Join us at Solana Center's Climate Solutions Hub in Encinitas for an unforgettable experience where you'll get up close and personal with our resident worms. This workshop is suitable for children aged 7 years and above. Families are welcome. 

Whether you're an environmental enthusiast or simply curious about the wonders of vermicomposting, join us and dive into the fascinating world of worms. Each attendee gets your choice of free worms (100 count) or worm castings. 

In this 90-minute workshop, you will:

• Discuss the importance of keeping food scraps out of the landfill

• Explore how the tiny-but-mighty red wiggler worms can transform our food scraps into something new

• Learn about what these worms need to thrive and what food scraps they like to eat

• Work together to meet and care for Solana Center’s own red wiggler worms

Get early access to our Climate Solutions Hub from 11:30-12:00, where you can take a self-guided green living tour, browse our sustainability shop, and more.

Thank you to La Jolla Kiwanis for their generous support of this workshop

Learn how you can save money and reduce pests by composting your livestock manure! Composting manure helps protect your local watershed, prevents pollution in waterways, and produces a fantastic soil amendment. Composting is easy and inexpensive and can help reduce flies, odors, and waterway contamination. Using composted manure on your garden and landscaping will also help enrich your soil and conserve water.

This workshop will cover:

• The basics & benefits of composting 

• How to incorporate manure into compost piles

• Scaling up or down compost pile size

• Local regulations and requirements

• Preventing odors and flies; and

• Protecting local water sources

Benefits of manure composting:

• Saves water and money (fewer purchased amendments)

• Increases soil health and biodiversity

• Prevents flies and odors; and

• Protects waterways

  
  

Made possible through generous funding by

Thanks to our host Sweetwater Community Garden

Join us during San Diego’s first ever Climate Week

Join us for our Green Living Tour, to learn about our programs, and how to live more sustainably!  Every small action adds up and creates a big positive impact for tackling our current environmental challenges. This guided one-hour tour of our headquarters in Encinitas explores simple solutions you can implement in your life.

See sustainability in action as you learn how you can make a difference with our demonstrations in:

• water conservation

• waste reduction

• soil health and composting with worms

• eco demonstration garden

and other innovative, D.I.Y. solutions for achieving everyday sustainability!

Tours are led by our knowledgeable Eco Team docents, your local experts in sustainability. Ask questions along the way and enjoy our outdoor space.

After the tour, you can:

• Rent tools from our Tool Lending Library

• Make a purchase at our Sustainability Shop

• Sign up for a class or become a volunteer

• Rent Green Convene for your next sustainable gathering

• Donate old reading glasses

Cost: FREE and donations are gratefully accepted!

Please register to reserve your spot, space is limited.

Interested in a private tour? Please email volunteer@solanacenter.org for more information.

Vermicomposting (worm composting) has a benefit for everyone, whether you want to divert kitchen scraps from the landfill, compost in small spaces, or create a natural fertilizer for your plants. Join us at the Linda Vista Library to learn how to start and maintain a happy home for red wiggler worms.

All attendees will have the chance to win one of two $20 visa gift cards and may receive a free sample of compost from Miramar Greenery!

In this workshop, we will cover:

• Benefits of composting with worms

• Tools, materials, and steps to start a vermicompost bin

• How to feed your worms and which foods are suitable

• Troubleshooting and maintaining your worm bin

• Harvesting and using finished castings

Composting benefits for your garden and living a greener life include:

• Save money on purchased worm castings and soil amendments

• Lower your contribution to landfills

• Increase soil health & soil microbiome

• Increase water retention in soil

Residents of the City of San Diego receive preferential registration. All others will be placed on a waitlist and apprised of space available 1-2 weeks before the workshop.

BEFORE REGISTERING, please enter your address here to check your residency. You can select the City of San Diego Residents ticket option ONLY if your jurisdiction boundary result is exactly “SAN DIEGO.” All others must select the waitlist option.

