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About Us
County Impact Statements - Washington County
"Rot Science" Taught at Backyard Composting Workshops
"What do leaves, spent flower arrangements, egg shells, dryer lint, coffee
grounds, and grass clippings have in common? They can all be composted and used
to improve your garden!" That’s the message that the Washington County Master
Composters promote.
Patterned after the University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service’s
Master Gardener program, the Washington County Master Composter program equips
individuals with information about the ease and benefits of backyard composting
so that they can help educate others throughout the county.
As a result of a $10,000 grant from the 4-County NW Regional Solid Waste
Management District, the Washington County Master Composters designed, built,
and are using a "Composting Demonstration Site" to promote home composting and
showcase examples of composting systems. The Master Composters use the site as
an educational tool to help explain the basics of the composting process and
choose a compost bin that will best suit their time, abilities, and interests.
"Basics of Backyard Composting" workshops conducted at the Composting
Demonstration Site in 2001 have attracted numerous community residents
interested in learning how to build a compost pile and manage it effectively.
Not only is the Master Composter program using trained volunteers to teach
others in the community what they’ve learned, but the unique topic of home
composting has increased public awareness of the wealth of information,
programs, and services that the University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension
Service has to offer.
Participants learn the in’s and out’s of composting at home at
the Master Composter "Composting Demonstration Site"
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Impacts
- Since 1998, 73 area residents have participated in the Master Composter
program conducted through the Cooperative Extension Service and the 4-County
NW Regional Solid Waste Management District.
- In 2001 alone, more than 250 volunteer hours were contributed to work
days at the Composting Demonstration Site, teaching hands-on composting
workshops, and outreach activities promoting the ease and benefits of home
composting
- The Washington County Master Composter "Composting Demonstration Site"
houses 8 styles of home composting units. The Site has been used to conduct
hands-on composting workshops for school groups, garden clubs and area
residents. The Composting Demonstration Site is also open to the public for
self-guided tours.
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