By Amjad Ahmad
A high demand for applied science was very apparent June 30, and again July 29, as Oʻahu farmers and Master Gardeners arrived at CTAHR’s Urban Garden Center for workshops on compost quality.
Extension agent Josh Silva and I are excited to resume hosting outdoor events at UGC, which were very popular with stakeholders prior to Covid. Special talks and demonstrations were provided by Koon-Hui Wang of the Dept. of Plant and Environmental Protection Sciences, Sustainable Pest-Management Specialist Kaili Kosaka, the Coconut Rhinoceros Beetle (CRB) Response Team, and Marvin Min of Hawaiian Earth Products.
This was a great opportunity to learn about compost, compost quality, compost processing, composting methods, vermicomposting with red worms, compost management for CRB prevention, carbon-to-nitrogen (C:N) ratios, and related topics. Our guests were able to walk through the UGC grounds – which staff and volunteers have done a spectacular job in renovating – including the new raised-bed systems planted with locally-produced compost from Hawaiian Earth Products. Mahalo HEP!
Participants were very impressed by the presentations and topics covered. In fact, their warm responses prompted us to hold a second workshop for our volunteers and Master Gardeners.
“This was a great and beneficial event. All speakers did a very good job. Mahalo for the free compost samples” and “Please keep providing us with this type of workshops” are just a few of the positive comments we received.
Our goal is to increase awareness of the quality and availability of locally produced compost. We want to improve understanding of composting as a great method of waste management, what can be expected from compost application, how to increase the benefits from compost application, how to improve compost quality, and which compost quality parameters to look for.
Mahalo to everyone who helped make these workshops successful, and we look forward to hosting another one soon.