Now is the time to join your neighbors and friends in creating valuable and free compost, healthier soil, and less waste.

The Earth Machine bin is made of recycled plastic with a locking lid and a door at the bottom for removing finished compost. It comes unassembled and fits in the back seat or trunk of almost every automobile. An instruction manual is included, but composting is easy! $50.

A compost turner makes quick work of turning the compost. No heavy shovel or awkward pitchfork needed. Simply plunge the turner into the compost pile and as it is withdrawn, the heavy-duty blades open to aerate and turn the compost. $20.

A kitchen collector gives you a two-gallon, dishwasher-safe place to store food scraps headed to the compost bin. $9.

Composting is a simple, practical, and effective way to recycle yard waste and kitchen scraps. Not only does it keep useable materials from taking up precious landfill space and having to be hauled away (fuel! emissions! dollars!), it turns those materials into a valuable soil amendment.

Monona residents have purchased 155 composters through The Natural Step Monona’s previous sales, keeping more than 73 tons of organic matter from our landfill to date!

This year the bins will be distributed to us in lots of 25. This means that, for example, if we have 30 pre-orders, then those who signed up for bins 26 through 30 will not be able to get bins from us and will have to go stand in the long line with all the other people at the Dane County sale on May 7. So, let us know right away if you are interested!

How to order: send your name, address, email address, and the phone number where you can likely be reached at 11:30 a.m. on May 8 to info@tnsmonona.org or use the “Contact Us” tab on this page. Include the number of compost bins, turners, and kitchen collectors you want. There’s no need to make payment until you pick up your order. Orders must be received by May 2.

You’ll receive an email confirmation of your order with instructions for the distribution, plus a reminder email closer to the date. If you haven’t picked up your order by 11:30 on May 8, we will call you to remind you to come and get it.

The May 8 Distribution

Distribution is at the Monona Farmers’ Market, May 8, from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

We’ll be in the northwest corner of the parking lot at Ahuska Park (the park is on Broadway, just east of the Pier 37 shopping center at Broadway and Monona Drive).

Lance Green, Master Composter, will be on hand to answer your composting questions.

Cash or checks only. Checks should be made out to The Natural Step Monona.

If you won’t be able to pick up your compost bin on May 8, please make arrangements for a friend or neighbor to pick it up for you. Any composters not picked up will be made available for sale to others.