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March 27, 2025
On Saturday 15th March an enthusiastic group of 19 composting enthusiasts, both experienced and novice, from communities across South Hams joined Dr Compost, Nicky Scott, and SusSH compost mentor, Melissa Harvey at the Sustainable South Brent (SSB) community composting site, for an afternoon masterclass on home composting. The workshop was based around the fabulous new home composting demonstration, which displays several different methods of composting food and garden residues, as well as a bokashi system and a small-scale biochar stove, which can be used to turn dry woody waste into useful compost and soil amendment. The group were generously hosted by SSB community composter, Robin Toogood, who kept the biochar stove going and the kettles hot.
The session started by hearing everyone's specific compost questions. These ranged from how to compost diseased plant material and why worms cluster around the top of composters, through to the classic questions about how to remedy smelly anaerobic compost and how to compost kitchen scraps without attracting rodents.
The group then discussed the different composting systems on display, which include a mini-tumbler, a hot bin, a green cone and a bokashi system, which are all excellent ways of composting kitchen scraps hygienically. Nicky shared his simple but effective compost 'recipe' of air and water, introducing participants to the mixture of wet, nitrogen-rich materials and dry, carbon-rich materials which are needed for lively and sweet smelling composting.
Hot water for tea was brewed on the mini biochar stove, and the group discussed biochar as a soil amendment, which can benefit soil life and also store carbon in the soil, and highlighted the importance of 'charging' biochar with nutrients, either with liquid feeds or by layering into compost before introducing it to the soil.
Participants in the day valued the opportunity to troubleshoot their own composting systems, see other possible systems in use, and learn about some less familiar practices such as bokashi and biochar running or developing composting projects and described how they were left with new ideas and enthusiasm.
The SSB community composting site takes local garden waste, and is a great resource to visit for any other groups interested in setting up a community composting project. Find out opening times on their website.
Sustainable South Hams compost mentors Ben, Mel and Nicky have been working with household, community and street composters in various parts of South Hams. If you would like to have a talk on composting, or to set up a composting project, in your street or community then please get in touch and we can offer free advice to get you started.
The next composting date for your diary is;
· Community Composting Gathering & Masterclass – South Brent, weekend 26th/27th April. Book your space here.