2023 WORC Annual Conference Presentations
WORC is thrilled to announce our annual conference will be taking place in person and we’ve partnered with the Tilth Alliance! Our joint planning committee is looking forward to gathering composters, farmers, producers, researchers, and food system professionals for three days of sharing, learning, and relationship-building — all aimed at growing a healthy food system.
Download Presentations
Allen - Chomp Use of Biochar
Bailey, Keeney, Kurtz - Compost Ecosystem Services
Bill & Putte - Midnights Farm Biochar
Bryan-Brown - Bloedel Compost Facility
Collins-Biochar Co Composting WORC2023
Hoeck - Compost and Biochar
Jobson - Volatile Organic Compound Emission Factors
Kingfisher - Organics Management Law
Mitchell - Biochar in Stormwater Media
ONeill - Compost Facility Air Emissions Permitting
Rounds - WA Compost Emissions state-wide testing
Stahl - Whinney Farm Composter
Thedell - Compost Reimbursement
About the Event:
The conference is an annual event bringing together hundreds of farmers, food system professionals, researchers, and educators for more than 25 lectures, workshops, and panel discussions that highlight Washington’s farmers.
Conference speakers present on a range of topics covering different experience levels and interests — from implementing new technology to developing expanding markets; from building food resiliency to creating change through political advocacy. Friday features a keynote speaker.
The conference starts Thursday morning with a three-hour Soil Health Workshop, followed by a tour.
WORC Conference Sessions:
Farm Walk and Biochar Workshops take place at White Lotus Farms:
Building and Operating a Biochar Kiln - Norm Baker, Sierra Club - North Olympic Group
An on-site demonstration of how a farm-scale biochar kiln can be built and operated.
Making Biochar with a Flame Cap Kiln - Francesco Tortorici, Olympic Biochar
A discussion of how Olympic Biochar creates biochar at their facility and how their customers use it.
Educational Sessions:
Session 1:
Co-Composting with Biochar: Research, farmer, and industry perspectives – Doug Collins and David Bill
Doug and David will discuss a recent research project done at Midnight Farms examining the efficacy of incorporating biochar into the on-farm compost system.
Co-Composting Bio Char and Greenwaste - Jack Hoeck, Rexius Forest By-Products
Jack will discuss how and why Rexius mixes biochar with greenwaste to create a premium compost product.
Session 2:
Soil Incorporation of Biochar - Norm Baker, Sierra Club - North Olympic Group
A detailed discussion of the value of biochar in soil products and its application for home gardeners, small farms, and compost facilities.
Biochar: A Promising Bioretention Amendment for Enhancing Removal of Contaminants from Stormwater, Chelsea Mitchell - Washington State University, Puyallup Research and Extension Center
A discussion of recent research done employing biochar as a component in a green stormwater infrastructure system.
Session 3:
Statewide Compost Emission Study Update - Megan Rounds, Washington State Department of Ecology
An overview of the ongoing compost emission study. The purpose and value of the work will be reviewed with a recap of what has been done to date and what future work is planned.
Research to Improve Compost Facility Emissions Permitting - Tim O'Niell, Engineered Compost Systems (ECS)
Review of what has been learned so far with the compost emission study.
Volatile Organic Compound Emission Factors from Green Waste/ Food Waste Composting Using the WSU Compost Pilot Plant - Tom Jobson, WSU - Department of Civil Environmental Engineering
Details on the methodology and results of emissions factor testing during composting.
Session 4:
Effective Composting for Small Diversified Farms in Washington State: Case Studies on Heyday Farm and Bloedel Reserve Michael Brian-Brown, Green Mountain Technologies
Two examples of how small farms incorporated compost systems into their practices
Organics Management Law and the Compost Reimbursement Program - Derek Thedell, Washington State Department of Agriculture
Details on the Compost Reimbursement Program that is being kicked off this fall.
Session 5:
Implementation of Organic Management Laws in Washington: challenges, opportunities and the road ahead – Alli Kingfisher, Washington Department of Ecology
What has been happening since the Organics Management Law was passed in 2022, and what to look for in the rest of 2023 and 2024.
Economic Benefits of Organic Amendments: An Ecosystem Services Evaluation of Compost and Class A Biosolids in King County - Kate Kurtz, City of Seattle, Seattle Public Utilities, Kelsey Bailey, King County Solid Waste Division, and Dave Keeney, King County, Wastewater Treatment Division
Organic Amendments like compost and biochar have enormous value outside of their value to reduce the need for fertilizer. The city of Seattle and King County will discuss a recent attempt to quantify some of those values, including reduced flood risk, carbon sequestration, reduced stormwater runoff and more.
Biofiltration and Odor Management Using Biochar - Jan Allen, Chomp Energy
How Chomp Energy is using biochar in odor management and biofiltration applications.
Conference Highlights:
Keynote speeches from leaders in the organic and sustainable farming community.