This event has been made possible due to generous funding from:

Thank you to our host:

Linda Vista Library

Learn how to create a less thirsty and more environmentally-friendly landscape that saves water and money! Join us at this workshop hosted by the Fallbrook Library, where Solana Center’s knowledgeable educators will teach you all you need to know to get started with a garden that fits San Diego’s semi-arid climate.

All pre-registered attendees who are residents of unincorporated San Diego County will receive a FREE kitchen scraps container, courtesy of the County of San Diego. 

In this workshop, we will cover:

• San Diego climate-appropriate planting

• Using mulch and compost to build healthy soil that conserves water and reduces erosion

• Managing irrigation efficiently to reduce water use and cost

• Soil types and gardening styles

  
  

Made possible through generous funding by:

Thanks to our host:

What is an Aerated Static Pile (ASP)? ASPs offer a simple and cost-effective method for composting organic materials. These contained systems force air through the compost pile via ground-level pipes, encouraging rapid decomposition without the need to turn your compost piles! The system we will discuss is perfect for land with a small amount of livestock (for instance, 1 - 10 horses) and small- to medium-sized farms or orchards. Improper organic waste disposal can lead to pest problems, create health issues for livestock, and contaminate local water sources. There are so many benefits to this method of composting! Adding compost to your soil conserves water, mitigates erosion, sequesters carbon, and helps your plants thrive.

This workshop will address how to use an ASP to compost manure, crop residues, and food scraps. This presentation will also include a case study of Solana Center’s ASP composting system as an example of a successful ASP composting system

In this workshop, we will cover 

• Benefits of composting manure and other on-farm materials

• How to use ASPs to simplify composting and reduce the need for management

• How to create the best system for your needs, get prepared for composting success, and what to add to your pile for best results

• Managing pest and smell concerns with neighbors

• Ensuring compliance with San Diego County ordinances and/or Healthy Soils Program requirements

Whether you own livestock, a farm, a large property, or simply want to expand your composting knowledge, we welcome you to join our workshop at the Ramona Grange.

Residents of unincorporated County of San Diego receive preferential registration. All others will be placed on a waitlist and apprised of space available 1-2 weeks before the workshop.

BEFORE REGISTERING, please enter your address here to check your residency. You can select the County of San Diego Residents ticket option ONLY if your jurisdiction boundary result is exactly “S.D. COUNTY.” All others must select the waitlist option.

Made possible through generous funding by:

Thanks to our host Ramona Grange

Composting with worms, also known as vermicomposting, has benefits for everyone, whether you want to divert kitchen scraps from the landfill, compost in small spaces, or create a natural fertilizer for your plants. In-ground worm composting is especially suited to San Diego County’s climate and is more resilient to the temperature extremes we face, especially during dry, hot months. Join us at Bates Nut Farm to learn how to start and maintain a happy home for red wiggler worms.

All pre-registered attendees who are residents of unincorporated San Diego County can receive a free kitchen scraps container.

In this workshop, we will cover:

• Benefits of composting with worms

• Benefits of using an in-ground worm bin

• Tools, materials, and steps to start an in-ground worm bin

• How to feed your worms and which foods are suitable

• Troubleshooting and maintaining all worm bin styles

• Harvesting and using finished castings

Benefits of in-ground vermicomposting include:

• Greater resistance to temperature extremes

• Increased soil aeration in garden beds

• Save money on purchased worm castings and soil amendments

• Lower your contribution to landfills

• Increase soil health & soil microbiome

• Increase water retention in soil

  
  

Made possible through generous funding by:

Thanks to our host:

Save the Date!

Sunday, March 22nd 2026 from 1:00 - 4:00 pm at the Encinitas Community Center

Register to RSVP, not required to attend.

Free and open to the public.

Join Solana Center for a free community event focused on education and the impact of clothing and textile waste.

Participants will learn about the urgent need to move towards more sustainable models in fashion, connect with sustainable vendors, and shop from local makers.

More details coming soon.

Local, sustainable vendors are welcome to apply to be part of the Expo. Visit https://forms.gle/b77pta95Evy7j3Dd8 or fill out the form below.