Composting provides engaging and dynamic ways to teach kids about the natural cycles of life, how nutrients recycle in the ecosystem, responsible waste management, and so much more. Join experts Cat Buxton and Alisha Howard as we explore some basics, best practices, tips, and tricks to include kids in the composting process.

Cat Buxton is a busy cross-pollinator and change facilitator from Sharon, VT. Her business is Grow More, Waste Less. She is an effective and enthusiastic educator, collaborative community organizer, and advocate for systems change through a Just Transition. She talks incessantly about soil, compost, bugs, and plants. She’s managed the edible schoolyard and student-run compost system at Thetford Elementary since 2007, works with Regeneration Corps to engage middle and high school age students in justice and the outdoors, leads Land Listener workshops with the Soil Carbon Coalition, organizes the Upper Valley Apple Corps in planting free-for-the-picking fruit and nut trees, and is co-founder of the Vermont Healthy Soils Coalition. Her latest endeavor is the Super Compost Project. She is all about connecting the social mycelium to empower individuals to affect the necessary changes to restore health to people and the planet.

Alisha Howard (she/her) was born and raised in Northeast Portland. At Ecotrust she is the Farm to School Fellow, whose work endeavors to enrich the connection communities have with fresh, culturally relevant foods and local food producers by supporting gardening, agricultural education, and local food purchasing at schools and early care and education sites. She was also a part of the inaugural cohort of the Viviane Barnett Fellowship for Food Systems Leaders. Outside of Ecotrust, She is the owner and operator of a vermicomposting practice called Deep Rootz Worms, LLC. She’s a member of Portland Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated where she also serves as 2nd Vice President and chair of Program Planning & Development. She also serves on the Board of Directors for HOLLA Mentors and Black Food Sovereignty Coalition. She is passionate about and is invested in the liberation of Black people through food, climate, and land justice.

Composting with Kids