Composting workshop offered at organic farm

Traditional skills such as composting and caring for chickens are increasingly popular with city and suburban residents. The Prairie Crossing Learning Farm in Grayslake has been teaching about these topics for many years through farm-based educational programs for youth, and offers a series of Suburban Homesteading workshops to share this expertise with adult participants.

The “Small Scale Composting” workshop is 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday, Oct. 5, at the Prairie Crossing Farm. The $30 workshop is for adults and requires advance registration at www.prairiecrossing.com/farm/learning.php. The Prairie Crossing Learning Farm is at 32400 N. Harris Road in Grayslake, inside the Prairie Crossing conservation development.

Participants will explore a variety of composting techniques, including worm composting, that they can do at home. Each participant will bring home a resource handout on composting, and a sample of finished worm compost. No prior experience is necessary, only an interest in learning.

Eric Carlberg, Prairie Crossing Learning Farm manager and educator, wants more people to compost and to understand the science behind the process. He teaches students at the Montessori School of Lake Forest Adolescent Program about composting, and area youth in the Learning Farm’s Prairie Farm Corps youth farming and development program.

“Many people throw their fruit and vegetable scraps in the garbage or garbage disposal without realizing they’re throwing away something that could be beneficial for their gardens and houseplants. Composting diverts food scraps, lawn clippings, etc. from the waste stream and converts it into a valuable soil amendment with nutrients and microbes that help plants grow. Some people are intimidated by composting, but this workshop will show people that it is easy and beneficial.”

Future Suburban Homesteading workshops include “Backyard Chickens” on Saturday, Oct. 26, and “Homemade Yogurt and Granola” on Saturday, Nov. 16. Workshop costs range from $30 to $40, and advance registration is required. The mission of the Prairie Crossing Learning Farm is to educate and inspire people to value healthy food, land and community through experiences on the farm. Information about programs is at www.prairiecrossing.com/farm/learning.php.