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County of Sonoma

Compost

Backyard Compost Education Program:

Since 1993, the University of California Cooperative Extension (UCCE) has provided compost education for county residents with funding from the Sonoma County Waste Management Agency (SCWMA).  In the last twenty three years, the program has helped reduce local landfill inputs each year by a range of 1,136 to 18,804 tons per year.  This was done by making over 350,000 contacts with homeowners and backyard gardeners throughout the county.   

From 1994-2013, surveys were conducted to document home composting by trained workshop and educational event participants, which provided the benchmark for tonnage diversion.   According to those surveys we estimated that almost 64-70% of workshop contacts began or increased composting and reduced their input into the waste stream by 19.5-46.4 gallons per household per month.

On Farm Composting:

In June of 2016 UCCE coordinated a compost workshop for landscapers and small-scale farmers in cooperation with the SRJC Shone Farm, Sonoma Compost, the NRCS, Compost Coalition of Sonoma County and CAFF. It was funded by the Sonoma County Waste Management Agency. 

With Sonoma Compost closed, there has been an opportunity for small-scale compost facilities to fill the local demand for high quality compost.  Consequently, the workshop covered the benefits of compost, how to make compost, local experiences in making compost, and field demonstrations on chipping, mixing, turning, moisture control and screening compost.   

The following, presentations, documents, and links will help you understand the uses and benefits of making compost plus they will give you practical tips on the specific techniques for making compost.   

Presentations and information from June 2016 workshop:

C/N Calculator:

Compost Use Calculator (On-line)

Compost & Mulch Calculator by Saving Water Partnership of Seattle

Compost Regulations:

CalRecycle 

CalRecycle

Water Resources Control Board orders:

Emission Reductions Analysis For Revised Proposed New Rule 4566 - San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District

Microbiology:

Microbiological Testing by Soil Foodweb Laboratories

Cornell Waste Management Institute of Cornell University

1. Raw materials prior to mixing
1. Raw materials prior to mixing
2. Mixing raw materials with one-sided turner
2. Mixing raw materials with one-sided turner
3. Mixing partially composted materials with whole row turner
3. Mixing partially composted materials with whole row turner
4. SRJC Compost piles ready for field application
4. SRJC Compost piles ready for field application
5. Applied compost in vineyard (2 tons/acre)
5. Applied compost in vineyard (2 tons/acre)
6. Will Bakx- testing compost moisture content
6. Will Bakx- testing compost moisture content
7. Squeeze compost in hand to determine approximate moisture content
7. Squeeze compost in hand to determine approximate moisture content
8. Temperature gauge
8. Temperature gauge
9. Sonoma Compost showing ammonia rising from piles
9. Sonoma Compost showing ammonia rising from piles

Persistent Herbicide Links

Trade Journal:

BioCycle, the Organics Recycling Authority

Other

Sonoma Compost