater Community Garden

What is an Aerated Static Pile (ASP)? ASPs offer a simple and cost-effective method for composting organic materials. These contained systems force air through the compost pile via ground-level pipes, encouraging rapid decomposition without the need to turn your compost piles! The system we will discuss is perfect for land with a small amount of livestock (for instance, 1 - 10 horses) and small- to medium-sized farms or orchards. Improper organic waste disposal can lead to pest problems, create health issues for livestock, and contaminate local water sources. There are so many benefits to this method of composting! Adding compost to your soil conserves water, mitigates erosion, sequesters carbon, and helps your plants thrive.

This workshop will address how to use an ASP to compost manure, crop residues, and food scraps. This presentation will also include a case study of Solana Center’s ASP composting system as an example of a successful ASP composting system

In this workshop, we will cover 

• Benefits of composting manure and other on-farm materials

• How to use ASPs to simplify composting and reduce the need for management

• How to create the best system for your needs, get prepared for composting success, and what to add to your pile for best results

• Managing pest and smell concerns with neighbors

• Ensuring compliance with San Diego County ordinances and/or Healthy Soils Program requirements

Whether you own livestock, a farm, a large property, or simply want to expand your composting knowledge, we welcome you to join our workshop at the Ramona Grange.

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 workshop.

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.

Made possible through generous funding by:

Thanks to our host Ramona Grange

Composting with worms, also known as vermicomposting, has benefits for everyone, whether you want to divert kitchen scraps from the landfill, compost in small spaces, or create a natural fertilizer for your plants. In-ground worm composting is especially suited to San Diego County’s climate and is more resilient to the temperature extremes we face, especially during dry, hot months. Join us at Bates Nut Farm to learn how to start and maintain a happy home for red wiggler worms.

All pre-registered attendees who are residents of unincorporated San Diego County can receive a free kitchen scraps container.

In this workshop, we will cover:

• Benefits of composting with worms

• Benefits of using an in-ground worm bin

• Tools, materials, and steps to start an in-ground worm bin

• How to feed your worms and which foods are suitable

• Troubleshooting and maintaining all worm bin styles

• Harvesting and using finished castings

Benefits of in-ground vermicomposting include:

• Greater resistance to temperature extremes

• Increased soil aeration in garden beds

• Save money on purchased worm castings and soil amendments

• Lower your contribution to landfills

• Increase soil health & soil microbiome

• Increase water retention in soil

  
  

Made possible through generous funding by:

Thanks to our host: