Compost

Two students, Isaac Page and Afton Hauer, are hard at work collecting compost in the compost cruiser!

Compost is organic matter that can be used to fertilize soil. At St. Mary’s College of Maryland, our composting program includes a variety of food scraps and waste that would otherwise be thrown in the trash.

White compost buckets are located in the community kitchens of Lewis Quad, Waring Commons, and traditional dormitories. Furthermore, each townhouse unit on the Greens and Crescents has its own composting bin.

Each week, sustainability staff and volunteers collect the compost and take it to the Campus Farm, where it is tilled and processed. The composting process takes 6-8 months, and all of the compost is used as nutrient-rich soil for the farm.

New this semester: compost is now being collected from the Great Room! Be sure to sort your food properly to prevent contamination. For easy reference, download our Quick Guide to Composting!

What can I compost image differentiating between what can and cannot be accepted.

At this time, we are unable to accept meat, dairy, and fish because our compost dump area is open to the elements and these animal bioproducts attract various pests to the farm. Oil and sauce create a water-resistant layer around the composted material slowing its breakdown substantially.

Here’s the Process!

1. The Green Layer
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Kitchen waste and organic scraps are brought over to the Kate Chandler Campus Community Farm by the Office of Sustainability interns, and volunteers. This is called the "green" layer.
2. The Brown Layer
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In addition to collecting the "green" layer, workers and volunteers at the Farm collect the "brown" layer, which is essentially old branches and brush.
3. Alternating green and brown layers

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After collecting enough "green" and "brown", the compost piles are put together! We alternate "brown" and "green" layers :~)
4. Completed Compost
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Following the creation of these compost boxes, we wait until nature takes its course. During this process, the compost condenses and naturally forms soil.
5. Nutrient Rich Soil!
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Once the composting process is complete, the Farm is left with an abundant nutrient-rich rich soil used to fertilize garden plots and flower beds.

workers and volunteers at the Farm collect the "brown" layer, which is essentially old branches and brush

After collecting enough "green" and "brown", the compost piles are put together! We alternate "brown" and "green" layers

Compost condenses and naturally forms soil

A person digging through the nutrient rich soil made by the compost

Information provided by Anna Sawyer, A Farm Fellow

BE A VOLUNTEER!

We are constantly looking for volunteers to help us with weekly collection. For more information, email sustainability@smcm.edu