TO REGISTER VISIT HERE http://www.ilstewards.org/calendar.htm#feb9

The symposium is a forum for learning about composting organic materials from national and local experts. Composting utilizing worms–vermiculture–or other yard and kitchen waste is an inexpensive way to create fertilizer and minimize waste in landfills. “It has been found that 30-50% of municipal landfill waste is compostable, organic material,” said Michael Toniolo, Environmental Event Coordinator of the Illinois Stewardship Alliance.

“By composting this material and thereby eliminating it from our landfills, it would virtually stop landfill emissions of methane gas into the atmosphere, which has been found to contribute significantly to global warming.”

The symposium will cover topics ranging from backyard composting for beginners to large scale projects for municipalities or farms. It will also feature composting experts speaking about the various scales, techniques and applications of compost. Attendees will have the opportunity to build their own composting bins, which will simplify composting in the home or office.

“Composting and vermi-composting are easy do-it-yourself ways to recycle yard and food waste into fertilizer for your soil,” said Wynne Coplea, Manager of Waste and Recycling for the City of Springfield. “Anyone can benefit from the information at this annual symposium.”

As fertilizer costs increase, more individuals and businesses are finding it difficult to purchase necessary nutrients to apply to their soil. Composting and vermiculture are an inexpensive and easy way to avoid the extra costs of commercially produced fertilizers and also a great way to protect the environment from pollution and nutrient runoff.

This year’s presentations include:

Key Note Speaker: Dan Holcombe, President, Oregon Soil Corporation – Oregon City, Oregon – Two Decades of Vermiculture: From the Backyard to Municipalities

Elaine Ingham, President, Soil Foodweb Inc. – Corvallis, Oregon – Life in Your Compost: Organisms for Your Soil Marcus Vasko-Bennett, Researcher, Ohio State University – Columbus, Ohio – New and Ongoing Research on the Use of Vermicompost Tea

Dr. Bill Becker, Organic Vegetable Grower and Crop Consultant – New Berlin, Illinois – The Dynamics of Hot Compost

Deborah Cavanaugh-Grant, University of Illinois Extension Specialist, Small Farm and Sustainable Agriculture – Writing a Successful Grant Application

Jennifer Fishburn, Horticulture Specialist, University of Illinois Extension – Composting Basics

The Composting Symposium will be held 12:30 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. on February 9, 2009 at the Northfield Inn and Suites Conference Center in Springfield.

Registration is $25 before January 23rd and $30 after.

Participants can build their own vermi-culture composting bin (BYOB).

There will be a charge for supplies of $15 before January 23rd and $25 after. Individuals unable to make the full symposium may register for BYOB session only, which will begin at 5:00pm.

Businesses or organizations related to composting or gardening are invited to exhibit at the symposium. Exhibitor space is $75.00 which includes one registration.

Any questions concerning exhibiting, please call (217) 498-9707.

The symposium is sponsored by a partnership of the Illinois Stewardship Alliance, the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, the Illinois Department of Agriculture, and the City of Springfield’s Division of Waste and Recycling. Registration is available online at www.ilstewards.org. Contact the Illinois Stewardship Alliance with questions or concerns, (217) 498-9707 or www.ilstewards.org.