NPR’s Marketplace: A dirty story about the compost supply chain
Agromin was recently featured in an NPR “Marketplace” radio segment. A Marketplace reporter visited the Agromin composting center at Limoneira in Santa Paula and interviewed Agromin CEO Bill Camarillo and Limoneira’s Vice President Farm Management Services Edgar Gutierrez. The segment follows the recycling process—from organic waste intake, to curing the material, to distributing the finished compost and mulch onto Limoneira orchards.
To hear the segment, click here.
City-Agromin Partnerships in Northern and Southern California
The cities of Santa Clarita and Sacramento recently announced free compost programs for residents through partnerships with Agromin. Residents can use the material in their gardens and landscapes.
Here are two articles about the programs.
Ventura County Jurisdictions Provide 40 Tons of Agromin Compost and Mulch to Local Schools During Fourth Quarter 2024 at No Cost to Schools
The cities of Oxnard and Ventura, along with the County of Ventura, enlisted the help of Agromin, California’s largest organics recycler and manufacturer of environmentally friendly soil products, to distribute 40 tons of compost and mulch to local schools during the last quarter of 2024. This distribution was coordinated by Ventura County Farm to School, a nonprofit dedicated to promoting environmental, agricultural and nutrition education.
Schools receiving compost and mulch for their school gardens included Haycox Elementary School, Lincoln Elementary School, Mesa High School, Oxnard High School, Rio Del Norte Elementary School, Rio Del Sol STEAM School, Rio Del Valle Middle School, Rio Real Elementary, Tierra Vista Elementary, and Sunset Elementary School.
“Students come alive when they get to visit their school garden. Planting new seedlings and even just touching fresh soil brings them so much joy," says Anna Jackson, executive director of Ventura County Farm to School. “The garden lessons spark curiosity about their environment, and students enjoy learning while engaged in a hands-on living laboratory.”
The cities and county were able to provide the compost and mulch at no cost to the schools due to SB 1383, a climate change bill. This legislation requires jurisdictions to divert their green waste from landfills and acquire organic products made from green waste to benefit their communities.
“We're excited to support Ventura County Farm to School. Kids experience the fun and satisfaction of growing food firsthand while learning about the benefits of organic recycling and soil health. It’s an ideal way for the city to utilize converted SB 1383 compost and mulch,” says City of Oxnard Mayor Luis A. McArthur. Oxnard also applies these materials in parks, street medians, and other public properties.
When green waste is placed in landfills, it produces harmful methane gas that enters the atmosphere and contributes to climate change. The goal of SB 1383 is to significantly reduce the amount of green waste in landfills. “By transforming green waste into reusable organic products like compost and mulch and returning the material to the soil, we’re not only helping keep our atmosphere clean but also improving the soil to ensure that gardens and landscapes thrive,” says Bill Camarillo, Agromin’s CEO.
Ventura County Farm to School is recognized as one of Agromin’s “Healthy Soil Heroes.” This program connects jurisdictions across California with local nonprofit organizations in need of compost and mulch.
Additional compost and mulch will be distributed to schools and nonprofits in 2025. For more information, visit https://agromin.com/community or contact Cody Cain at 805-850-8797.
Learn more about SB 341, a proposed state senate bill that supports school gardens throughout California, at https://calmatters.digitaldemocracy.org(https://calmatters.digitaldemocracy.org).
Agromin Launches “Healthy Soil Heroes”
Agromin, California's largest organics waste recycler and manufacturer of earth-friendly soil products, has launched its “Healthy Soil Heroes,” ambassador program by partnering with five founding members. The founding members represent a diverse range of agricultural and community-focused businesses, including a native plant nursery, flower farm, community garden, agricultural education ambassadors and an edible garden design company.
"We created Healthy Soil Heroes as a way to recognize businesses and nonprofits that are promoting sustainable gardening, farming and landscaping practices,” says Bill Camarillo, Agromin’s CEO. “They are creating healthy food, beautifying landscapes and improving our planet.”
The Founding Five
Meiners Oaks Community Garden is a new 7,500-square-foot community garden located a few miles from downtown Ojai. Its grand opening is October 20. The garden is made of 38 3’x6’ raised garden beds. Community members can rent space to create their own gardens and participate in gardening-based workshops and events. Rental fees include soil, tools and water. To sign up, attend the October 20 grand opening or go to www.meinersoakscommunitygarden.com for more information.
MiniNature Reserve, a nonprofit organization based in Oxnard, began in 2021 by Diego Magaña who was inspired by the beauty of natural parks. He started a native plant nursery in his backyard, and with a team of volunteers, he planted the first of several “MiniNature Reserves” in Ventura County. These reserves are pockets of nature within an urban setting aimed at creating green spaces while providing habitats for native plants, pollinators and animals. MiniNature Reserve’s plant nursery is now at 1,500 square-foot location in Oxnard and is open to the public.
Grow With Mo, based in Ojai, is a garden design, consulting and education company specializing in edible gardens, permaculture and regenerative design. Founder Morgan (Mo) Visalli helps her clients grow vegetable gardens, healthy fruit trees, and create more ecologically friendly landscapes by using organic growing practices.
Ventura County Farm-2-School works with 12 school districts throughout Ventura County supporting over 50 school gardens. More than 30,000 students participate each year in Farm-2-School programs where students learn about nutrition, agriculture, the environment and healthy cooking. Farm-2-School also provides technical assistance and training to teachers so they can incorporate school gardens into their teaching curriculum. Its Ventura County School Food Hub, with partner Farm Cart Organics, delivers fruits and vegetables from local farms to schools so the produce can be included in daily student meals.
Killdeer Farms in West Sacramento is a small, family-owned farm that grows mostly flowers and lavender. Owners Christine and Scott Killdeer sell their flowers once a month from their five-acre farm during their harvest season. Flowers are also available through subscriptions and in bulk. They offer workshops where community members receive hands-on planting instructions and get to take home bouquets of fresh-cut flowers.
As a benefit of being a member of Healthy Soil Heroes, members receive a free supply of Agromin compost, mulch and other soil amendments plus a 15 percent off coupon code that members can share with customers and colleagues. Members, in turn, highlight their success stories using Agromin materials through their social media channels.
Healthy Soil Heroes membership applications are closed for 2024 but will open in 2025 for agricultural-related businesses and organizations. For more information, go to https://agromin.com/community or contact Cody Cain (805-850-8797, [email protected].
Waste Dive: California’s organics diversion mandate enters its ‘adolescent age,’ updated with new laws
Agromin CEO Bill Agromin was recently interviewed by Waste Dive about the current status of SB 1383 and organics diversion mandates in light of new laws.
To read the article, click here.Link
Agromin’s Bill Camarillo: PCBT’s Spirit Of Small Business Award Winner
Agromin CEO Bill Camarillo recently received the Pacific Coast Business Times’ Spirit of Small Business award as a veteran business owner. Here’s a video that tells his story: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mq9_-hmG4Js.