What is the Master Composter Volunteer Program?
Green Action Centre’s Master Composter Volunteer Program is a program that will give you the confidence to become an effective compost ambassador to educate others on the value of composting. The first step to becoming a certified Master Composter is taking our hands-on train-the-trainer composting course
that is usually offered yearly in Winnipeg and occasionally in other Manitoban towns and cities. To complete the certification process, you are required to complete 30 hours of composting related volunteer activities in the community within a two-year period. Volunteer time is gained by various activities such as helping your friends, family, and neighbours start composting, setting up composting programs at a workplace or school, building community compost bins, staffing our display at public events, delivering composting presentations and other activities that promote composting to residents, businesses, schools, and other community groups. As a volunteer you are encouraged to seek out opportunities yourself. Green Action Centre occasionally provides volunteer opportunities to help you complete your hours. Our volunteer activities involve participating in various highly frequented events such as Gardening Saturday and the Home and Garden Show.
This program is an excellent opportunity to meet and network with other like-minded people. By becoming a Master Composter, you join a growing community of earth conscious individuals, people just like you!
As a member of the Master Composter Network we will provide you with updates and composting related information by e-mail and through our e-newsletters. Further, special invites for tours and events are offered to Master Composters throughout the year.
Why be a Master Composter Volunteer?
Being a Master Composter enables you to:
- give back to your community
- spread the word on the benefits of composting
- educate others to reduce waste and help the environment
- meet and network with other like-minded people
- gain valuable work experience
- learn composting skills
- improve public speaking ability (if you’re up for it!)
- participate in exciting events and tours
Who Can Apply?
All Manitoba residents, 18 years and older, interested in composting and sharing their knowledge with others can apply. Beginners are welcome!
Course Content
As a course participant you will learn about composting through various activities, lectures, tours, discussion groups, and videos. Throughout the course, you will gain knowledge on the details of composting including sessions on soil health, compost maturity, biology of the compost pile and vermicomposting activities to name a few.
This 18-hour course will cover the following topics that are delivered by lecture-style format but also through hands-on activity, group discussions, videos and a community garden tour. Our goal is to provide content that is understandable for those who do not have a scientific background and have no prior knowledge on composting. You will also receive a manual that has in-depth composting information. Topics include:
- Backyard composting
- Vermicomposting
- Compost organisms
- Soil health
- Compost maturity
- Community gardens
- Benefits and barriers of composting
- Volunteer expectations
Expectations and Commitment
Master Composter participants are expected to attend all of the course sessions, set-up and operate a backyard compost or a vermicompost at home or at work, and encourage and show others how to do the same. Master Composters must also complete 30 hours of volunteer time to this program in Manitoba within the next two years after completing the course. When working in the community, Master Composters acts as ambassadors for the Green Action Centre.
Cost
Green Action Centre strives to provide assistance and guidance to anyone in the community that wants to start composting. We are a registered charity that depends on grants and donations. To help cover our costs, there is a fee of $100 to attend the course. If you cannot afford the fee, please contact us to discuss alternative arrangements. Once the participant has completed their 30 hours of volunteer work, they can choose to have $50 refunded or choose to donate it to Green Action Centre for future composting awareness activities.
How Do I Apply?
If you would like to be notified of our next course, please fill out our on-line Master Composter Volunteer Program notification form.
Other Training Opportunities
While you wait for the next Master Composter course, we encourage you to browse our website and other resources to learn more about composting. Contact us as below anytime with your big, little, urgent, or crazy composting questions (we pretty much guarantee you we’ve heard it before, whether basic or weird and wonderful). If you’re more of an in-person learner, we do regularly offer public talks on both backyard and vermicomposting. Check them out here, or watch our Events page! You can also sign up for notifications about when we will be offering the next set of presentations.
Questions?
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