The Composter Podcast

• Rust Belt Riders: Nathan Rutz on Cooperatives and Scaling up

  Today, I’m thrilled to share my conversation with Nathan. He’s the Director of Soil and a long-time force behind Rust Belt Riders, a cooperative composting operation that’s grown from bicycles and buckets to launching a mid-scale compost facility. Their story is truly inspiring—not just because of the growth, but because of how intentionally they’ve done it.We talk about the early days, what it’s been like to scale, and the importance of their unique cooperative business structure—which sets them apart in the composting world. And toward the end of the conversation, Nathan shares his beautiful vision of a compost-centric utopian future. It’s heartfelt, imaginative, and honestly, something we could all use a bit more of.Check out Rust Belt Riders (👊) athttps://www.rustbeltriders.com/Nathan mentioned Farmers of Forty Centuries; Or, Permanent Agriculture in China, Korea and Japan, a book by Franklin Hiram King that anyone interested in Compost should check out! Thank you to our Show sponsors:Green Mountain Technologies: visit Compostingtechnology.com and mention The Composter podcast for a free consultationAnd Agrilab Technologies at www.agrilabtech.com/podcastMerch:https://www.earthcarefarm.com/store/c3/Clothing.htmlContact:Composter Host, Jayne Merner can be reached at [email protected] or through https://www.instagram.com/composterpodcast/

  --------  

  52:19

  --------

  52:19
• Green Mountain Compost: Dan Goossen On Persistent Herbicides

  Today’s episode comes from a walk-and-talk at Green Mountain Compost in Vermont with Dan Goossen. Dan was super generous with his time—he gave us a full tour of the site and shared insights from over 20 years in the composting world.There’s a lot to take away from this conversation, The first half of the interview is about site process and new techniques Green Mountain has adopted for quality and efficincy. The second half is about Dan’s experience being the first compost operator in the country to publicly deal with persistent herbicide contamination. Back in 2012, before anyone really knew about these chemicals, Green Mountain Compost made national news when they discovered 10,000 cubic yards of compost had been affected.It all started with one customer calling about a garden that wasn’t growing right... then came 500 more. You can imagine the heartbreak—putting your heart into making great compost, only to find out that an unknown herbicide in manure can ruin your whole batch.Dan’s openness in sharing what happened has helped the whole industry move forward. It’s a powerful story. Dan also shares awesome tips and enhancements on their site: there’s a lot to learn here.Check out Green Mountain Compost at https://cswd.net/waste-recycling-help/organics/green-mountain-compost/Thank you to our Show sponsors:AgriLab Technologies: www.agrilabtech.com/podcastCompost Systems of Austria: https://www.compost-systems.com/enMerch:https://www.earthcarefarm.com/store/c3/Clothing.htmlContact:Host Jayne Merner can be reached at [email protected] or through instagram @composterpodcast

  --------  

  47:18

  --------

  47:18
• Jesse Frost from GROWERS DAILY

  Today’s episode is a special one. We’re talking with the very knowledgeable and very lovable Farmer Jesse Frost from No-Till Growers and his The Growers Daily Podcast . Some of you may know that The Composter actually started as part of the No-Till Growers family, and I was originally hired by them to host the show. Jesse’s going to talk us through how the Composter Podcast came to be, how it’s grown, and what he’s up to now. And of course, we’ll dig into how he’s using compost on his farm these days. If you haven’t already, definitely check out The Growers Daily Podcast, hosted by Jesse—I love catching it on YouTube for great growing tips.Support Jesse's work (👊) at https://www.notillgrowers.com/support or / notillgrowersShow sponsors:Green Mountain Technologies: visit Compostingtechnology.com and mention The Composter podcast for a free consultationAgriLab Technologies: www.agrilabtech.com/podcastMerch:https://www.earthcarefarm.com/store/c3/Clothing.html

  --------  

  30:12

  --------

  30:12
• Season 4 Composter Teaser

  Wow, we’ve made it to Season 4 of the Composter Podcast — and I couldn’t be more excited to share this journey with you. Our first episode drops Wednesday, November 5, and we’ll be coming to you every other week through March, with a total of 12 inspiring episodes.Thank you for all the love you’ve given this show over the past three seasons. Composting is evolving fast — new challenges, new solutions, and more people than ever getting involved. This podcast is here to help you stay informed, inspired, and connected to the wider composting community.There’s also some exciting personal updates. Many of you know that I run my family’s 48 year old farm, Earth Care Farm and we are expanding our compost operation, across the state line into Sterling, Connecticu. We are nearing the finish line — I’m on the last of seven permits (yes, seven!). It’s been a journey, but the finish line is in sight.And one more fun thing — we’ve launched brand new Composter Podcast merchandise over on our Earth Care Farm website. If you want to show your compost pride, go check it out!So listen up for another season packed with diverse voices, hard-won wisdom, and new ideas. Composting is more than a method — it’s a movement. And the momentum? It’s real. I can feel it.Let’s dig in.www.earthcarefarm.comhttps://www.instagram.com/composterpodcast/

  --------  

  1:49

  --------

  1:49
• USCC Compost Conference 2025 (w/ '24 Conference Highlights)

  Hey Compost Lovers, I just booked my flights to Phoenix for USCC Compost Conference 2025. Join me, January 27th to 30th for compost enthusiasts from all over the globe unite to celebrate all things soil, sustainability, and innovation. What's in store? Workshops galore. Dive into fresh ideas, techniques, and discussions that'll make your Compost games stronger. The trade show. I'll be hanging at booth 501 checking out Viably's latest Komptech innovations and so much more. The demo day on the last day, get ready to watch those big machines do their thing. Full flex mode guaranteed. And my favorite part? Connections. Meeting you. Whether you're a composter, researcher, or equipment guru, this is where our global soil-loving squad comes together. Let's share. Last year was incredible. Check out the following stories from past attendees...

  --------  

  23:29

  --------

  23:29

More Business podcasts

Trending Business podcasts

About The Composter Podcast