Composting Resources

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Zero Waste Garden and Kitchen
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Build Your Own Compost Bins


Using a compost in keeps the material contained, neat and manageable—and there is a bin to fit every size yard. Use the information below to help you decide which bin to use, then download the plans and build one.

Compost Food and Yard Waste Separately


Pests like ants, rats and raccoons are attracted to food scraps in outdoor bins.
Compost them separately to avoid any unwanted visitors. 

Wood Worm Bin for Food Waste


photo of compost bin planComposting your food scraps in a worm bin is a great way to keep them out of the landfill. The nutrient-rich worm castings make excellent fertilizer for your plants.

download arrowWorm Bin Plan
Plastic Bin for Food Waste

Wire Bins for Yard Waste


photo of compost bin planWire bins are the quickest and least expensive bins to construct. They can be used as holding and turning bins, or in combination with one of the larger bins as temporary storage.

download arrowWire Bins Plan

Three-Bin System for Yard Waste


photo of compost bin planThis three-bin system is designed to compost large amounts of yard waste in the shortest period of time. Compost should be ready to use in three to six months.

download arrowThree-Bin System Plan

Other Resources

Composting Brochure


An overview about how to get started with a composting at home.

Composting
Composting brochure cover

What to Feed Your Worms


Reminders about what to add to your worm bin, and what you should leave out.

Worm Bin Reminders
WhatGoesInBin_web

Red Worms


We recommend these local sources for red worms. They supply the worms used in our classes:
Dinkelman Worm Farm
47402 228th Ave SE
Enumclaw, WA 98022 | (253) 632-6184
Yelm Earthworm & Castings Farm
14742 Lawrence Lake Rd. SE
Yelm, WA 98597 | (877) 339-6767

Past Composting Classes

Take a Bite Out of Food Waste: Learn to Waste Less

Forty percent of food in the United States never gets eaten. Do you find yourself tossing spoiled food from your refrigerator more often than you mean to? Ever wonder how much you are really throwing away? Learn what’s happening in Pierce County to fight food waste and explore tools to help you reduce the amount of food you waste at home.

Watch video of class (April 30, 2020)

Composting: The Breakdown

Are you looking for new ideas to turn your food or garden waste into something useful? Get an overview of compost basics and learn about different methods, including Hügelkultur, Bokashi, trench, tumblers, and Interbay mulch.



Composting: The Breakdown

Are you looking for new ideas to turn your food or garden waste into something useful? Get an overview of compost basics and learn about different methods, including Hügelkultur, Bokashi, trench, tumblers, and Interbay mulch.

Composting: The Breakdown

Are you looking for new ideas to turn your food or garden waste into something useful? Get an overview of compost basics and learn about different methods, including Hügelkultur, Bokashi, trench, tumblers, and Interbay mulch.

Watch video of class (May 6, 2020)

Vermicomposting

Do you want the whole family to learn how to care for worms? This class is for all ages to learn basics for setting up, caring for, and troubleshooting worm bin composting. 

Watch video of class (May 16, 2020)

Backyard Compost Tumblers 101

We’ll dig into how to use manufactured compost tumblers. Do they really work? How hard are they to use? Learn troubleshooting techniques along with how to build healthy soil and how to balance carbon and nitrogen to really fire up your compost tumbler.

Watch video of class (May 27, 2020)