Become a Certified Master Composter in Washtenaw County!

Want to transform yard debris and kitchen scraps into a nutrient-rich, natural soil amendment? Identify your own soil profile? Create low-maintenance, low-waste yards? Tour large- and small-scale compost operations?  Know how to compost with red worms? Make compost teas? All these topics and more are offered by a range of presenters through the Master Composter class.

Master Composter certification is available for students who attend classes, pass the take-home exam, and volunteer 10 hours in the community. A team of certified Master Composters, along with Master Gardeners and an MSU instructor, will conduct the classes. The course is designed for the general public and for Master Gardeners, Master Rain Gardeners, and Conservation Stewards to continue their organic gardening education.

An online PDF version of the 175-page Michigan Master Composter Manual will be available to all students; an optional $10 materials fee is due the first day of class for students interested in receiving a print version of the manual.

This program is coordinated by Project Grow.

Fall 2026 Master Composter Course Details

  • 5-week workshop

  • Cost: $69 includes digital course manual (pdf)

  • Tuesdays, September 15 - October 13 

  • 6:00 PM – 8:30 PM

Locations:
Ann Arbor Senior Center, 1320 Baldwin Ave. Ann Arbor 48104
Leslie Science and Nature Center, 1831 Traver Rd, Ann Arbor 48105
Growing Hope, 922 West Michigan Avenue, Ypsilanti, MI  48197

Meet Your Team:
Lisa Perschke, Advanced Master Composter, Advanced Master Gardener

Chris Simmons, Master Composter, City of Ypsilanti

Ann Broderick, Master Composter

Marcella Trautman, Master Composter 

Christopher Hallett, Master Composter & Farm Manager, Growing Hope

Sarah Archer, Owner, Iris Waste Diversion Specialists and 5-Hearts Worm Farm

Brent Crain, MSU Extension Horticulture Educator

How Do I Register?

This Master Composter class is coordinated by Project Grow.

Class registration for Fall 2026 is open now through the first day of class.

Register for the 2026 class here

Course Outline

9/15/2026:  Ann Arbor Senior Center. Class Introduction: 101 composting basics, bin types, soil basics, online manual and extra documents with Lisa Perschke and volunteering opportunities with a community organization.

9/22/2026:  Growing Hope (outside only). Dress for the weather and activity - bring gloves, wear closed-toed shoes. Learn about the compost tea vortex, building compost pile system, and the food scrap composting program with Christopher Hallett and Chris Simmons.

9/29/26:  Leslie Science and Nature Center CEC area and classroom. Dress for the weather and activity - bring gloves, wear closed-toed shoes. Yard waste reduction, leaf mulching, grass cycling, trench & pit composting, hügelkultur berms, compost tea, and more with Annie Broderick and Chris Simmons. Marcella Trautmann.

10/6/2026:  Ann Arbor Senior Center. Basics of soil health. All students should bring a sample of their garden soil and a pint glass jar with lid to test in class with Brent Crain.

10/13/2026:  Ann Arbor Senior Center. Vermicomposting & “Make-n-Take Worm Bin”.  Sarah Archer

Note: Pre-purchase a worm bin kit (contains container with 1000 red worms, 12-gallon container, worm bedding). Fee for worm kit will be announced by 9/29 class.

  • Final Take-Home exam will be emailed to all enrolled students on the final class, which should be completed & returned to Project Grow by October 27, 2026.
  • Ten volunteer hours must be completed by August 2027 to become a certified Master Composter.
  • Master Composter Manual will be provided in digital format (pdf).

Volunteer Log

Click here for the Master Composter volunteer log.

Additional Resources

Other Classes and Instruction Opportunities