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High Country Conservation Center has been offering Backyard Composting Workshop to the Summit County community for several years.  The popular workshops are well suited to citizens interested in learning (or reviewing) the basics of composting.  However, if you are among those that are interested in a more in-depth program then the Master Mountain Composter program is for you! 

The 2009 Master Mountain Composter program will consist of only three classes! Starting June 18th through July 9th (skipping the week of July 2nd), MMC classes will run Thursdays from 5pm to 8pm. The first hour will be dedicated to hands-on work in the compost display garden at the High Country Conservation office at th 518 E. Main Street cabin in Frisco.

Master Mountain Composter students are required to attend all three classes for the full class time and complete 15 volunteer hours (please see Grow a Greener Community for more details).

The 2009 schedule is as follows:

June 18 - MMC Class #1: Compost Fundamentals, Compost Pile Building, Methods, and Compost Use

June 25 -MMC Class #2: Composting at High Altitude, in Cold Weather, & in Bear Country; Understanding the Landfill Environment; and the Science of Composting.

July 9 - MCC Class #3: How to be a Worm Farmer - Basic & Advanced Vermicomposting (Composting with Worms) and Final Exam for MMC Certification (Drop-ins may join us for the worm composting portion of this class for only $10)

Subjects that will be covered during the six week program include: 

  • The fundamentals of composting
  • Setting up a compost pile
  • Building healthy soil
  • Compost tea
  • High altitude and cold weather considerations
  • Alternative composting methods
  • Reasons for composting
  • Decomposition in a landfill environment
  • Harvesting and utilizing compost
  • Composting with bears as our neighbors

 

Grow a Greener Community!

Not only does the Master Mountain Composter program help reduce waste at our local landfill, Master Mountain Composters promote composting at the community level. MMC “alumni” have conducted workshops in schools, inspired neighbors to compost, and have established composting systems at the workplace. They do a variety of community outreach activities.

In order to receive certification as a Master Mountain Composter, each participant will be required to perform 15 hours of community outreach by the end of December 2009.  Some potential activities that will fulfill this requirement include:  manning informational booths at local farmers markets and festivals, writing a composting column in local newspapers or newsletters, giving presentations, maintaining the Compost Display Garden, creating new tools for community outreach, and assisting other community members with setting up and maintaining a compost bin. 

There is the option to become a Trained Mountain Composter as well, which allows individuals to attend the training sessions without taking part in the community service component.  The fee for this option is $75 and priority is given to those choosing to participate in the community outreach portion of the program. 

The same application must be filled out for both options and are due on Friday, June 12th, 2009 with a check for the program fees. Please state somewhere on the application form if you are applying for the Trained Mountain Composter option. Also, if you are unable to download the application using the link below, please contact us at 970-668-5703 or jen@highcountryconservation.org to obtain a copy. 



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UPCOMING EVENTS


Wednesday, February 24-
The future of food showing
and discussion

Join us for a great movie and a small discussion on the local and sustainable food movement. Our host, the Alpine Earth Center (formerly Alpine Gardens located at 998 Blue River Parkway in Silverthorne) will show the Future of Food. Click here for more info.


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