Compost can be easy to make and offers many benefits, from helping your garden grow greener to reducing the amount of material in your curbside roll cart, to reducing the need to purchase soil/amendments, fertilizers and pesticides.

The basic ingredients for compost are "browns," "greens," air and water. "Browns" like leaves and woody material are high in carbon - an essential ingredient for microorganisms in compost. "Greens" like grass clippings, fruit and vegetable scraps are high in nitrogen - an essential ingredient for microorganism that act as "decomposers."

Earth Machine
Lane County partners with BRING to ensure that Earth Machine composters are available year-round.



Worm Bin
Worm castings are known to be an extremely valuable plant food. Lane County residents can purchase easy-to-use stacking worm bins for $42.00 (plus shipping) at The Wormcycler. Select the purchase option without worms or contact local yard and garden stores for worms.

Garden chemicals are harmful to humans, pets, wildlife (pollinators) and waterways. The good news is that there are easy ways to care for your lawn and garden that avoid using pesticides and herbicides.

Here's how...

Lawn Care Without Herbicides
* Mulch-mow (grasscycle) to save time, money and resources. Clippings act as free fertilizer. Leave the clippings or rake them in.

* Mow regularly, when grass is dry, taking only 1//3 off the top. Aim for 3 inches in height. This shades out weeds and encourages deeper roots.

* Sharpen mower blades at least once a year. When it's time to buy a new mower, purchase a push-reel mower or mulching electric mower to reduce noise and exhaust fumes from traditional gas-powered mowers.

* Hand pull weeds to reduce the need for pesticides and herbicides. 

Learn how to compost at several demonstration gardens throughout the county, featuring self-guided tours and workshops offered by the OSU Extension Service in partnership with the City of Eugene.


For more information about OSU Master Gardner's extensive compost resources and upcoming workshops, view more. (Due to COVID-19, call to check most recent schedule).

Get Answers to Your Compost Questions!
Call the Master Gardener Plant Clinic at (541) 344-0265. Open Monday through Thursday 10:00 am - 1 pm and 2:00 pm - 5:00 pm.