Maine Compost School
2022 Class Schedule
MONDAY
8:00 a.m. Registration
8:30 a.m. Welcome, Introduction of Participants, Introduction to the Course, Mark Hutchinson: Extension Professor< University of Maine Cooperative Extension
9:00 a.m. Biology of Composting, Mark Hedrich, Nutrient Management Program Manager, Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry
9:45 a.m. Composting Methods & Systems, Mark King, Environmental Specialist, Maine DEP
10:30 a.m. Break
10:45 a.m. Compost Feedstocks – Characteristics, Types, Potential Problems, Complementary and C:N, Mark Hutchinson
11:45 a.m. Lunch on-site
12:30 p.m. Compost Feedstocks (Cont.)– Laboratory Exercise, Mark Hutchinson
2:00 p.m. Composting Site Selection and Management-Getting the Right Start, Mark King
3:00 p.m. Break
3:15 p.m. Site Development Exercise, Mark King
4:00 p.m. Wrap up
TUESDAY
8:00 a.m. Pile Management, Mark King
8:45 a.m. Pile Management – Field Exercise, Mark King
10:15 a.m. Break
10:30 a.m. Compost Equipment – Functions, Types, and Safe Use of Equipment (onsite), Mark Hutchinson
11:15 Composting Food Scraps within Your Community, Mark King
12:00 Lunch onsite
12:45 Leave for Augusta—Field Trips
Hatch Hill (Community Compost Site)
Wes Kinney (On Farm Compost Site)
5:30 p.m. Return to Augusta
WEDNESDAY
8:00 a.m. Trouble-shooting the compost piles (Part 1), Mark King
8:45 a.m. Break
9:00 a.m. Trouble-shooting the compost piles (Part 2), Mark King
11:00 a.m. Business of Composting, Mark Hedrich
11:45 a.m. Lunch onsite
12:30 Leave for Augusta–Field Trips
Town of Farmington/University of Maine Farmington (Town-Gown Food Scrap Composting)
Living Acres (Agribusiness Composting Operation)
Rainbow Valley Farm (Farm-based Compost Site
5:30 p.m. Return to Augusta
THURSDAY
8:00 a.m. Recipe Development (classroom) – Reading Feedstock Analysis –Hands-On Inside Activity, Mark Hutchinson
9:15 a.m. Break
9:30 a.m. Recipe Development (classroom) – Hands-On Outside Activity Mark Hutchinson
10:30 p.m. Recipe Development Doing the Math, Mark Hutchinson
12:00 p.m. Lunch – on-site
12:45 p.m. Recipe exercises (continued)
1:30 p.m. Leave Highmoor for Field Trips
We Compost It (Commercial Food Scrap Compost Company)
Little River Compost (Commercial Food Scraps/Farm By-products Compost Facility
5:00 p.m. Wrap-up
FRIDAY
8:00 a.m. Solvita Test – Hands-On Activity, Mark Hutchinson.
9:00 a.m. Compost Utilization in Agriculture, Dr. Peyton Ginakes: University of Maine Research Assistant,
10:00 a.m. Break
10:15 a.m. Compost Application Rates Mark Hutchinson.
11:00 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 Mark Hutchinson.
1:30 p.m. Certification Exam, Course Evaluation
3:00 p.m. Depart for Home!
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