Compost Program

Because nutrient density starts and ends with the soil, the Compost Club works to institutionalize this ecologically sensible and time-honored tradition on campus.

3-Bin System Composting

Since the Campus Garden was founded in 2012, students have used permaculture methods that accelerate natural processes to create finished compost in 18 days. Their technique, which they teach in workshops for community members, can be easily replicated in backyards to reduce household organic waste.

Students create a new 18-day compost pile at the campus garden.

Aerated Static Pile Composting

The Compost Club uses a small micro-bin to test the recipe composition for efficient composting in a large aerated static pile, in which a small fan blows oxygen into a pile to hasten its decomposition into finished compost. This method can accommodate a large volume of food scraps and offset some of the organic waste from the Dining Hall. The compost finishes in 30 days.

Vermicomposting

The Compost Club promotes vermicomposting around campus, and even has a outdoor worm pit thermally regulated with a salvaged cooler, buried in the ground. 

Restoring the Soil Food Web

The Food Initiative is a campus effort focused on teaching community members how to prepare nourishing food grown locally and sustainably. It provides hands-on opportunities for individuals to work with produce grown in soil amended with rich campus compost. 

The Compost Team prepares a batch of popcorn with healthy fats for an educational movie night at the eastern shore Food Lab.

Soil Food Web Education

The Compost Team screens films, coordinates field trips to learn about composting systems, and is working to establish more educational demonstration examples of soil-building techniques in the Campus Garden.

Students representing diverse majors are involved in the campus composting effort, and have an eye toward becoming self-sufficient in operational costs, helping to strengthen environmental and financial stewardship of the college. For inquiries about the campus composting effort, contact Shane Brill ’03 M’11. To learn more about the Compost Team, contact Amity%20Harrington%20%2724.

A screening of Dirt! The Movie builds excitement about the importance of composting.

students are ready to ramp up campus composting after watching Dirt! The Movie