Educational sessions covering a range of scales, experience levels and interests from leaders, colleagues, your neighbors in the organic and sustainable farming community, AND those working in the composting and recycled organic materials community.
A vibrant industry trade show where farmers and businesses can network and learn about new agricultural products and services.
Fun social events, including a banquet dinner and live music, where you can meet new people and reunite with old friends.
2019 WORC Annual Conference Presentations
“Full Circle Compost: from Sustainable to Regenerative”
November 7-8, 2019, Vancouver, WA
2019 Conference Agenda
Day 1: Regulator-Operator Training
Air Emissions, Clean Air Act Title V Regulation, and Composting BMPs
Review of Emission Factors Commonly Used in Determining Regulations
Tim O’Neill, ECS President, and Geoff Hill PhD, ECS Director of Technical Services
Title V Clean Air Act Regulation in Washington State
Mike Schults, Air Quality Specialist, Olympic Region Clean Air Agency
Connecting Compost Process Science to Air Emissions Regulations
Tim O’Neill, ECS President
Dirt Hugger permitting experience with Title V
Pierce Louis, Dirt Hugger President
Composting and Air Emissions, A Hunt for the Truth
Bob Barrows, Oregon DEQ Materials Management Policy Analyst
Louis Bivins, Oregon DEQ Air Quality Permit Writer
Compost is a Soil Health Movement
Finian Makepeace, Kiss the Ground, https://kisstheground.com/
Finian gave permission for us all to download and use his slides in education
Day 2: Annual Conference
Full Circle Compost: from Sustainable to Regenerative
Regenerative: The Future We Need
Finian Makepeace, Kiss the Ground – see videos at https://kisstheground.com/
Finian gave permission for us all to download and use his slides in education
Videos he referenced: Hope In A Changing Climate - Restoring China’s Loess Plateau, Regenerative Agriculture, The Years Project – Carbon Farming, Make Your Garden Regenerative, the Marin Carbon Project, Start With Why, Bringing Our Soils Back to Life and Saving Civilization,
Panel Discussion 1 – Compost in Agriculture Saves the World!
Nehemias Chalma, Natural Selection Farms https://www.naturalselectionfarms.com/
Value and Cost of Compost on Western Washington Farms
Karen Hills, Washington State University http://csanr.wsu.edu/program-areas/soil-health-initiative/ and see “carbon sequestration potential” at http://csanr.wsu.edu/publications-library/climate-change/carbon-sequestration/
Panel Discussion 2 – Food Recovery Programs and HB 1114 – its potential impact on the compost (and solid waste) industry)
Reducing Food Waste in Washington State
Mary Harrington, WA Department of Ecology Joe Gruber, Executive Director, University District Food Bank – see videos at https://www.udistrictfoodbank.org/news/videos/
2018 WORC Annual Conference
“On the Road to the Future of Organics”
November 15, 2018 – Lemay Car Museum, Tacoma, WA
Conference Agenda and Speakers
From the Top of the Compost Pile, Frank Franciosi, USCC
Growing a Compost Facility, Bob Yost, A-1 Organics
Recycled Nutrients – Feeding the Soil that Feeds You, Maile Lono-Batura, NW Biosolids & Andy Bary, WSU
Compost Facility Capacity, Mary Harrington, Ecology
Marketing and Sales – Getting Your Finished Compost Out the Door and on the Ground, Susan Thoman, Compost Manufactures Alliance
Compost Marketing Specs, David McDonald, Seattle Public Utilities
Soil Quality Improvements with Biochar and Compost, Doug Collins
2017 WORC Annual Conference
“Bringing Our Soils Back to Life”
November 14-15, 2017 – Semiahmoo Resort, Blaine, WA
Conference Agenda and Speakers
Bringing Our Soils Back to Life and Saving Civilization
Keynote, Dr. David R. Montgomery, Professor of Earth and Space Sciences at the UW, Seattle
Dairy Manure-Derived Fertilizers for Use in Raspberry and Blueberry Cropping Systems: Evaluation for Agronomic, Soil Health, and Food Safety Efficacy
Chris Benedict, Whatcom County Extension
Restoring Ag Soils with Manure Based Compost, Blends and Applications
Gregg & Kyle Ovenell, Ovenell Farms
Climate Preparedness and the Role of Biosolids
Kate Kurtz, formerly King County Wastewater
Compost Pelletizing for Agricultural Production
Thad Schutt, Royal Organic Farms
Whatcom County FoodPlus Food Waste Collection and Composting Program
Restoring Agricultural Soil Sustainability
Randy Honcoop, Honcoop Farms
Beneficial Soil Biodiversity that Improves Food Safety
Dr. Bill Snyder, Professor of Entomology at WSU, Pullman
Reducing Organic Waste and Improving Soil Systems with Biochar
Fuchs, Washington State Department of Ecology
Dairy Lagoon Nutrient Extraction with Vermicomposting
Austin Allred, Royal Dairy