Composting

Thurston County Master Recycler Composters provide training and workshops and also support composting activities at the Master Gardener Demonstration Gardens. The classes leading to Master Recycler Composter certification are available to the public. Go here for information about the classes and how to sign up.

Composting workshops for the public are listed below.  Composting information is also available from Master Recycler Composters working at the Demonstration Gardens, and there will be multiple workshops at the MGTFC Plant Sale at Dirt Works Garden. In addition, composting questions can be directed to the Master Gardener Clinic.

Can’t wait for a workshop to get started?  The following will tell you everything you always wanted to know about composting your yard and kitchen waste:

http://gardening.wsu.edu/stewardship/compost/compost.htm

Need a recipe?  Composting DOs and DON’Ts?  Compost troubleshooting help? These web sites have recipes and problem diagnosis and treatment info:

http://www.co.whatcom.wa.us/publicworks/pdf/solidwaste/easycomposting.pdf http://your.kingcounty.gov/solidwaste/naturalyardcare/recipe.asp

The following web site includes Thurston County-specific information and lots of other useful composting tips:

http://www.co.thurston.wa.us/solidwaste/organics/organics-home.htm.

Need a Compost Bin?  Composting bins are sold by the Master Gardener Foundation of Thurston County at a reduced rate for Thurston County residents.  Click here for more information.  Bins will also be available at some of the workshops shown below.

Workshops

Workshops are offered from June through October at Closed Loop Park, Dirt Works and Olympia Farmers Market demonstration gardens. Workshops alternate between Yard Waste and Worms / Kitchen Waste.

Yard Waste Workshop

Master Recycler Composters will teach you how to make rich compost for your garden in a demonstration clinic.  Free public workshop. Question and Answer atmosphere.  No pre-registration is necessary.

Worm Bin (Food Waste) Workshop

A how-to workshop on worm bin composting.  Free.  Open to the public.  Question and Answer atmosphere.  No pre-registration is necessary.

 Composting Workshop Schedule (10 am start time)

Date

Workshop

Location

Saturday

June 11th

Yard Waste

Closed Loop Park

Saturday

July 9th

Worms/Kitchen Waste

Dirt Works

Thursday

August 11th

Worms & Yard Waste for small spaces

Olympia Farmers Market

Saturday

September 10th

Worms/Kitchen Waste

Closed Loop Park

Saturday

October 8th

Yard Waste

Dirt Works

Closed Loop Park is located just inside the Thurston County Waste and Recovery Center entrance at 2418 Hogum Bay Road in Lacey (Hawk's Prairie). Closed Loop Park is open the same hours at the Waste and Recovery Center. For hours visit www.co.thurston.wa.us/solidwaste
Dirt Works Garden is located inside Yauger Park in West Olympia. Yauger Park entrance is on Alta Street off of Capital Mall Drive. The entrance to the garden is located at the end of the Yauger Park parking lot next to the new Community Garden.
Olympia Farmer's Market Garden is located on the East side of the Market. The Market is located at 700 Capitol Way N, Olympia, WA 98501 From I-5, take exit 105A, to City Center After passing through the Capital Campus underpass, turn right on Capitol Way. Proceed north through downtown Olympia,toward the waterfront. Plenty of free parking behind the Market,at the end of Capitol Way