EUGENE, Ore. – The first of several composting workshops is happening Saturday at the Santa Clara Community Garden.

The workshops offer participants an opportunity to learn more about how to keep household food waste out of the landfill and how to turn it into soil for household use.

"You have to start with good soil and that's where we're starting is you use the compost, build the soil up and then from that comes these good-looking plants that produce food for you to eat," said Peter Thurston, master gardener.

The workshop is Saturday from 10 a.m. until noon at the Santa Clara Community Garden, behind St. Matthew’s Church at 4110 River Road.

Oregon State University extension service will also have its mobile plant clinic on hand. People who attend can take samples of plant problems from their own yards for diagnosis by the experts on hand.

People are invited to attend and learn more about composting. All the workshops are from 10 a.m. to noon.

Workshop dates and topics:

May 19 - Mobile Plant Clinic, various composting techniques

June 9 - Workshop, drip irrigation, and checking on compost builds

July 21 - Mobile Plant Clinic, using finished compost and starting a new compost pile

September 29 - harvesting and preserving, checking on compost builds

November 3 - Compost Workshop, lasagna compost