Raised Garden Bed Gardening with Compost & Vermicompost
Join us for a hands-on gardening experience at The Urban Edge Farm, led by Chris Choate, founder of Delta Worms, a local business specializing in high-quality vermicompost. This workshop will focus on building healthy, productive raised garden beds using compost and vermicompost.
Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced gardener, you’ll walk away with practical knowledge to enrich your soil, support plant health, and grow more successfully this season.
Chris Choate is the owner/operator of Delta Worms, “We Build Soil.” Delta Worms’ mission is to build the finest garden soil for backyard gardeners in East Contra Costa County.
Chris is a retired professional with 40 years of experience in the California commercial composting industry. Since the early 90’s Chris has played a leading role for many communities in the start-up of food waste composting systems; the City of San Francisco was the largest.
In retirement (8 years), Chris has focus his interest in helping backyard gardeners build the healthiest soil and plants possible. He teaches about the elements or essence of healthy soil: soil structure, nutrients, and soil biology.
Chris has a B.S. in Civil Engineering from San Jose State University and has been a registered Professional Engineer in the State of California throughout his career.
Agenda:
10:30 AM – Welcome & Introduction
Meet your instructor, Chris Choate, and get a quick overview of what’s ahead.
10:40 AM – Why Raised Beds?
Discover the benefits and basics of raised bed gardening.
10:50 AM – Elements of Healthy Soil
- Understanding Soil Structure
- Essential Nutrients for Plant Health
- Importance of Soil Biology
11:15 AM – Rules of Healthy Soil
- Keep the Soil Moist
- Keep the Soil Covered
- Feed the Soil Organic Matter
11:30 AM – Creating a Base for Healthy Soil
- Sourcing Local Soil
- Mixing in Garden Soil
- Adding Compost & Vermicompost
11:50 AM – Irrigation System Tips
Learn how to keep your beds efficiently watered all season long.
12:05 PM – Annual Action Items
A practical checklist for year-round soil health and garden success.
12:20 PM – Q&A and Closing Remarks
Time for your questions and final tips from Chris.