Classes & Workshops

The Compost Education Program offers classes and workshops for individuals throughout the year to help you succeed at composting at your home or apartment.  See the descriptions below, and visit our Events page for access to all CCE-Tompkins classes and events.

Fall Outdoor Composting Class

Thursday, October 17, 5:30 - 7:00 pm

CCETC, 615 Willow Ave, Ithaca

Outdoor composting skills can help you to compost large amounts of leaves, garden debris, food scraps and more. The compost you make will improve your soil and your garden will thrive. Class topics include compost basics,options for outdoor composting, how to manage and troubleshoot, how and when to harvest, and the many ways to use finished compost. A portion of this class will be held OUTDOORS in the compost demo site at CCE-Tompkins. Please dress appropriately. Class held rain or shine. Class fee $5 per household.

Contact Adam Michaelides at 607-272-2292 or acm1@cornell.edu to express interest or if you have any questions.

Fall Worm Composting Class

Saturday, October 26, 10:00am - 12:30pm

  CCETC, 615 Willow Ave, Ithaca

Learn how worms can make fast, rich compost for your garden while disposing of your food scraps. Take home the bin, a starter population of worms, and the knowledge to tend to your new pets. Class fee is $12 per household. Includes a starter bin and worms to take home. Space is limited. Register online or call CCE-Tompkins during businesses hours (607) 272-2292

Contact Adam Michaelides at 607-272-2292 or acm1@cornell.edu to express interest or if you have any questions.

Bokashi Composting Class

Saturday, November 16, 10:00am - 12:00pm

CCETC, 615 Willow Ave, Ithaca

This Japanese composting technique involves natural fermentation and offers a way for people to manage food scraps. The liquid produced can be used to water houseplants while the food scraps are pre-digested, and can then be composted or buried in the soil to finish. Join local bokashi enthusiasts to learn about the practice. Included with the $15 per household class fee is a bokashi starter kit to take home. Space is limited. Register online or call CCE-Tompkins during businesses hours (607) 272-2292

Contact Adam Michaelides at 607-272-2292 or acm1@cornell.edu to express interest or if you have any questions.

Virtual Compost Fair and 4H Duck Race

Held online on Sun, Sept 13, 2020; recording available!

Description: Continuing our long-standing partnership with the 4-H Duck Race, we broadcasted ~20 minutes of family-oriented and educational programming.

Our compost programming features four ~5 min segments:

• Rot N Roll, Tompkins County’s best compost cover band performing their #1 hit, “Rot Me Mamma”
• New Master Composter (MC) Daniel Baruch teaching about outdoor composting basics at the CCETC Demo site
• New MC Romina Capelli and her 3 awesome children showing off their home worm composting bin
• Adam Michaelides, Compost Educator, telling folks where they can learn more, and giving away 2 fabulous compost prizes

Feel free to tune into our 2020 Virtual Compost Fair anytime! https://youtu.be/EcuJnYkSM8o?t=1343

Other Compost Classes and Workshops

• Compost Learning Collaborative Training
• Ask a Master Composter
• Master Composter Training
• Spring Worm Composting Class

Last updated September 26, 2024