At Home with Dennis Woods

Master Composters (MC) are trained volunteers who act as local composting experts. Dennis Woods has been an active MC for the City of Saskatoon since October 1995.

Dennis fits this gift of his time into a busy life. His job at the University of Sask. involves the design of automation controls for campus heating and ventilation systems. His other interests are varied: gardening, composting, Tai chi instructor, soccer coach, cyclist, canoeist. Dennis and his wife, Flo, have three children; the youngest is just completing high school. Flo, also an avid gardener, recently completed a degree in nutrition.

It's interesting to visit the Woods home during gardening season. Their neat suburban bungalow fits in well with the neighbourhood, but closer inspection shows some differences. The large front flower bed has tomatoes and peppers as well as the usual perennials. Around back, the garden has compost bins along one side and more edibles tucked into another flower bed.

The Woodses are gardeners. Their interest in composting grew out of their gardening activities and their parents' influence. Both Flo and Dennis grew up in Saskatchewan. Dennis's mother used grass clippings as mulch in her garden. Flo's family had a large garden and maintained a compost pile.

Flo and Dennis compost their own food scraps, their non woody yard waste and some of their neighbours'. The grass clippings stay on the lawn. Dennis shares one regret with many composters: their soil could use more compost than they are able to create.

Most of the their composting is done in a single unit bin made from reclaimed fencing materials. This spring, they purchased an Earth Machine plastic bin at the Saskatoon sale and are using it as a second composting unit now the material in the big bin can mature without additions. Extra leaves and dry grass, available for gradual addition with new food scraps or fresh plant material, are stored in a wire mesh container. Dennis decided to start adding water to the stored dry materials this year, as the low rainfall meant that they were a fire hazard. Their home is in an area with no back alleys, so they are in close proximity to three neighbours. This situation has caused them to be careful about odour and rodent problems. Maintaining a good mix of materials and turning the compost avoids odours. Mouse traps and their cat keep mice under control they inherited a population with the yard when they purchased the house.

Dennis's Master Composter work initially involved giving workshops sponsored by his community association, which was a good way for his expertise to become known in the neighbourhood and prompted several people to come to him for help.

Over the years he has given presentations at his church, branch libraries and his workplace, as well as staffing information displays at Gardenscapes (a garden trade show) and other events. He's noticed a real change in people's attitudes in the last year or so; those seeking advice are generally more enthusiastic and/or more knowledgeable.

(Source: WasteWatch, June 2002)

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