Composting organic waste is an environmentally sound technique used around the world. Several studies have demonstrated the benefits of compost as soil amendment, sustainable waste treatment, and sound agricultural practice.

1. COMPOSTING SCHOOL - MATERIALS AND METHODS
de Haro Martí*, M.E. 1, Robbins, J.A. 2
1 Extension Educator, University of Idaho Gooding County Extension, Gooding, ID 83330
2 Extension Educator, University of Idaho Jerome County Extension, Jerome, ID 83338
Abstract Program Outcomes and Impact
Composting organic waste is an environmentally sound technique used around the world. Several 42 participants in total; 36 during first session, 18 during second session.
studies have demonstrated the benefits of compost as soil amendment, sustainable waste treatment,
and sound agricultural practice. In fall 2008 a unique “Composting School – Materials and Methods” Participants included home owners, small acreage owners, dairy, hogs, llama, sheep,
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program was held at the Gooding County Extension Office in response to stakeholder’s questions and
g y p q alpaca, and beef producers.
to teach them composting techniques and use. The program included two sessions that were
Composting facilities and worm composters remain at the Extension office and are
conducted at the Gooding County Extension Office in late summer and early fall 2008. Two novelties
used as demonstration units and in multiple new programs for youth and adults.
made this program different from others offered in Idaho. First, the targeted audience was very
heterogeneous including home owners, small farmers, and owners of horses, llamas, hogs, sheep, and The Composting School curricula is used with new and ongoing programs.
dairy facilities. The second idea included a hands-on section addressing composting techniques. After
receiving theoretical training about composting, participants had the opportunity to build different Recorded hands-on sessions and presentations, with PowerPoint slides and
systems for home, on-farm, and worm composting on site. During the second session, participants supporting materials are available for purchase.
received a deeper overview of on-farm and general composting and continued with the hands-on
To assess impact, a one-page questionnaire was distributed to participants at each
p , p g q p p
section b t i th piles and analyzing th performance of th diff
ti by turning the il d l i the f f the different composting t h i
t ti techniques b ilt
built
session (See tables 1 and 2).
during the first session. Forty-two participants attended the program, including home and horse owners,
dairy, hog, alpaca, and sheep producers. The program evaluations showed that 50% of the To assess learning we asked participants how much they may have learned during
respondents learned “a great deal”, and 88% indicated they would adopt two or more techniques not the program (See table 3).
used before attending the school. A permanent composting facility display remains at the Gooding
Extension Office and is used with new programs. On-farm composting evaluation and temperature checking
Working on yard
Program Outline composting
systems Working on
worm
composting
Two sessions separated by one month. This allowed participants to build compost systems systems
during the first session and check their performance during the second session.
Theoretical presentations followed by hands-on practice in both sessions.
During the hands-on sessions we demonstrated and checked performance on nine different
compost techniques: On-farm compost (3), worm compost (2), three-bin composter, static
composter, small yard compost pile, and tumbler composter.
Presentations included, Session I: On-farm composting methods, Home composting, Worm Table 1. Mean practice adoption rate before
composting. Session II: Compost formulation for larger farms, Mortality composting, and after attending the composting school, Table 2. Mean practice adoption rate before and
Economics - challenges and opportunities of manure composting, Weed control, Compost use session 1. after attending the composting school, session 2.
and soil nutrition. n = 16 Practice adoption n = 16 Practice adoption
Practice Before After Practice Before After
Calculate compost raw materials quantities by
Presentations were developed and performed by the authors and three invited speakers. Make compost at the farm or at home 1.88 3.40 *
guessing/trial and error
2.33 2.79
Use mechanically aerated windrows 1.00 1.23 Calculate compost raw materials quantities using
Hands-on included, Session I: Building a garden pile, filling worm composters, mixing and formulas and calculating nutrients values, etc.
1.33 2.58 *
Use forced aerated windrows (any type) 1.00 1.36 *
filling garden compost systems, steps demonstration on building on-farm compost systems. Dispose animal mortalities by mixing with normal
1.25
1 25 1.64
1 64 **
Use bin composting on-farm
on farm 1.25
1 25 1.77
1 77 * compost or burial
Session II: Interpretation of temperature records for each system, temperature checking of
Use compost land application 1.60 2.58 * Use mortality bin composting on-farm 1.00 1.38 **
compost systems, turning garden piles, checking worm composters, on-farm static pile turning Prepare a plan for catastrophic mortality 1.29 1.92 *
Use home bin composting 1.50 2.64 *
demonstration, compost spreading demonstration. Use compost on my farm to reduce costs and
Use a commerical static composter 1.00 1.21 1.86 2.86 *
improve soil quality
Use a tumbler composter 1.13 1.64 * Control compost temperatures to ensure weed
1.64 3.33 *
and phatogens reduction
Use pile composting at home 1.88 2.94 *
Perform annual soil analysis 1.93 3.08 *
Use your own compost at home/small farm 2.25 3.47 * Sample the compost to be applied to know
1.53 3.14 *
Constructing the nutrients values
passive aerated windrow Scale: Always = 4, Usually = 3, Seldom = 2, and Never = 1
Scale: Always = 4 U
S l Al 4, Usually = 3 S ld
ll 3, Seldom = 2 and N
2, d Never = 1
* Significant at the 1% level (paired t-test)
* Significant at the 1% level (paired t-test). ** Significant at the 5% level
Small garden
compost pile Table 3. Percentage of perceived
knowledge gain regarding composting At the classroom
topics presented during the program
Tumbler Static
Three-bin composter
composter Turning the mechanically Some New
composter Session Nothing New A Lot A Great Deal
turned windrow Knowledge
One 9% 23% 33% 35%
Home composting systems On-farm composting systems Two 0% 22% 31% 47%