Composting

Compost-formulated Media for Foliage Plant Production

Jianjun Chen and Dennis B. McConnell

Composting Horse Manure on Small Farms: Managing Your Compost

Erika Sakers, Mary G. Lusk, Carissa Wickens, and Caitlin Bainum

This new 5-page publication of the UF/IFAS Department of Soil, Water, and Ecosystem Sciences is the second in a two-part series on composting horse manure on small farms. The purpose of this article is to share some how-to tips on building and managing manure compost bins. This article is intended for noncommercial horse owners. Written by Erika Sakers, Mary G. Lusk, Carissa Wickens, and Caitlin Bainum.

The Florida Handbook of Solid and Hazardous Waste Regulation: Composting

Michael T. Olexa and Christopher Hill

Circular 1139, a multi-part handbook by Michael T. Olexa and Ian Goldfarb, helps Floridians recognize which agricultural and household activities may involve solid and hazardous wastes. It also provides an introduction to the agencies and statutes that govern solid and hazardous waste disposal. Published by the UF Department of Food and Resource Economics, December 2013. 

How to Manage Yard Wastes to Protect Surface Water Resources

Mary G. Lusk

Several of the Florida-Friendly Landscaping(TM) (FFL) principles provide guidance on how to reduce the amount of nutrients applied to and mobilized from urban landscapes to water resources. Principle # 7: Recycle Yard Waste and Principle # 9: Protect the Waterfront are two examples from this program that can be important steps towards protecting Florida’s water. The purpose of this publication is to provide guidance on specific actions that you can take to help reduce nutrient inputs to our water, with a focus on the FFL Principles  # 7 and # 9. This publication is intended primarily for urban residents who manage their own landscapes and may also be used by landscaping professionals, homeowner’s associations, and municipal decision makers.

Cost Estimates for Producing Sargassum spp. Compost

Trent Blare, Afeefa A. Abdool-Ghany, and Helena M. Solo-Gabriele

This publication examines the costs that the city of Ft. Lauderdale incurred to establish a sargassum compost facility. The objective of this analysis is to provide insights to other municipalities and small businesses around south Florida who are considering starting similar composting operations with the expectation that sargassum composting will provide them with more space in their landfills while maintaining their beaches’ tourist appeal. The data for this analysis were collected through interviews in 2021 with several individuals in municipalities and small businesses, which use a wide range of sargassum management strategies. We found that Ft. Lauderdale saves at least $326,000 annually by operating its own composting facility.

Compost Tips for the Home Gardener

Sydney Park Brown

A UF/IFAS numbered Fact Sheet for Homeowner audience(s).

Recycling Organic Materials to Improve Your Florida-Friendly Edible Landscape

Terra Freeman, Tiare Silvasy, Lynn Barber, Tom Wichman, Claire Lewis, Tina McIntyre, Jacqlyn Rivas, Jen Marvin, and Esen Momol

This publication is intended to educate homeowners on environmentally friendly ways to enhance soil fertility for vegetables, herbs, and fruits in the home landscape. It discusses strategies for recycling nutrients in place or via composting systems to create productive edible landscapes with less waste. Adopting these methods into your landscape maintenance routine will build organic matter and add nutrients to the soil naturally.

Example Ordinance for Compost Amending Soil in Urban Landscaping

Jovana Radovanovic, James D. McGuire, Jana Caracciolo, Tom Ankersen, and Eban Z. Bean

This publication describes an example ordinance that can be used by local governments as a starting point for developing a compost amendment ordinance tailored to their local situation and conditions. Written by Jovana Radovanovic, James D. McGuire, Jana Caracciolo, Tom Ankersen, and Eban Z. Bean, and published by the UF/IFAS Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, October 2021.

Manure Composting for Small Horse Farms

Erika Sakers, Mary G. Lusk, Carissa Wickens, and Caitlin Bainum

The purpose of this new 5-page publication of the UF/IFAS Department of Soil, Water, and Ecosystem Sciences is to present the benefits of composting horse manure on small farms and to provide guidance on how to implement manure composting. This article, the first in a two-part series, is intended for recreational horse enthusiasts managing equine on small (<20 acre) farms. Written by Erika Sakers, Mary G. Lusk, Carissa Wickens, and Caitlin Bainum.

Compost Cooperative marks 15-years of sustainability, education, and community engagement

Mike Loizzo

When Dr. Ann Wilkie created the UF Student Compost Cooperative (SCC) in 2009, her goal was to promote sustainability at the campus level. Over the next 15 years, the SCC grew to welcome the wider UF community. It also provided garden plots for members and incorporated sustainable practices like the availability of a rainwater harvesting […]

UF/IFAS Extension partners with pizzeria to teach composting basics

Megan Winslow

As a soil biologist and agent for UF/IFAS Extension Nassau County, David Hébert teaches everything from selecting compostable food items to identifying microorganisms. Most recently, he’s done so from within a bustling Fernandina Beach shopping center. Hébert’s affiliation with Amelia Plaza began in 2023, when Matt Klabacka contacted the Extension office and requested a visit […]

UF scientists plan to study whether cover crops or compost can increase the efficiency, resiliency of tomatoes, other produce

Brad Buck

Growers are always looking for ways to maintain or increase their yields and boost the ability of their crops to resist pests, diseases and heat brought on by climate change. That’s particularly the case when you grow crops in a high-intensity production system, which farmers use to grow tomatoes in Florida. Such systems require a […]