Food Power Program
Compost Areas 1 & 2
Martha’s Community Farm has two compost areas. Our main compost pile is located in the Food Power Garden for easy access. Our secondary, longer-term compost area includes bulkier, harder-to-break-down items. It is located by the well-house.
Growing food well has a lot to do with having the right soil. Compost is an important element of gardening. It enriches the soil while helping retain moisture and suppress plant diseases and pests. It reduces the need for chemical fertilizers and encourages the production of beneficial bacteria and fungi that break down organic matter to create humus, a rich, nutrient-filled material.
Our compost areas enable the Farm to breakdown and reuse waste materials which become invaluable to the growing process.
More…
| Environment | Food | Community |
| Microorganisms eat the organic material in a compost pile and break it down into simpler parts. This produces nutrients like nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium. Compost can be invaluable in creating the right soil for plants to draw their required nutrients. | We rely on our compost areas to feed and maintain all our food growing areas on the farm. | Our main compost pile serves as an educational demonstration area for composting benefits, concepts and best practices. Our compost education programs allow participants to engage in their passion for microorganismal decomposition through hands-on instruction, in a workshop series or by supplying the pile with appropriate refuse to compost. |