Come visit Interlochen’s composting program and teaching gardens and learn about how composting connects to their vision for sustainability! They have both small-scale and large, industrial-scale composting facilities on-site. In Interlochen’s small-scale composting, a small 3-bay system, vermicomposting, and a couple Johnson Su bioreactor-style compost bins are utilized.

At the industrial compost facility, Interlochen operates a front-end loader tractor and a multi-bay system that allows us to turn the piles daily while adding food waste from our three on-campus cafeterias. Food waste serves as the primary nitrogen source while leaf litter and wood chips serve primarily as the carbon stock in their compost blend. Interlochen Center for the Arts has turned out over 170 tons of finished compost each year that is utilized on their gardens and flowerbeds across campus. Excess compost is often donated to other non-profit garden projects in the region.

This event is part of the Michigan Organics Council’s Great Michigan Compost Tour. Food rescuers, animal feed operators, and composters across the state are hosting tours to highlight how surplus food, yard waste, and food scraps are rescued to feed hungry people or transformed into valuable animal feed or soil amendments. The other tours in our Northern Michigan region are featured in this event series.

Organizer Note: Most tours take place outdoors, so we advise participants to dress in weather-appropriate layers.

Parking Details: When arriving, turn on to Lyons Rd next to Interlochen Public Radio; we will meet at the RB Annis Botanical Lab and Community Garden before being escorted out to the Compost Facility. Please wear closed-toed shoes and dress for the weather. We will offer an industrial compost-turning demonstration and members may wish to wear a mask, though it’s not required.