Amberose Kelley, MCR Coordinator
Well, it seems that spring is just around the corner. I'm kicking off the season with a composting workshop for our Whatcom Co. gardening fellows all the way over in Point Roberts. It will be nice to become better acquainted with that community.The deadline for 2016's Master Composter Recycler application has been extended until February 11. I cannot wait to get started with this course - we have some wonderful speakers, field trips, and projects lined up. As the program is still developing, I really encourage 2015 MCRs to shadow upcoming classes. Pick up on some new material, refresh the old. Pat Watkins will be my assistant this year and we have a promising slew of interns; I predict a raucous adventure in decomposition. Plus, check out this awesome preview of course material:
Course Schedule
| SECTION | DATE | TIME | SUBJECT | INSTRUCTOR | LOCATION |
Week One: Big Pictures
| Thursday Feb 18 | 5 - 7 PM | Welcome to WSUE, Science of Decomposition | Andy Bary, WSU | Extension Office |
Saturday Feb 20
| 10 AM - 11 AM | Textile Waste | Duane Jager | Ragfinery | |
| 11 AM - 1 PM | Home Waste Audit I, overview of assignments | Amber Kelley | Extension Office | ||
| HOME STUDY | Home waste audit I, readings | ||||
Week Two: Waste in Our Community
| Thursday Feb 25 | 5 - 7 PM | Waste in Whatcom County | Mark Peterson, Sustainable Connections Rodd Pemble, SSC. | Extension Office |
Saturday Feb 27
| 10 AM - 12 PM | Community Garden Tour | Beth Chisholm, WSU | Various | |
| Noon- 2 PM | Waste Audit Results, Waste Prevention Techniques | Amber Kelley | Extension Office | ||
| HOME STUDY | Begin home compost system selection, readings | ||||
Week Three: Home Management Techniques
| Thursday March 10 | 5 - 7 PM | Home Composting | Amber Kelley | Extension Office |
Saturday March 12
| 10 AM - Noon | Green Earth Technology | Stephanie Harvey | GET Facility | |
| Noon - 2 PM | Compost Workshop I | Amber Kelley | Extension Office | ||
| Saturday March 19 | 10 AM - Noon | Curbside & Special Recycling | Marty Kuljis, Jr. | Northwest Recycling | |
| HOME STUDY | Select and assemble home compost system, readings | ||||
Composting for the Environment: Soils & Toxics
| Thursday March 24 | 5 PM - 7 PM | Soil Science | Chris Benedict, WSU | Extension Office |
Saturday March 26
| 10 AM - Noon | Green Burial | Brian Flowers | Greenacres Memorial Park | |
| Noon - 2 PM | Compost Workshop II | Amber Kelley | Extension Office | ||
| Saturday April 2 | 8 AM - Noon | DOT Facility, Rain Garden Tour | Lee First, Sustainable Connections | DOT Facility, Downtown Bellingham | |
| HOME STUDY | Home waste audit II, readings | ||||
I intended to design this year's course at a slow and easygoing pace, but somehow managed to jam pack the schedule instead. In fact, there are more places I'd like to visit; the Bellingham Food Bank, Sanitary Services Co., MCR Rebekah Snodgrass's incredible sustainable living setup- to name a few. If you have any ideas, please pipe up in the comments, and I will schedule auxiliary field trips for later in the spring.
Best,
Amber