Compost Connectors at Lovin Elementary School in Gwinnett County after delivering cafeteria food scraps to the compost bin.

Connecting Students to Urban Agriculture Through Healthy Soil

Compost Connectors is an innovative program in partnership with Booker T. Washington High School, M. Agnes Jones Elementary School, Marietta City Schools, Gwinnett County Public Schools and Gwinnett Clean & Beautiful.

When students participate in composting and urban agriculture, they experience the life-changing resiliency that comes with producing their own healthy food. Through Compost Connectors, we are providing students with levels of engagement that will shape them into compost and local food ambassadors.

Incorporating IB, STEAM and STEM-based curricula, participating students are coming to understand their role in building healthier communities by interacting with each phase of the cycle: Collecting and delivering food waste to compost bins; transferring compostable materials through bins to make compost; incorporating finished compost into beds to increase nutrients in soil; tending plants as they grow; harvesting, preparing and enjoying the produce they have grown.

Compost Connectors is growing—and so is its impact.

When Food Well first launched the Compost Connectors program, more than 5,500 students were introduced to composting through cafeteria waste sorting. Of those students, 149 students were directly involved int he Compost Connectors program by collecting food scraps, weighing the scraps, monitoring and turning the compost pile, or serving as high school interns.

In just three years, the program has expanded to reach over 13,700 students, with an incredible 3,419 student leaders directly involved in supporting the program and getting hands-on experience learning the composting cycle. Food waste diversion has increased by 178% since the program began!

Booker T. Washington High School Compost Connectors in Atlanta earn competitive salaries as paid interns. Many, like Harmoni (right), have expressed a desire to pursue careers in agriculture.

Marietta Middle School students deliver cafeteria fruit and vegetable scraps to the compost tumbler at their school garden.

Participating Schools

Baggett Elementary School

Booker T. Washington High School

Discovery High School

Hopkins Elementary School

Harbins Elementary School

Lilburn Elementary School

Lovin Elementary School

M. Agnes Jones Elementary School

Marietta Middle School

McKendree Elementary School

Minor Elementary School

Sycamore Elementary School

Want to Join Compost Connectors?

Food Well is currently accepting applications for the next school year. Schools located in Fulton, DeKalb, Gwinnett, Cobb, and Clayton counties are eligible to apply and the deadline to submit an application is June 8. Learn more and apply here!

You can reach out to Chloe Weathington, FWA’s Urban Agriculture Project Manager, at chloe@foodwellalliance.org with any questions about the application or the program.