8:00 a.m. Registration
8:30 a.m. Welcome, Introduction of Participants, Introduction to the Course
Dr. Neal D. Hallee, Waste Management Specialist (emeritus), UMCE
9:00 a.m. Introduction
to the Science and Biology of Composting
Dr.
Eric Sideman, Director of Technical Services, MOFGA
9:45 a.m. Composting
Methods & Systems
Mark
King, Environmental Specialist,
10:45 a.m. Making the Compost Links, Networking
Mark
Hutchinson, Extension Educator, UMCE
11:15 a.m. Compost
Equipment – Functions and Types of Equipment
Dr.
Neal D. Hallee, Waste Management Specialist (emeritus), UMCE
Robert
Kelly, P.E., President, Kelly Green Environmental Services
12:15 noon Lunch
1:00 p.m. Compost
Feedstocks – characteristics, types, potential problems, complimentary, C: N
Dr.
Bill Seekins, Agricultural Researcher, MDAF&RR
1:45 p.m. Compost
Feedstocks – Laboratory Exercise
Dr.
Bill Seekins, Agricultural Researcher, MDAF&RR
2:45 p.m. Bioaerosols
& Other Respiratory Issues
Mark
King, Environmental Specialist,
3:15 p.m. Field Trip Visit
- Gene Dube
5:00 p.m. Return to
TUESDAY
8:00 a.m. Composting
Site Selection and Management – Getting the Right Start
Selection,
development, requirements; Regulations and Operating Needs; Best Management Practices for odor, vector, leachate and
litter control and feedstock
contamination.
Keeping
neighbors involved and educated about activities.
Mark King, Environmental
Specialist,
9:30 a.m. Site Development Walk -Through at
Highmoor Farm Compost Facility
10:00 a.m. Break
10:15 a.m. Pile Management – monitoring/record
keeping, Aeration, Mixing, Moisture, Porosity, Density, Pile Size
Pile
Management Outdoor Exercise – pile sampling, temperature monitoring, and volume
measurement
Dr.
Bill Seekins, Agricultural Researcher, MDAF&RR
12:30 p.m. Lunch
12:45 p.m. Field Trips
–
–
Living Acres Farm – New
–
6:00 p.m. Return
to
WEDNESDAY
8:00 a.m. Troubleshooting the Compost Pile
Dr. Bill Seekins, Agricultural
Researcher, MDAF&RR
10:00 a.m. Break
10:15 a.m. Troubleshooting
Outdoor Activity
Dr. Bill Seekins, Agricultural
Researcher, MDAF&RR
11:00 a.m. Quality, Maturity and End Use
Will
Brinton, President, Woods End Research Laboratory
12:00 noon Lunch
1:00 p.m. Field
Trip Visits
- Hawk
Ridge Compost Facility
- Wes Kinney
(Knox Ridge
5:00 p.m. Return to
THURSDAY
8:00 a.m. Recipe
Development (classroom)
Reading
Feedstock Analysis – hands-on activity
Dr.
Bill Seekins,
Agricultural Researcher, MDAF&RR
9:45 a.m. Break
10:00 a.m. Recipe Development (classroom)
continued
Recipe
Development – hands-on outside activity
Dr.
Bill
Seekins, Agricultural Researcher, MDAF&RR
12:00 noon Lunch
1:00 p.m. Field
Trip Visits
–
– Highmoor Farm Compost Site
3:00 p.m. Recipe
Development – Completion of Exercise
4:00 p.m. Review
of Field Trip Visits
Dr.
Bill Seekins, Agricultural Researcher, MDAF&RR
5.00 p.m. Return to
FRIDAY
8:00 a.m. Solvita
Test Setup
–
Participants will conduct Solvita Test on Compost Sample
Dr.
Bill Seekins, Agricultural Researcher, MDAF&RR
8:30 a.m. Compost
Utilization in Agriculture
Mark
Hutchinson, Extension Educator, UMCE
9:15 a.m. Producing
for the Market, Consumer Education
Carlos
Quijano, Coast of Maine Organics, Inc.
10:15 a.m. Break
10:30 a.m. Compost Tea/Disease Suppression
Mark King, Environmental Specialist,
11:15 a.m. Laboratory Exercise – Solvita Maturity
Test
Dr.
Bill Seekins, Agricultural Researcher, MDAF&RR
11:45 a.m. Certification Exam, Course Evaluation
Dr.
Neal D. Hallee, Waste Management Specialist (emeritus), UMCE
12:30 p.m. Depart for Home!