Fertile Earth has announced a new training opportunity for farmers and agricultural teams, including an Agricultural Compost Production One-Day Short Course May 22, and an optional half-day hands-on training the following day.
The workshop is designed to help growers improve soil health, reduce fertilizer dependency, strengthen on-farm resilience, and better manage organic waste streams through composting and vermicomposting practices, says Fertile Earth CEO Dr. Lanette Sobel.
“With the rising cost of petroleum, the cost of fertilizers is rising, and along with it, food prices,” she says. “At the same time, Miami-Dade County is experiencing a waste management crisis, and over 50 percent of our waste stream is organic material that could be composted and transformed into non-synthetic fertilizers.”
The course will combine classroom instruction, field demonstrations and practical applications tailored to South Florida agricultural conditions. Leaders include Dr. Sobel, Dr. Monica Ozores-Hampton and Dr. Daphne K. Sugino Souffront of FIU, who will lead the vermicomposting component in collaboration with Lion Farms.
Day 1: Agricultural Compost Production One-Day Short Course
- Date: Fri., May 22, 8:30am-4:30pm
- Location: Lucy’s Farm: 15802 SW 200th St.
- Cost: $300 for the first participant from each farm; $190 for each additional participant from the same farm
- Includes: Coffee, water, light breakfast and lunch
Day 2: Optional Half-Day Hands-On Training
- Date: Sat., May 23, 9am – 1pm
- Starting Location: Fertile Earth Worm Farm — 15150 SW 264 St.,
- Concluding Visit: Lion Farms — 14950 SW 212th St.
- Cost: $150 for the first participant from each farm; $90 for each additional participant from the same farm
- Includes: Coffee, water and light snacks
Registration
For full course details, schedule information and ticket registration, visit the Agricultural Compost Production Workshop page.
