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High
Country Conservation Center has been offering Backyard
Composting Workshops 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!
Again this year, Colorado Mountain College will co-host the 2011 Master Mountain Composter Program with the High Country Conservation Center. Starting Tuesday, May 3, 2011, MMC classes will run Tuesdays and Thursdays
from 5:30pm to 7pm, in room 216 at the CMC campus in Breckenridge (107 Denison Placer Road). We'll also have opportunities to participate in hands-on compost pile building and maintenance at the display garden at the High Country
Conservation office at 518 Main Street in
Frisco. The cost of the MMC Certified program is $50. All proceeds benefit the High Country Conservation Center. Applications are available here and are due Wednesday, April 27, by 5:00pm. Please direct all questions about the Master Mounatain Composter program to Jennifer Santry.
Master Mountain Composter
students are required to attend all four classes for
the full class time and complete 20 volunteer hours for Certification (please
see Grow a Greener Community for more
details). Visitors are welcome to drop-in to MMC classes for $20 a class.
The 2011 MMC schedule is as
follows:
Tuesday, May 3 - MMC
Class #1: Compost Fundamentals, Compost Pile Building,
Methods, and Compost Use
Thursday, May 5 -MMC
Class #2: Composting at High Altitude, in Cold Weather,
& in Bear Country; and the Science of Composting.
Tuesday, May 10 - MMC Class #3: How to be a Worm Farmer - Basic & Advanced
Vermicomposting (Composting with Worms)
Thursday, May 12 - MCC
Class #4: Understanding the Landfill Environment and Large Scale Composting
TBD - Landfill and High Country Compost Facility Tour
TBD - Final Exam
for MMC Certification
All classes are 5:30pm to 7:00pm, Location CMC in Breckenridge
Subjects that
will be covered during the two 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 20 hours of community outreach
by the end of December 2011. 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 $100 and priority is given to
those choosing to participate in the community outreach
portion of the program.
The 2011 MMC Application is NOW available here. Please send or drop off a check, cash, or credit card payment for the program fees with your application. 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. Applications are due by Wednesday, April 27, at 5pm.
