Tour a research facility as the growing season comes to an end.
Learn how you can improve the quality of your compost.
Connect with other compost professionals in-person or online
Community Composters
Master Gardeners and Master Composters
Municipalities
Horticulturists, Greenhouse Growers and Plant Nurseries
Farmers and Farm Composters
Ohio EPA's registered and exempt composting facilities
Community gardeners / urban farmers
State and local decision makers (legislators, city council members, city administrators
Regulators (Ohio EPA and health department inspectors, zoning officials)
Nonprofit organizations
Solid Waste Management Districts
Educators / Researchers (soil fertility, microbiology, water protection)
A Deep Dive into Compost Quality Research 🌱
Do you operate a compost facility or are you a soil maker eager to enhance your knowledge and practices?
Join us for an enlightening and interactive session centered around the extensive research conducted on the quality of 300 different composts at The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company.
Hear directly from the scientists behind the research, connect with fellow attendees, and learn about the advancements in compost end use.
The difference in compost qualities is the starting point for appropriate end use.
We will discuss the challenges and opportunities of utilizing compost nationwide to produce growing media products from a sourcing, research, regulatory, and manufacturing perspective.
We will learn about how Scotts Miracle Gro builds a strategy to source regional compost, evaluates and qualifies composts, utilizes composts at manufacturing facilities, and the registration process for bagged products with state and third party agencies.
This will be followed by a tour of the Marysville research facility for in-person participants where we view research capabilities and see current research evaluating compost use as a fertilizer, and a virtual tour of research and manufacturing capabilities for online participants.
Learn how you can improve the quality of your compost and connect with other compost professionals in-person or online. Join us for a fun day exploring the possibilities of utilizing composts in bagged growing media products.
Our panelists will talk about the criteria they use to asses the quality of compost and share their findings with you.
Engage with them during our Q&A session.
You will come away with ideas on how to improve the quality of your compost.
We gather in-person and live-stream online
We aim to create a welcoming space for serious composters to connect with soil and compost scientists.
OHOC seeks to foster a vibrant community dedicated to eliminating food waste and making high quality compost.
Take this opportunity to network and establish connections with fellow composting professionals and soil makers in Ohio.
In addition to insightful discussions, we will tour Scotts' fields and greenhouses where you can see the test set up first hand.
If you are passionate about making high quality compost and formulating premium soil, this event is for you.
Join us, make new friends, learn from experts, and have a wonderful time.
Event Date: October 13th, 2023
Time: 9am -1pm EST
Cost: Free
Location: The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company
14310 Scottslawn Road
Marysville, OH 43041
Virtual: We will live stream the keynote, lectures and panel discussion and Q&A session from 9:00am to 11:00am EST.
The event location is located close to Route 33. Click link for directions.
8:30-9:00
Arrival Guests will check in at the front desk, grab a refreshment and meet in Leaf.
Arrive early if you can - it takes a while to get through registration.
9:00-9:10
Introduction - Dr. Fred Michel
9:10-9:30
Building a strategy around regionally sourced composts - Kelly Walker
9:30-9:50
How Scotts Miracle Gro capitalizes on the multiple benefits of composts in growing media products - Tera Lewandowski
9:50-10:10
Rules affecting compost use in conventional and organic finished goods - Greg Cunningham
10:10-10:30
Effective utilization of composts in growing media products - Rick Wentling
10:30-11:00
Panel Discussion - Kelly Walker, Tera Lewandowski, Greg Cunningham, Rick Wentling, Daisy D’Angelo, John Foster
11:00-12:00
Tour Site Tour - discussing emerging research & capabilities
Compost Quality - Compost recipe improvement
RMAP
Bioassay Test Kit
Product Commercialization
12:00-1:00
Social Hour
Guests will meet in Leaf for refreshments, informal conversation and debrief
Dr. Fred Michel
Professor at Ohio State University
Dr. Michel is a distinguished researcher in composting and bioprocessing. His work focuses on recycling food scraps, yard trimmings, and manure, mitigating contaminants, and understanding composts' effects on microbial ecology.
He is a board member of the Ohio Organics Council and holds other key positions.
He teaches the Ohio Compost Operator Education Course and has published over seventy peer-reviewed papers.
Kelly Walker
Director of Regional Growing Media Procurement
His primary focus is on developing a groundbreaking strategy centered around regionally sourced composts
Greg Cunningham
Director of Regulatory Affairs, Growing Media
Centers attention on regulations pertaining to the utilization of compost in both conventional and organic finished products.
Tera Lewandowski
Sr. Scientist, Growing Media
Specializes in the strategic utilization of composts and how Scotts Miracle-Gro harnesses their benefits within growing media products.
Rick Wentling
Plant Manager in Orrville, Ohio
Dedicated to the efficient and innovative application of composts within growing media products.
The Ohio Organics Council
The Ohio Organics Council (OHOC) is the official Ohio State Chapter of the US Composting Council, advocating for organics recycling. Our mission is to increase the amount of organics recycled in Ohio by influencing legislation, training professionals, and facilitating dialogue among stakeholders. We offer membership opportunities for individuals interested in advancing organics recycling and provide financial support to gain influence.
Scotts Miracle Gro
The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company, headquartered in Marysville, Ohio, is a global leader in the manufacture and marketing of consumer lawn, garden, and hydroponic products. Since its founding in 1868, the company has been dedicated to helping people create beautiful outdoor spaces and thriving gardens. They are an OHOC member and have been testing compost qualities in cooperation with Ohio State University,
Department of Food, Agricultural and Biological Engineering.
Compost Marketing Agency
The event series is planned and executed by the Compost Marketing Agency. They are supporting organizations and businesses in the organics recycling industry. You can contact their event team ([email protected]) to request additional information, press kits or about sponsoring opportunities.
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