Learn To Compost, Make A Worm Bin At Wildomar Workshop

RC Waste: The Riverside County Department of Waste Resources will host a free backyard composting class and Make Your Own Worm Bin workshop Saturday, Oct. 19, in Wildomar. These programs are offered to teach residents about the ease and advantages of organic material recycling and how composting helps preserve valuable space in county landfills.

The free backyard composting class and demonstration begins at 9 a.m. at the Mission Trail Library, 34303 Mission Trail. The Make Your Own Worm Bin workshop immediately follows at 10:30 a.m. The class and workshop will end by 1 p.m..

The composting class teaches how to recycle organic resources such as yard trimmings and fruit and vegetable waste instead of putting in the trash. The organic matter is mixed together in a bin, where literally millions of tiny microbes digest the material and turn it into a dark, crumbly, sweet-smelling soil conditioner. It can then be used to enrich the soil in gardens, lawns and house plants.

Residents will then learn how to further breakdown their food and yard waste with help from worms, through a process known as vermicomposting. Volunteer master composters will teach county residents how to set up, build, care for and harvest castings and worms.

Low-cost compost bins, subsidized by the department, also will be available for purchase by Riverside County residents (limit three per household). County residents can purchase compost bins by cash or Visa or MasterCard. Adult county residents interested in the workshop can purchase a worm bin kit for $26 or bring their own supplies. To see to a short list of class materials needed for the class visit http://www.rcwaste.org/vermicomposting. The materials will cost approximately $15. Tools for building a worm bin will be available for use at the workshop, along with enough worms to get your bin started. This workshop provides a hands-on opportunity to explore vermicomposting and take home an inexpensive working worm bin.

For more information, contact Riverside County Department of Waste Resources at (951) 486-3200 or visit: http://www.rcwaste.org/composting/how or send an email to WasteCompRecyc@rcwaste.org