Spread the word about composting!
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Solana Center for Environmental Innovation
137 N. El Camino Real
Encinitas, CA 92024
(760) 436-7986
www.solanacenter.org
Visit the Solana Composter Blog!
Become a Solana Center Volunteer!
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Upcoming
Workshops
All workshops are FREE
and open to the public
San Diego Zoo
Saturday, September 26th
8 - 10 a.m.
Otto Center, 1 block south of main entrance
Backyard Composting and Vermicomposting
*registration limited to 25*
City Heights Community Garden
Saturday, October 10th
10 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Intersection of 43rd St and Wightman Ave
Backyard Composting and Vermicomposting
Quail Botanical Gardens
Saturday, October 24th
10 a.m. - 12 p.m.
230 Quail Gardens Drive
Backyard Composting and Vermicomposting
San Diego Zoo
Saturday, November 21st
8 a.m. - 10 a.m.
Otto Center, 1 block south of main entrance
Backyard Composting and Vermicomposting
*registration limited to 25*
Click here to Pre-Register!
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Solana Center's Planting Party
Thank you for all your hard work!
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Upcoming Events
Electronic Waste Collection Event
Saturday, September 26th
9am-12pm
at the Solana Center
Accepted items: Monitors, laptops, televisions, DVD players, telephones, cell phones, computers, PDA's, copiers/printers, fax machines, and much more...
We DO NOT accept: household hazardous wastes, batteries, large household appliances, & CFLs
25th Annual California Coast Clean Up Day  Join us at: Swami's Beach in Encinitas
Saturday
September 19, 2009
9am-12pmFree reusable tote bags will be distributed to the first 50 volunteers. Please register by clicking here.
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Become a Master Composter!
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This year's Encinitas Master Composter Course will be held at San Dieguito Academy (SDA) in Encinitas. Master Composter Course students will get to help set up and maintain a large compost demonstration site at Encinitas' only high school. After the conclusion of the class, SDA students will use the site to compost their daily food waste! 
Five Consecutive Wednesdays
September 30, October 7, 14, 21, and 28
6-8:30pm
Attendance is mandatory at all classes. Priority given to Encinitas residents. Application is required. The Complete Compost Gardening Guide by Pleasant and Martin is the required class book and can be purchased from the Solana Center for $25 on the first day of class. A $30 materials fee is also required, payable by check or cash on the first day of class.
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Compost Bins and Worm Bins
Subsidized for Encinitas Residents!
 Smith & Hawken Biostack
Capacity: 12 cubic feet
Dimensions: 28'x28'x34' high
General price: $99 (retail $129)
Encinitas residents: $35*
 Wriggly Wranch Worm Bin
Capacity: 2 cubic feet
Dimensions: 16'x23'x25'
General price: $89 (retail $110)
Encinitas residents: $35*
*limit 2 subsidized bins per fiscal year (July-June), proof of residence required (license, personal check, water bill, etc.)
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Solana Center's Quest to Build a Worm Farm
Problem: the Solana Center needed to find a way to be able to provide schools with large quantities worms.
Solution: build a worm farm! We constructed the bin on top of one of the raised beds in the Solana Center garden. The bin was constructed with wood recycled from a previous project. The worm's bedding was prepared with shredded paper, compost, and dirt from the existing raised bed.
 The bin has been covered with blue shade cloth that can be rolled for easy access. The shade cloth will allow for heat to escape, but will keep the worms protected from the sun. We have been building up our worm population in our Wriggly Wranches in anticipation of starting the bin. Once worms are added, we will be collecting fruit remains from local smoothie stores and coffee grounds from local coffee houses to feed the worms.
 If anyone would like to make a donation of worms to help build our worm supply in our new bin or materials to build worm bins for schools, it would be greatly appreciated! Please email Carlie if you would like to donate some worms or if you would like a materials needed list. Special thanks to Adam Lievers and Mike Murphy for all your hard work building and trouble shooting this bin building process!
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Have composting questions??
Ask the "Rotline"! Click here to email your question or call (760) 436-7986 ext. 222.
Be sure to check the Solana Composter Blog for the "Rotline" Question of the Week!
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Composting in India
By Pete Ash, Master Composter
 It all happened by mistake. Or
did it? At this point I don't really know. Many would say it was no accident,
but in a way, it was. It all started a year ago when I decided to come to India to study
Biodynamic Agriculture.
I had just completed a couple of
intensive trainings in Biodynamics at ISKON Farms just outside Mysore
in South India when I fell off a motorcycle
and broke my shoulder. I had planned on staying in India for another two months to
practice what I had just learned when the accident happened. There was
nothing left to do but come home early.
I couldn't get a flight home for another three weeks so I decided to go
over to the coast and lay low. The day before leaving Mysore, I met a young Westerner at breakfast that
had just arrived from Amma's ashram in Amritapuri, a small fishing village
amidst the coconut groves along the Kerala coast. I didn't know anything about
Amma, "the hugging saint," nor did my breakfast companion explain. That night I
took the bus, arrived the following morning and checked into the ashram. As
part of one's stay at the ashram, one is expected to do a couple hours of "seva,"
or service. I was told that because of my shoulder, I wasn't expected to do
anything, but when I saw the ashram's Eco Department and gardens I thought I
could at least pull a few weeds and do some watering.
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