2025 Extension Composter Course Pilot in Montgomery County, Maryland

Course Description

In March, the Montgomery County Extension Composter course – a hybrid training focused on best practices for food scrap composting at home and in the community – will be piloted in partnership with the county Master Gardener program. Developed by ILSR in collaboration with the University of Maryland Extension Master Gardener Program (UME), the Montgomery County Office of Agriculture (OAG), and Thomas Fazio of ECO City Farms, the Extension Composter course is open to anyone interested in supporting composting initiatives in their communities. 

Register for the Course

With both virtual and in-person components, the Extension Composter course will cover the importance of and science behind composting, and the art of how to effectively compost food scraps in home and community settings. Community-based composting can take place at gardens, farms, and other venues, and engages members of that community in the process. 

The goal of the 2025 Montgomery County Extension Composter course is to create a pool of trained individuals that can: 

• Support the Composting Education Hub at the Derwood Demonstration Garden and other composting initiatives, 
• Share their composting know-how with the public, and 
• Help to advance composting in Montgomery County. 

The course also aims to serve as a model for other counties in Maryland and beyond.

Dates and Details: In-Person Training

The in-person portion of the Extension Composter course will take place from 10 am – 1 pm on March 8, 15, and 22 at the Agricultural History Farm Park Activities Center (18410 Muncaster Rd, Derwood, MD 20855) and the nearby Composting Education Hub. Topics will include:

• Discussion of the differences and similarities between home and community composting
• Hands-on experience building and managing a compost pile with food scraps
• A tour of and practice using the CEH’s newly constructed solar-powered aerated static pile 3-bin system

Course Registration

Register for the 2025 Montgomery County Extension Compost course pilot. Seats are limited and will be filled on a first-come basis.

Completion of ILSR’s Community Composting 101 self-paced online training is the first part of the Extension Composter course and a prerequisite for the in-person training. Learn more about CC101 and sign up (this is a separate enrollment form from the Extension Composter course above). CC101 has an enrollment fee of $100, but scholarships can be requested in the intake form. 

Completion of ILSR’s Community Composting 101 self-paced online training is the first part of the Extension Composter course and a prerequisite for the in-person training.

Learn more about CC101 and sign up

Note: CC101 is a separate enrollment form from the Extension Composter course above). CC101 has an enrollment fee of $100, but scholarships can be requested in the intake form.

Course Requirements

Participants of the Montgomery County Extension Composter course are expected to:

1. Complete a pre-course knowledge check. A short knowledge check is incorporated into the registration form to assess the baseline knowledge of the participant. The score will have no bearing on course participation.
2. Pass ILSR’s Community Composting 101 Online Certificate Course. Participants must complete the course and email their CC101 certificate of completion to Cally Neely ([email protected]) by Monday, March 3, 2025. 
3. Meet attendance requirements. Participants must attend all 3 in-person sessions (see schedule below). Attendance is expected.
4. Complete a post-course knowledge check. Participants will repeat the knowledge check after the course to assess knowledge gained. A grade of 75% or more must be earned to receive a certificate of completion.

Master Gardener Extension Composter Pin

Master Gardeners who complete the above requirements plus volunteer 12 hours of compost-related service hours by the end of 2025 will be eligible to receive a Master Gardener Extension Composter pin. At least 9 of these hours must be spent volunteering at the Derwood Demonstration Garden’s Composting Education Hub.