Compost Cooperative and Gardens (CCG)
The Compost Cooperative and Gardens (CCG) is a cross-disciplinary outreach program dedicated to promoting sustainability at the campus and community level.
Organized by the BioEnergy and Sustainable Technology (BEST) Laboratory, the CCG was started to educate UF students about the importance of food waste composting and provide an opportunity to compost their own food waste. The CCG encourages and trains students, faculty, and staff at the University of Florida and the Gainesville community to compost their food waste and to appreciate the value of recycling by turning this waste into natural fertilizers.
The CCG maintains several composters to allow students and others in the UF community to compost their food waste. CCG closes the compost loop by maintaining a student-run organic garden in which students grow their own organic food using the compost they helped to create. Large barrels that collect rainwater allow students to easily irrigate their garden plots with a more sustainable source of water.
Encouraging students to use these eco-friendly practices builds awareness and environmental responsibility that contribute to their personal and communal growth, while the gardens serve as a place for students to relax, study and enjoy the outdoors. The CCG hosts open houses and field days and participates in a variety of other educational events to help build awareness and educate others about the benefits of composting.
How it works:
The CGG has an open door policy. Food waste can be brought to the composters at any time. When you place your food waste in the composter, please turn the compost to mix the fresh food waste into the compost. Turning facilitates the biodegradation and prevents odors. If you do not have a container to transport your food waste to the composters, we can provide you with one.
Research on Our Compost
Founder and Director
Dr. Ann C. Wilkie began the Compost Cooperative and Gardens as a place for students to compost their food waste and learn about sustainable practices. She continues to host and direct the CCG at her lab, the BioEnergy and Sustainable Technology Laboratory.
For research and outreach questions, contact her at acwilkie@ufl.edu.
Attention Campus Organizations!
Are you having an event or meeting and don’t want to send your food waste to the landfill? The Compost Cooperative and Gardens is here to help you. We welcome you to bring out any food waste from your event to the CCG for composting. We have rolling food waste bins for signout if you need them. Please contact the current coordinator below to arrange bin pick up/drop off and food waste composting.
Sign Up for Composting Orientation
Join us on Facebook
Visit us on Instagram
Shop the Compost Cooperative and Gardens store for apparel and items with the Compost Cooperative and Gardens logo: color | black and white
Fall 2024 Volunteer Support Team
To get started with the CCG please contact the volunteers below according to your area of interest.
Composting
Katya Kasprzak
Compost Manager
Please reach out to me with any questions about the Compost Cooperative and how to get involved.
I am a senior majoring in environmental management with a minor in soil science. If you have any questions on compost, soil, or sustainable agriculture, please don’t hesitate to reach out!
Senior, Environmental Management and Natural Resources Major - College of Agricultural and Life Sciences
Age: 22
Hometown: Sandwich, MA
Phone Number: 781-999-4758
Email: katyakasprzak@ufl.edu
Gardening and Garden Plots:
Ryan Champiny
Garden Manager
Please reach out to me with any questions about the cooperative gardens and growing food.
I'm interested in carbon cycling, soil health and community gardens.
Graduate student, Soil, Water, and Ecosystem Sciences
E-mail: ryan.champiny@ufl.edu
Social Media and Outreach:
Jenna Molen
Social Media and Outreach Co-Coordinator
Contact me with general questions or for information about events at the CCG.
I love cooking and feeding people. The only thing I love as much as feeding people is feeding the microbes in our compost bins! The food scraps we throw in the bin become fertile soil that we can use to grow even more food, and, to me, there’s no better feeling than taking agency in closing the loop like that.
Staff, UF Center for Undergraduate Research (CUR)
E-mail: jenna.molen@ufl.edu
Regena Darbouze
Social Media and Outreach Co-Coordinator
Contact me with general questions or for information about events at the CCG.
Sophomore, Majoring in Psychology- Behavioral and Cognitive Neuroscience, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, and on the Pre-Medicine Track
Age: 19
Hometown: Weston, Florida
Phone: 954-635-0078
Email: regena.darbouze@ufl.edu
Click here to see past volunteer support team members
Resources:
Composting Basics [Infographic] (PDF)
What is Vermicomposting? [Infographic] (PDF)
Program for composting of student food waste [Poster] Presented at the 2009 UF Undergraduate Research Symposium
Student Compost Cooperative [Flyer]
Composting basics and troubleshooting [Presentation]
