Professional Development

Boston Nature Center and Wildlife Sanctuary, Mattapan

Do you want to waste less and live more sustainably? Join the Boston Compost Certificate Program, partnering with the City of Boston to learn the how’s and why’s of composting in Boston. This four-module training series is designed to help you learn about the impact of food waste on the environment and its connection to climate change. Each module will include practical knowledge, hands-on activities, and guest speakers. This series will begin with a hands-on introduction to soil science climate change at the Boston Nature Center, followed by a discussion led by the management team from Save That Stufff on how large scale composting can help mitigate the effects of climate change. Participants will experience hands-on composting and gardening techniques at the Urban Farming Institute and with the Boston Food Forest Coalition at the Boston Nature Center. The program will conclude with a celebration ceremony at Mass Audubon’s Boston Nature Center.

This program is open only to Boston residents. Four hours of volunteer time is required prior to completion of the course.

Soil Science

• Location: Boston Nature Center
• Guest Speaker: Mass Audubon Teacher/Naturalist Talibah Kennedy
• Explore the living and non-living components of healthy soil and learn about the important role soil plays as a carbon sink in the fight against climate change.

Large Scale Compost

• Location: Boston Nature Center
• Guest Speaker: Save That Stuff Management Team
• Discuss large scale composting and its challenges and successes. Learn how it can be used to mitigate the effects of climate change

Composting 101

• Location: Urban Farming Institute
• Guest Speakers: Urban Farming Institute Farm Staff
• Learn the benefits of different types of composting systems including aerated windrows, aerated static, and in-vessel, and how to set composts suitable for apartments, houses, community gardens, and farms.

Garden Composting

• Location: Boston Nature Center
• Guest Speaker: Boston Food Forest Coalition Food Forest Builder Shannon Borucke and the BNC Stewardship Team
• Create a Hugelkultur bed and learn how to use your compost to enrich your flower or vegetable garden.

Materials and tools will be provided for participants as well as opportunities to support community composting projects through optional volunteer events. Be the first to take part in the city’s Food Waste Certificate Program and become a compost champion for the City of Boston. Every participant will receive a special gift bag to get started on their compost journey!