The Denver Master Composter Training Program is a ten-session training course in partnership with Denver’s Office of Climate Action, Sustainability & Resiliency (CASR) that prepares individuals to be Master Composters and share their newly acquired knowledge with others in the community.

Through hands-on sessions, Master Composter participants learn about a broad range of compost and recycling topics, including the science behind the composting process, resource conservation, and the effective use of recycled household materials in gardens and home landscapes.

In addition to 40 hours of in-depth compost training, each Master Composter logs 40 hours of self-paced volunteer outreach over the course of one season. These outreach hours give Master Composter volunteers the chance to give back to the community, and include opportunities such as teaching “Learn to Compost” seminars at the Gove Community Garden Compost Demonstration Site and participating in relevant outreach events at community gardens, schools and farmers’ markets.

Training classes are held at Denver Urban Gardens’ headquarters at The Horse Barn, located at 1031 33rd Street in Denver. Other training sessions are held at the Gove Community Garden Compost Demonstration site, located near 14^th Ave. and Colorado Blvd. Outreach events and give-back hours are located throughout metro Denver and often occur on evenings and weekends. Master Composters must provide their own transportation to outreach events.

The cost for the entire program is $75.00.

The course involves extensive education in the process of backyard composting, including compost biology and microbiology, vermicomposting, composting processes and procedures (including bin options), field trips, guest lectures, extensive ‘hands-on’ set-up of our city-wide compost demonstration site plus required monthly potlucks and 40 hours of outreach.

To apply for the program, please email Senior Education Specialist Judy Elliott at judy@dug.org to set up a time to come to the office and interview.