A new Community Compost Site opened in June 2025 at Mother Lode Land Trust’s C&C Ranch. The site is a collaborative effort by the Land Trust, University of California Master Gardeners, Amador Waste Management and Recycling Department, and is supported by a generous grant from CalRecycle. This partnership was formed to help Amador County residents meet the requirements of SB 1383, which includes a 75% reduction of organic waste in CA landfills by 2025.
Check out our article collection below for the Compost Learning Center updates and upcoming events!
The Amador Community Garden & Composting Site is situated at 1334 Jackson Gate Road, Jackson, CA, on the grounds of C & C Ranch. It doubles as a demonstration site and community compost facility adjacent to the Heritage Rose Garden and the Community Bicycle Skills Park.
Services Offered
- Regular compost drop-off workshops and educational sessions are available. These allow residents to drop off kitchen scraps or other compostable waste, as well as learn home composting techniques through Master Gardener Public Education Classes.
- Reservations are required. To schedule a drop-off visit motherlodelandtrust.org/compost.
How to Participate
- To drop off compostables, schedule an appointment online through the Mother Lode Trust Website.
- Accepted materials typically include food scraps, yard waste, and other organic material—be sure to check the site’s guidelines when booking.
- The Master Gardeners have established a compost learning center and offer classes on backyard composting for both hot (thermophilic) and cold (dump and cover) composting methods. Register for upcoming classes on our event page.
Services & Community Programs
- The C&C Ranch is managed by the Mother Lode Land Trust. Amador residents can attend other seasonal events such as a community barbeque, community harvest party, Master Gardener plant sale, bike trail stewardship activities, etc. Here is the Mother Lode Land Trust events page.
Compost Tutorials and Resources
Lasagna Composting - UC Agriculture and Natural Resources
Lasagna Gardening - Cornell Cooperative Extension Warren County
Compost Troubleshooting - Master Gardeners of Marin County
Learn by watching great YouTube videos. Check out Composting basics and How to Build a Compost Pile. Also, the Master Gardeners of Sacramento have an entire YouTube playlist dedicated to how to compost.
