If you care about soil health, climate resilience, and building a greener Denver — listen up.
DUG is re-launching our beloved Community Composter Training Program with a fresh 13-session format, offering new opportunities for gardeners, educators, climate advocates, and everyday residents to grow their composting know-how.
Why This Relaunch Matters
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Soil health is climate resilience. As climate change intensifies, resilient soils — enriched with compost — become a frontline defense. Composting helps capture carbon, reduce landfill waste, conserve moisture, and restore ecosystems.
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Composting made accessible. This program isn’t just for master gardeners — it’s for anyone curious about sustainable living. No prior composting experience is needed.
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Community-driven climate action. With help from guest experts and local partners like Denver Water, Denver Department of Transportation & Infrastructure (DOTI), Denver Botanic Gardens, and Eco-Cycle, the training links composting practice to broader environmental justice and climate strategies.
What’s New: The 13-Session “Train-the-Trainer” Model
The updated program goes beyond basic composting — blending technical instruction, classroom learning, and hands-on experience to prepare participants to lead composting efforts in their communities.
Highlights include:
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Lessons on compost biology and microbiology, vermicomposting (worms!), and organic waste diversion.
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Multiple composting systems: backyard piles, in-garden setups, vermicomposting, and systems compatible with municipal compost-cart services.
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Design, construction, and maintenance of compost systems across different types of sites (gardens, community gardens, even larger shared green spaces).
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Training to facilitate and teach others — cultivating compost educators, not just composters. By the end, graduates are ready to mentor others — building a network of soil stewards across Denver.
Why This Program Is a Win for Denver
By training everyday residents to compost — and importantly, to teach composting — DUG is:
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Turning waste into renewal, building fertile soil while diverting organic waste from landfills.
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Strengthening community gardens, home gardens, and green spaces across the city.
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Cultivating a network of informed compost-educators who amplify environmental stewardship and climate resilience at the grassroots level.
If you’re eager to get involved — whether you have a small backyard, manage a garden, or work in education — this program offers the skills, community, and support to make composting part of your daily life.
Ready to Join?
Applications for the 2026 cohort are open starting December 1, 2025 and will be accepted on a rolling basis through January 15, 2026.
