Workshop Covers Benefits of Composting

 Registration deadline is April 7

BRIDGEWATER – Somerset County Freeholder Mark Caliguire, recycling liaison, invites county residents to attend a backyard-composting workshop Thursday, April 14, from 10 to 11:30 a.m. or 6:30 to 8 p.m.

The workshops will be held at the Ted Blum 4-H Center, located at 310 Milltown Road, Bridgewater, NJ 08807. A $50 registration fee includes attendance at a workshop, a compost bin and literature. Registration is required by Thursday, April 7.

A registration form and composting information are available at http://bit.ly/SCCompost

The workshops are sponsored by the Somerset County Division of Solid Waste Management and Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Somerset County.

Participants will learn how to compost kitchen and yard debris into a "black gold" organic material for use in the yard, garden and for houseplants.

The program also will include a brief presentation titled "Cut It & Leave It," and other environmentally friendly lawn-care strategies.

Composting reduces the amount of discarded garbage, acts as a natural fertilizer by returning nutrients to the soil, improves soil aeration and reduces soil diseases. It also helps to conserve the Earth's resources.

For more information and to register, contact Solid Waste Manager Melissa Harvey, Somerset County Division of Solid Waste Management, at (908) 231-7109 or harvey@co.somerset.nj.us.

To stay up to date with Somerset County events and information, follow us on Facebook and Twitter.