Curriculum

Maine Compost School

 Class Schedule

MONDAY

8:00 a.m.      Registration

8:30 a.m.          Welcome, Introduction of Participants, Introduction to the Course Mark Hutchinson, Extension Professor, UMaine Extension

9:00 a.m.          Biology of Composting Mark Hutchinson, Extension Professor, UMaine Extension

9:30 a.m.          Composting Methods & Systems Mark King, Environmental Specialist, Maine DEP

10:15 a.m.        Break

10:30 a.m.     Compost Equipment – Functions, Types, and Safe Use of Equipment (onsite) Mark Hutchinson, Extension Professor, UMaine Extension

 11:30 a.m.

Compost Feedstocks – Characteristics, Types, Potential Problems,

Complementary, C:N Bill Seekins, Agricultural Researcher, Department of Agriculture (Retired)

12:00 noon       Lunch on-site

12:45 p.m.        Compost Feedstocks (Cont.)– Laboratory Exercise Bill Seekins, Agricultural Researcher, Department of Agriculture (Retired)      

2:15 p.m.          Field Trip Sites

  • Pat Jackson/Tri-City Septic, Pauline Dube
  • Rainbow Valley Farms, Harland and Jeff Bragg

5:00 p.m.          Return to Augusta

TUESDAY

8:00 a.m.          Composting Site Selection and Management-Getting the Right Start  Mark King, Environmental Specialist, Maine DEP

9:00 a.m.          Site Development Exercise  Mark King, Environmental Specialist, Maine DEP

9:45 a.m.     Break

10:00 a.m.       Pile Management Bill Seekins, Agricultural Researcher, Department of Agriculture (Retired)

11:45 a.m.     Lunch – on-site

12:30 p.m.      Pile Management – Field Exercise Bill Seekins, Agricultural Researcher, Department of Agriculture (Retired)

1:15 p.m.        Field Trip Sites

  • Farmington Compost Cooperative – Farmington
  • Living Acres Farm – New Sharon

5:00 p.m.       Return to Augusta

WEDNESDAY

8:00 a.m.         Troubleshooting the Compost Pile Bill Seekins, Agricultural Researcher, Department of Agriculture (Retired)

10:00 a.m.        Break

10:15 a.m.       Troubleshooting – Outdoor Activity Bill Seekins, Agricultural Researcher, Department of Agriculture (Retired)

11:00 a.m.        The Business of Composting  Mark King, Environmental Specialist, Maine DEP

12:00 noon        Lunch – in field

1:00 p.m.           Field Trip Sites

  • Hawk Ridge Compost Facility
  • Kinney Compost

5:00 p.m.          Return to Augusta

THURSDAY

8: 00 a.m.         Recipe Development (classroom) – Reading Feedstock Analysis –Hands-On Inside Activity Bill Seekins, Agricultural Researcher, Department of Agriculture (Retired)

9:45 a.m.          Break

10:00 a.m.        Recipe Development (classroom) – Hands-On Outside Activity Bill Seekins, Agricultural Researcher, Department of Agriculture (Retired)

12:00                Lunch – on-site

12:45 p.m. Recipe Development – continued

1:15 p.m.          Field Trip Sites

  • MB Bark, dba, “We Compost It”
  • Little River Compost

5:00 p.m.          Return to Augusta

FRIDAY

8:00 a.m.         Solvita Test – Hands-On Activity Bill Seekins, Agricultural Researcher, Department of Agriculture (Retired)

9:00 a.m.      Compost Tea/Disease Suppression Mark King, Environmental Specialist, Maine DEP

10:00 a.m.       Break

10:15 a.m.       

Compost Utilization in Agriculture Mark Hutchinson, Extension Professor, UMaine Extension

11:15 a.m.       Quality, Maturity and End Use Dr. Will Brinton, President, Woods End Research Laboratory

12:00 p.m.       Lunch – on-site

12:45 p.m.       Laboratory Exercise – Solvita Maturity Test Bill Seekins, Agricultural Researcher, Department of Agriculture (Retired)

1:30 p.m.         Certification Exam, Course Evaluation

3:00 p.m.         Depart for Home!