Composting Workshop

Composting your kitchen scraps and yard trimmings is an easy, low maintenance way to reduce your household waste by up to 30%. Join C3 (Chicago Conservation Corps) Trainee and Roots and Rays Gardener Christine Ferriter to learn how to turn your grass clippings, young weeds, veggie scraps, fruit peels, coffee grounds, and egg shells into free nutrient-rich, chemical-free compost for your garden and houseplants.

This workshop will include demonstrations on various types of composting from outdoor aerobic and anaerobic methods to indoor vermicomposting. There are many different types of composters on the market today, each with their own benefits; discover which method is right for you and your family or learn how to build your own backyard compost bin out of found materials.

Don’t have a backyard? Don’t worry! Vermicomposting is a safe and clean indoor method for recycling everyday kitchen scraps into a rich, dark, earth-smelling soil conditioner using red-wriggler worms. Setting up a worm bin in your kitchen is a great way to begin composting in an urban setting and can keep up to 200lbs a year of nutrient rich food waste out of landfills. This workshop will take you through the steps of how to set up and maintain your very own worm bin!

Please join us for an afternoon of family activities, healthy snacks & free raffle prizes! Prizes include (1) Earth Machine Outdoor Composter, (1) Rain Barrel, and (6) Ready-to-go Worm Bins. Informational brochures and $30 City of Chicago rebate forms for purchased outdoor composters or rain barrels will also be available.

Registration is not required but space and materials are limited, please RSVP to rootsandrays@gmail.com or 773/704-9581.