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!
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