On November 11th, 2023 Daily Acts hosted a Compost Presentation in partnership with Ceres Community Project. The program was called “Food Scraps for the Future” and took place at the Ceres Garden in Sebastopol on a bright and quite warm morning.

Participants filtered into the garden signing in, mingling, and helping themselves to coffee and sweet treats, before the presentation began. Daniel Sonnenberg, of the Occidental Arts and Ecology Center, was the morning featured presenter and expert composter. The more than 35 participants seated themselves on the benches positioned in a semi-circle around Daniel. Daniel spoke of the amazing properties of compost and how to create and maintain a healthy vermicompost bin.

Participants then took a tour of the garden lead by Sara McCamant, Ceres Project Youth and Garden Programs Manager. Attendees saw their compost piles and vermicompost bins, along with all the elements of the site including rainwater harvesting systems and the crops being grown.

Participants returned to the center to build their own vermicompost bins. Some folks brought their own plastic bins and totes to turn into a compost bin. Daily Acts staff helped folks drill air holes into the containers, and then they visited Daniel to receive a handful of worms to help get their bins started.

Folks left with lots of enthusiasm in starting their composting journey.

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This event was made possible through a county-funded grant project focused on increasing carbon sequestration through compost application and education. This work is to assist with the goals of SB1383 and improve soil health. Through this grant, during 2023, Daily Acts will host a series of educational events on compost throughout the county; one for each of the 5 Sonoma County districts.