WESTFIELD – David Dion, horticulture instructor at Westfield Technical Academy, will be teaching a free workshop on composting at the Grandmother’s Garden this Saturday at 11 a.m.
WTA horticulture instructor David Dion will lead a composting workshop this Saturday. (Photo by Amy Porter)
Dion, who serves on the board of directors of Grandmother’s Garden, will use a small compost pile in a bin built by the students to talk about how to make compost, how to maintain the pile, different types of bins to use, and the benefits of using compost. Dion said the talk is geared to backyard gardeners of all levels, beginners to intermediate, who are interested in building a home composting system.
Dion will also talk about the benefits of compost, including the living organisms that comprise a key part of the organic matter, like worms, spiders, fungus (mycelium) and microscopic insects.
“The true benefit is adding a complexity of nutrient availability to the plants,” Dion said.
Dion also said that compost is part of an up and coming science, which includes learning how plants communicate with one another and through other species as well.
“The truth is, scientists know less about the top inch of soil on earth than they do about space,” he said
Dion said the horticulture shop at WTA helps out at Grandmother’s Garden when it can, although volunteers maintain the garden. Recent projects there have included lowering the burning bush hedge and cutting out the invasive multiflora rose.
Currently, the shop is finishing up landscapes and patios around the community before the end of school. This past week, they planted a dogwood tree at Munger Hill Elementary and a crabapple at South Middle School.
The compost workshop, which Dion said will take 45 minutes to an hour, will be held Saturday at 11 a.m. rain or shine, moving into the Gazebo or shed in case of rain.
