Master Composter Class
Master Composter Certification Class
Become a certified master composter in Washtenaw County! Learn all about composting - from backyard composting, vermiculture (worms!), compost tea, and soils. Take a guided, technical tour of the Ann Arbor Municipal compost operation and receive a comprehensive binder of class and composting reference materials. A take home quiz is worked on collaboratively. Michigan Master Composter certification is available for students who pass the take-home exam and complete at least 10 volunteer hours in the community.
The Master Composter Certification class is collaboratively organized by Project Grow, Washtenaw County and the Ann Arbor Public Schools (AAPS) Recreation and Education Program. Not sure if the class is right for you? View the 2019 class flyer
2021 Class Information
Due to Covid-19, no Washtenaw County in-person Michigan Master Composter certification classes will be offered in 2021. The Master Composter instructors created the following list of resources for introductory and advanced composting education (some fees may apply for select resources).
Other Classes and Instruction Opportunities
- Project Grow Community Gardens: classes are periodically offered for in-person and online learning experiences. Check for upcoming sessions.
- MSU Extension: Beth Clawson, Extension Educator, is the editor of the second edition of the Michigan Master Composter Certification Manual and offered zoom-only compost classes in 2020. She may repeat these zoom classes along with some limited in-person activities conducted outside Washtenaw County. Email [email protected] for more information.
- Southeastern Oakland County Water Authority: Lillian Dean is offering zoom classes and some hands-on composting demonstrations in the SOCWA gardens in Royal Oak. Find more information on the SOCWA website.
- Michigan State University Coop Extension posts composting classes and videos:https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/compost_your_yard_waste
- Washtenaw County Master Rain Gardener online training and certification program. Free. https://www.washtenaw.org/675/Master-Rain-Gardener-Class
Select Videos
- Lisa Perschke’s 5-gallon bucket compost bin video from the Ann Arbor Summer Festival workshop 2020 (20 minutes).
- Kiss the Ground - inspiring background to the vital roles of compost and microorganisms through the lens of regenerative agriculture.
- The Soil Story by Kiss the Ground (4 minutes) Carbon sequestration explained with animation
- The Compost Story narrated by Rosario Dawson and friends (~7 minutes)
- The Soil Story with Detroit urban farmer. Pashon Murray of Detroit Dirt narrates this video about soil and its potential to reverse climate change. (3 minutes)
- List of Regenerative Agriculture courses, workshops, and webinars
- Soils & the World Beneath Our Feet - Online Course - FutureLearn Class from Kiss the Ground partner, 6 sessions available from Lancaster University.
- Living Soil Documentary film, free 1 hour documentary.
- US Composting Council backyard compost and vermiculture educational resources and links