Free Jasper workshop to teach composting, cover crops, soil health

Dubois County residents who want to cut trash, build better garden soil and stretch a small-acreage budget will get a free, in-person workshop in Jasper on May 12.

The Dubois County Soil and Water Conservation District is inviting residents to the session, which will run from 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Registration begins at 5:15 p.m. The workshop will be held at the CTIM Building at Vincennes University Jasper Campus on College Avenue, with a more specific listing placing it at 861 College Ave., Room 227/226, on the second floor in Jasper.

The program is designed for people who want practical answers, not a general lecture. It will cover composting techniques, the benefits of cover crops and how those conservation methods can support healthier soil and more resilient growing systems. For homeowners, gardeners and small-acreage landowners, that can mean less organic waste going to the landfill, lower disposal costs and richer soil for vegetables, flowers and pasture areas.

The conservation district says the workshop fits its broader mission to protect and preserve natural resources for both agricultural and non-agricultural citizens. The district also says it works with local, state and federal agencies to provide cost-share and technical assistance for conservation practices, a sign that the free class is meant to connect residents to more than one-off advice.

The district is housed in the USDA Service Center at 1486 Executive Blvd. in Jasper and says its work includes reducing soil erosion and promoting clean water. That makes the workshop more than a backyard gardening lesson. Composting and cover crops can help keep nutrients in place, improve soil structure and reduce runoff that can carry sediment away from gardens and fields.

Dubois County has already seen conservation-focused education in Jasper, including earlier land-stewardship and forestry outreach, and this workshop continues that local emphasis on hands-on learning. The setting at Vincennes University Jasper Campus also makes the event easy to reach for residents looking for a short, useful evening program rather than a long drive to find conservation help.

For Dubois County households trying to save money and reduce waste, the appeal is straightforward: free instruction, a local location and ideas that can be put to work immediately in home gardens, yards and farm settings.