Back to All Events

Earth Talks: How do My Food Scraps Become Compost?

Join Shannon Ripley, Professional Agrologist, at the Canmore Public Library for her presentation "How Do My Food Scraps Become Compost in the Bow Valley?" This Earth Talks is in partnership with the Canmore Museum who have a recent exhibit titled, “Soil Superheroes”.

This Earth Talks event will take place on Monday, March 18th in the Friends Program Room at 6:00pm - 8:00pm.

Attendees will learn about…

  • the journey food scraps take from when you collect them at home, work or school to when they become finished compost that is applied to agricultural fields;

  • why separate food scraps for composting?

  • the fascinating role of the ‘soil superheroes’ (microorganisms) that carry out the decomposition process

Free to attend. Registration required. Click here to register.

If you would like to join via Zoom, click here for the Zoom link.

About the Presenter:

Shannon Ripley is trained as a soil scientist (M.Sc.) and environmental scientist (B.Sc.) and is a Professional Agrologist. Shannon has over 15 years of experience planning, implementing and evaluating composting and waste diversion programs and policies in collaboration with municipal and territorial governments, Indigenous governments, non-profit organizations and farmers. She is self-employed, and currently working with communities in Alberta, BC and the Northwest Territories, including on projects in the Bow Valley. Shannon is a mom of two children, ages five and eight, and loves the composting and gardening adventures she now enjoys with them.

Learn More and Visit the Canmore Museum’s current exhibit: SOIL SUPERHEROES (FEBRUARY 2, 2024 – MAY 20, 2024)

Soil Superheroes introduces visitors to the league of superheroes who live beneath our feet and make life on earth possible. Colourfully illustrated characters speak directly to visitors, making the science of soil fun and relevant. Earthworms, sand particles, decomposing poop, and many other superheroes explain how their superpowers not only provide humans with food and medicine, but also clean the water we drink and help us fight climate change. Developed by the Canada Agriculture and Food Museum, this interactive exhibition makes the difference between healthy and unhealthy soil much clearer than mud! It also includes a discovery cart rich in hands-on activities that allow visitors to become soil superhero sidekicks. This travelling exhibit is on loan from Ingenium | Canada Agriculture and Food Museum.

Watch the recording of the presentation here.