Free Composting Workshops

With an eye to its long-term waste management strategy, the County of Santa Barbara is undertaking to educate the public on the environmental benefits of composting.

Free backyard-composting workshops will take place on the three remaining Saturdays of May, in various cities: today at the Solvang Branch Library lawn, May 22 at the Santa Maria Valley Sustainable Garden, and May 29 at SBCC’s Lifescape Gardens. The county’s composting specialist will be present at each location to provide information on what items to compost and on how to use your composted material. Various methods, including hot aerobic composting and worm composting, will be explained.

Composting is a natural way of recycling. Compost consists of 50 percent of organic daily waste, according to a joint press release from the county’s Public Works Resource Recovery and Waste Management Departments. It contributes to valuable, nutrient-rich soil ideal for gardens, lawns, and houseplants.

The hour-and-a-half long workshop will be followed by a discounted Earth Machine compost bin sale, at which bins will be sold for $40.

For more details including workshop times and directions times, click here.