Trash to Treasure: Backyard Composting 101

Your kitchen scraps are worth more than you think. Learn to turn them into the best soil on your block!

NHG proudly welcomes back teacher Iman Jones for another special, hands-on class.

NEW! About a third of what goes in your trash could be feeding your garden instead! In this hands-on workshop, you will learn how compost actually works: the microbes, the fungi, the heat, and the ratio of browns to greens that keeps a pile healthy. You will diagnose real compost bins, mix your own starter batch, and leave with a plan that fits your space, whether that is a backyard, a balcony, or a shared yard. No experience needed; just curiosity and a willingness to get your hands a little dirty!

What You'll Do:

• Diagnose mystery compost bins by sight, smell, and touch.
• Mix your own starter batch using the browns to greens ratio.
• Learn the squeeze test for moisture.
• Compare bin styles for small and large spaces.
• Leave with your batch, a troubleshooting card, and a bin setup guide.

What to Bring:

Bring up to one gallon-sized zip bag of compostable scraps from home (optional). Fruit and vegetable peels, coffee grounds, tea bags, eggshells, dry leaves, and grass clippings all work. Please leave out meat, dairy, oily foods, and anything that already smells. "When in doubt, leave it out." Wear clothes you do not mind getting dirty.

$10. All other materials provided. Come and learn the valuable art of composting with us!

NOTE: This event is indoors in our comfortable Classroom, and is best for adults. Before the event, you are invited to drop by our Ralph & Rose Cafe next door for a coffee, tea, or treat before the event, and shop with us afterward.

Iman Jones: As the leader of Victory Gardens, Iman designs and leads turnkey garden installations, workshops, coaching sessions, and experiences created to reconnect people to the living world. She built Victory Gardens Dallas in 2020 to help city dwellers find their footing in the natural world. A Master Gardener with a BS in Biology and 9 years in STEM education, Iman has guided 400+ gardens into existence across DFW, and counting.

Victory Gardens: Edible garden design, installation, and education in DFW. Custom raised beds, one-on-one consulting, and hands-on workshops for homes, schools, businesses, and nonprofits. Based in DFW and available remotely.