Come learn how to build a compost pile from Master Composter and Edgewater resident Jason Bump!

This Saturday, June 27 from 9-11 am

At the Jefferson High School Community Garden (24th and Pierce St.)

You do not need to be a member of the Jefferson Garden to participate. Open to all!

Build-A-Pile Workshops are special classes in which participants help to build an entire compost pile, and receive hands-on experience incorporating different materials into a compost pile, chopping ingredients, watering, and turning the pile.

Jason will go over the benefits of composting, why we all should compost.

Here is some basic info on backyard compost:

All plant matter is compostable even weeds. A pile should be 3-1 Carbon to Nitrogen or 3 brown to 1 green. Basically if you can’t swallow it… the bacteria in the early stages of composting will have a hard time eating also. When putting material into the pile break it up into smallest pieces as possible.

A compost pile needs to have the moisture content of a wrung out sponge. The earlier bacteria in the pile need the water to live and move around in the pile. A pile needs to be at least 3’x3’x3’ for the thermal mass to generate enough heat to kill weed seeds and for the process to start.

Composting requires aeration. The more you turn the quicker you get composting. When you turn the pile it is best to use a pitch fork and turn the bottom to top fluffing it as you go as well as watering it.
Colorado is a very dry climate so it is best to have a cover on the compost to keep moisture in it.

Jason will go over this in more detail, as we are building a pile class. After the brief introduction on composting, he will ask everyone to weed the garden, gathering material from the community garden and our individual plots putting the material into two separate piles one for carbon and one for nitrogen.

Once we have our entire piles ready, we will build two compost piles using the existing three bin system.

Jason will be there from 9-11 and can answer all questions you have on compost, vermiculture, and recycling during that time.