Master Composters are community volunteers who promote food & garden waste prevention and encourage people to compost at home. All of this saves money while improving our environment. The Stop Food Waste Campaign are looking for 40 dedicated volunteers to participate in the next Master Composter Training course which will be held at the Fettercairn Community Centre in Tallaght. International home composting expert, Craig Benton, known as Doctor Compost, will lead an action packed and exciting hands-on training programme over five evening workshops and three weekend field days.
After the training, volunteers are expected to contribute at least 30 hours of time within the following year to work within your community to promote the messages of the programme.
5 Wednesdays and 3 Saturdays from 12 June 2013 | Fettercairn Community Centre, Tallaght | €FREE
Email your Expression of Interest before the 31 May 2013 application deadline to mastercomposterireland@gmail.com
EVENING 1: 7pm – 9.30pm, Wed June 12th
- Introductions, review training agenda and schedule, and goal setting
- Food waste: what’s the big deal? Eco-Eye #6 with Duncan Stewart
- Garden waste prevention tips and grasscycling presentation and discussion
EVENING 2: 7pm – 9.30pm, Wed June 19th
- What’s in our food waste? Savvy shopping
- Biology of composting presentation and discussion
- Garden material composting (mulching, holding units, turning systems) presentation and troubleshooting discussion
- Demonstration sites: overview and health & safety briefing
FIELD DAY 1: 10am – 4pm, Sat June 22nd
- Build a demonstration site with food and garden composting systems at the Fettercairn Community Centre
- Hands on workshop to learn how to start each of the system installed
EVENING 3: 7pm – 9.30pm, Wed June 26th
- Food waste prevention: storage and cooking
- Food composting techniques (burial, food digesters, vermicomposting and composting with garden materials) presentation and troubleshooting discussion
- Benefits of using compost/mulch and how to use compost around the home
EVENING 4: 7pm – 9.30pm, Wed July 3rd
- Food waste prevention: serving and reuse
- Community outreach possibilities presentation and brainstorm
- Promoting our events and activities presentation and brainstorm
- Developing individual and group plans
FIELD DAY 2: 10am-4pm, Sat July 6th
- Troubleshooting composting piles and choosing the right system
- Grand opening of site and presentation of Master Composter certificates
- Open house to mingle with neighbours and friends
EVENING 5: 7pm – 9:30pm, Wed July 10th
- Food waste prevention: did you reduce your food waste and shopping bills?
- Green Home Programme introduction
- Finalising plans for working within your community
FIELD DAY 3: 10am-4pm, Saturday in August
From this training you will learn how to prevent garden and food waste and how to compost using at least six different composting systems. As a part of the training, we will build a home composting demonstration site that can be used to show people the various methods of composting and how to use compost around the garden.
Master Composter Volunteer Training Programme to be held at the Fettercairn Community Centre in Tallaght (on Luas Line)
WHAT’S EXPECTED IN RETURN?
After the training, volunteers are expected to contribute at least 30 hours of time within the following year to work within your community to promote the messages of the programme. We’ll make this easy for you! At the end of the training, volunteers will create their own outreach plan working individually or with other volunteers to get the word out to others. In other words, Master Composters can choose what kind of outreach they will do. They can work with school children, within a neighbourhood allotment or church, or be available to support the programme’s participation in community events, fairs or festivals. It’s all good fun. One of the benefits of the programme is the opportunity to meet like-minded people and have fun making a difference in your community. You will feel good as you help people save money and do the right thing for our environment.
Source: Cultivate – Master Composter
