Events & Offerings
Compost Build Volunteer Days
Every Monday, 9:30am to 12:00pm
Join us on our epic compost build days! Events are open to the public and no experience is necessary. Volunteers will experience a large-scale compost operation and get firsthand experience building a compost windrow! We will combine over 4,000 lbs of Queens-generated food scraps with equal parts QBG horticulture waste. Volunteers can help by bringing their own food scraps to the build!
FREE. Registration required.
Compost Beautification Volunteer Days
Every Third Sunday of the Month, 9:30am to 12pm
Join the QBG Compost Staff to care for our compost demo site by weeding, mulching, planting, applying compost, and gardening. This is an outdoor event, please dress for the weather, wear sunscreen, bring water or snacks, and dress comfortably. QBG staff will provide gloves.
FREE. Registration required.
Compost Site Tours
Every First and Third Sunday of the Month, 12pm
Get a behind-the-scenes tour of our composting facility! Join our knowledgeable staff to talk all about compost, learn about the techniques we use to process food scraps, and look for macro-organisms who are hard at work making compost!
Master Composter Certificate Program
The Master Composter Certificate Course is an advanced compost education and outreach program.
Technical Assistance for Community Composters
QBG Compost offers assistance and consultation in creating action plans, organizing volunteer workdays, troubleshooting, and more. We work with actively-managed Community Compost Sites in Queens, and we consult with community gardens and schools to create and improve compost systems at their sites. Contact us if your group would like to collaborate with us.
Are you involved with or planning to develop a compost site in your community? The NYC Compost Project can provide you with resources and connect you with other urban composters.
If you are a garden in need of technical support: submit a survey here.
Compost Hotline
Contact the NYC Compost Project if you are interested in:
- Starting a new compost site in your community
- Improving and expanding an existing compost site
- Building compost bins and sifters tailored to meet the needs of your site
- Posting clear signs that explain what can and can’t be composted
- Chipping woody debris or shredding leaves on your site to use for composting
- Recruiting and managing volunteers
- Organizing compost workdays
- Troubleshooting composting problems
- Receiving compost for your site
[email protected] or 718.539.5296
Materials Request
We host information tables, give public presentations, and teach workshops at local events in Queens. Contact us if you would like Queens Botanical Garden to provide information about composting or hands-on demonstrations at an event you’re hosting. There is also free composting and recycling literature and decals available for pickup in our office.