Join us for a hands-on field day at Chicken Hawk Farms all about hot composting! We’ll be returning to the same site where we previously worked together on the earthbag construction around the water tank. This time, participants will learn how to turn everyday organic materials into rich, living soil in just a few weeks. Together we’ll build a compost pile using manure, food scraps brought from home, and leaves and other garden trimmings.

This field day will cover:

• The science behind hot composting and why it works faster than cold methods
  

• How to build and maintain a hot compost pile step by step
  

• Tips for balancing greens and browns, maintaining moisture, and achieving the right temperature
  

• Ways to use finished compost to enrich soil and support healthy plants
  
  

Date: Saturday October 25, 2025

Time: 9:30 AM - 1:00 PM

Location: Chicken Hawk Farm 1575 Snow Rd Las Cruces NM 

Agenda: 

9:30 – 10:00 AM  Welcome and Introductions

10:00 – 10:30 AM  The Science of Hot Composting

10:30 – 11:30 AM  Hands-On Pile Building

11:30 AM – 12:00 PM  Monitoring and Maintenance

12:00 – 12:30 PM  Using Finished Compost

12:30 – 1:00 PM  Q&A and Wrap-Up Lunch at The Bean of Josefina’s 

What to Bring/Wear:

• Fruit and vegetable scraps in bucket 

• Coffee grounds and tea leaves (paper filters and tea bags are fine if not plastic)
  

• Crushed eggshells

• Work clothes and shoes

• Sun protection

• Water Bottle

• Gloves

Please do not bring meat, dairy, oils, cooked food, or anything with plastic or metal

This free field day is made possible thanks to generous support from the McCune Charitable Foundation, Nusenda Foundation, and #NoRegrets.