We produce 30 tons of compost every year and it doesn’t make itself. Successful composting requires attention to the particle size and relative composition of the heap between green and brown waste as well as ensuring that the heap is aerated.
We rot our horse manure pretty successfully getting the internal temperature of the heap up to 65 degrees C., but our own green garden waste is harder to get up to this temperature. We need the high temperature to kill off any weed seeds in the compost otherwise, when we use it as a mulch, we are just spreading weeds around the garden.
The group will be led by Tony Davis – our compost curator with support from Cat our community gardener. This is a practical and strenuous workshop as we’ll be turning the heaps regularly and we’ll also be reducing the overall particle size in the heap by chopping, cutting and breaking up compostable material into smaller pieces. In order to do this cutting and chopping it is important to keep our tools sharp. Cat will offer regular refreshers tool sharpening demonstrations during the group’s tea breaks! You’ll also learn to use our chipper/shredder to reduce brush wood to shreds to layer among the green waste.
This group also takes responsibility of looking after our wormery. Worms are essential primary decomposers and the wormery is an important educational tool used by our Children and Families team to teach children about the living environment.
INFORMATION
Course dates: 10 Sept, 15 Oct, 12 Nov, 10 Dec, 14 Jan, 11 Feb, 10 March, 14 April, 12 May, 9 June, & 14 July.
Times: 10am – 1pm
Ticket price: Pay What You Can
Running time: 3 hours with a tea break
The course runs from September until July and, since there is only so much space in the composting area, is limited to 10 participants. It will run on the 2nd Sunday of the month between 10am – 1pm. This workshop is for registered BPCG volunteers, with an optional fee of £20, £12, £5.
Pay What You Can
We know that ticket price is a huge barrier for some, and the Pay What You Can model offers people who can afford to pay a bit more the chance to support others who can’t. The fee for this course has a sliding scale of £50, £35, £20, £12, £5. Once you have booked there are no further charges for the year.