Do you vaguely remember your high school chemistry days and your teacher trying to show you the carbon and nitrogen cycles? They are critical to life on Earth. Learn how both these cycles underpin the making of great compost.

During this workshop we will explore different composting methods and the science behind them:

Cold Composting
Bokashi
Hot Composting
Worm Farms
Leaf Mould
Chickens
Commercial Compost

This workshop in the Science of Edible Gardening Series, looks at carbon and nitrogen cycles and how they influence composting. It involves a combination of theory in a classroom setting, demonstrations and hands-on practical activities including:

Demonstrations of the different composting methods used on the Kyneton site
Creating a hot compost
Setting up a new soil conditioner trial (results to be posted online, but also available for viewing at the next two workshops in the series)

By the end of the class you will have the skills and confidence to determine and implement the best composting methods for your own household.

What to Bring:

Enthusiasm for learning
Your lunch
Water bottle
Notepad and Pen
Closed toed, practical shoes (consider bringing gumboots)
Appropriate Clothing as Kyneton can get very cold and wet in winter

The Science of Edible Gardening Workshop Series

These events are being run as part of The Science of Edible Gardening Workshop Series from Leaf, Root & Fruit. The series has been designed to give you an overview of how plants grow and interact with the environment. This understanding makes decision making, planning and garden maintenance straightforward. Observation and understanding of natural ecosystems and phenomena can help you to be a more successful and fulfilled gardener.

Each workshop is based around a theme that will integrate into the entire series. There will be minimal repetition of content across each event, although certain important ideas will be revisited from time to time. We anticipate most attendees will complete the entire series. However, you can book in for each workshop individually to pick and choose the ones relevant to you.

The 8 workshop topics are:

Nutrients and Fertilizers: Growing Nutrient Dense Food (Held each March)
Population Ecology: Pests and How to Control Them (Held each April)
Reproductive Genetics: Seed Saving, Grafting and Pollination (Held each May)
Plant Physiology: Pruning and Plant Manipulation (Held each June)
Seasonality and Timing: Environmental Gardening Influences (Held each July)
Carbon and Nitrogen Cycles: The Science of Compost (Held each August)
Ecological Succession and Soil: Edible Forest Gardens and Weed Control (Held each September)
Photosynthesis: Irrigation, Rainwater Tanks and Sunlight (Held each November)

See our dedicated web page for more information on The Science of Edible Gardening workshop series:

https://www.leafrootfruit.com.au/science-of-edible-gardening-workshop-class/

Carbon and Nitrogen Cycles: The Art of Compost (as part of The Science of Edible Gardening Series)