Star City Compost

03/27/2026

Join us tomorrow 3/28 for a tree planting from 9 am - 12 pm at the 2 acre food forest The Harvest Collective has worked for years to establish at Outback Orchards. We will be planting 3 jujubes, 2 peaches, 2 Asian persimmons and 2 Asian pears.

I’ll also do a tour of the space and talk about our plans to grow more food there this year as a part of our harvest sharing time bank.

Big thanks to who has been a dream come true in making this project real.

We hope to see you soon!

03/23/2026

This is a picture of a new rainwater irrigation system set up for our aerated static compost bunkers. Another small victory towards making amazing compost with efficient operations!

Most people don’t realize how critical water is to effective decomposition. In our set-up we pump leachate back into the piles, but in times of drought the system dries up. So now we will be able to pump rain water from 825 G of cistern storage back into the compost piles.

It’s taken years to dial in these systems. The knowledge we possess at SCC will help get many more community scale static aerated composting systems to come into existence.

03/21/2026

If you’ve ever wondered why we do this, it’s been done with the foresight that this would be inevitable.

03/11/2026

These two sisters are enjoying their opportunity to put some food security into the ground by planting two sister companion plants.

The edible tubers of the Jerusalem artichoke will turn into a very tall sunflower like plant with little to no effort besides putting them in the ground. Plant some American groundnut next to them and the vine will grow up the sunflower creating an edible, forget it about it hedge. As long as the groundhogs don’t eat, the young sunchoke shoots will have good success.

We love planting things in edge and marginal spaces that will produce food, reduce management, and create a little bit of beauty.

We’re hosting workdays on our garden/farm projects on Tuesday, Thuraday and Saturday 9:30-1 pm. There’s no time better than now to be involved with a group dedicated to our own food soveregnty.

03/10/2026

Davey is looking forward to this presentation on Thursday night. Please come join us to learn more about the magic of composting!

Next month, our program will focus on the FIVE critical components of making good compost, with Davey Stewards of Star City Compost! https://roanokeregion.wildones.org/events/?wo_event_id=11470

03/03/2026

We’ve got a new drop-off site in downtown Salem in partnership with Salem Presbyterian Church. It’s just a block away from the farmers market and right next to Roanoke college. At the intersection of Clay and Market St.

We are now offering curbside and drop-off services in Salem. Sign up at StarCityCompost.com.

We have removed our drop-off site at Blue Ridge Hydroponics, but there is another just a mile away at Covenant Presbyterian, located at 1831 Deyerle Rd SW.

Sign up today and get two buckets of Compost for your garden.

02/18/2026

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This past year, THC and SCC have been going through some significant changes in leadership, structure, and strategy. Amidst the magnitude of tasks associated with keeping these businesses afloat, maintaining good contact with our audience through our E-Newsletter fell to the backburner. Our most exc...

02/14/2026

Our Meetings are open to everyone! Second Thursday, 6:30 pm, at Christ Lutheran Church, 2011 Brandon Avenue.

The field trips are reserved for members only, so join today: https://roanokeregion.wildones.org/

02/12/2026

We are excited to announce our 3rd annual Compost Fest featuring ecology workshops, a virtuosic jazz/funk band, a hip hop showcase, kids activities (including a kids concert by yours truly), and a dedication of a monument to past, present and future earth workers. All to celebrate international workers day, nature itself, and the Roanoke area’s only compost facility.

THE MAYOR OF DC HIP HOP - Vance Levy AKA Head Roc - will be performing a headlining set followed by Roanoke’s very own SHMAZZ led by Jamiel Allen. One of the illest MC’s in Roanoke Inqwesson will be performing too.

I am completimg a monument to past, present and future earth workers and blessing it with support from Antonio D Stovall and Brian King. Our ceremony will also feature a music set from local folk troubadour Ash Devine and a set of classic soul songs about LOVE performed by a collection of musicians from the church I attend - UNITY of Roanoke Valley.

There will be activities for kids throughout the day and we will be serving two meals - lunch and dinner - at the event as a part of attendance. I’ll be doing a tour of the compost facility and the two acre food forest many of us have worked to build on the property next door.

Please join us to celebrate this important work to steward ecological resources by people who are dedicated to cultural UNITY

12/30/2025

Cardinal News wrote a nice news piece about Star City Compost and The Harvest Collective today. Short story, there is nothing easy about starting and operating a compost facility in the State of Virginia and some people are talking about changing that.

This small Roanoke composting facility has survived three years of business, when conversations about composting are just beginning in the city and the state.

12/16/2025

Greetings Friends - The Commonwealth is reviewing their solid waste management plan and after reviewing it, there are some serious gaps in how it can support composters in the state. I believe I am the only person to have started a permitted food waste composting facility within the last 3 years. The reason being there is way too much red tape and little support from the powers that be to see community composters begin operations.

With the editing support from Maureen McGonagle, I have made a series of recommendations to add to the plan. If you'd like t read those and sign onto endorse those changes, please click the link below and sign on:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf6FS0terqJpgzfnLmahNmCTGXudwJth7rPmzzsP5PHpg-uMw/viewform?usp=header