Plate to Garden

About Plate to Garden

​In 2015 the MNCC developed the Plate to Garden program to complete the loop of growing food, eating food, and turning food scraps back into soil to grow food again.

Plate to Garden Compost provides community organizations, schools, and others the opportunity to raise money for their organization or a charity while educating citizens about the benefits of composting and using finished compost.

By delivering compost in bulk, customers get to see and feel the product prior to purchasing it. Plate to Garden Compost is a win-win for community organizations and the environment!

How the Program Works

Minnesota Composting Compost will:​
  • Provide a list of participating compost sites
  • Provide bags to fill with compost (Fee $1/Bag)
    • ​Note: Ten cubic yards of compost is sufficient to fill 500 bags!
  • Provide event signage and safety tools
  • Provide educational materials for hosting organizations​​
The Organization Must:
  • Arrange for finished compost to be delivered. Delivery and payment is
    ​arranged between host organizations and the compost facility.
  • Find volunteers to help fill bags of compost on the day of the event
  • Promote the event to the community
  • Set their purchase price and manage sales
  • Pay for the compost, delivery, and bags used following the event​
  • Arrange to return signage, tools and unused bags to Plate to Garden representative.
    • You will be invoiced by the MNCC for bags used at a cost of $1/bag.

Curious about the Benefits of Compost? ​

  • Great for the garden: compost can be added to seed, starting mixes, container plantings, garden beds, or lawns
  • Full of microorganisms: adding compost helps break down organic matter into nutrients, making plants grow stronger
  • Less watering: compost increases the amount of moisture the soil retains, so you have to water less
  • Can also help prevent erosion

Plate to Garden Compost Bags

Picture
The wait is over! Plastic bags are a thing of the past for our Plate to Garden events as of 2022. The MNCC now sells burlap bags to any organization or business hosting a Plate to Garden event. 

​Keep an eye out for Plate to Garden events near you in 2025 so you can support organizations in your community and the composting industry in Minnesota.

2025 Plate to Garden Events
A fundraising opportunity that also helps the environment!

Send an email to [email protected]
​to ask questions or register your event here
Recommended Compost Facilities:

​SMSC
Jenny Appenzeller: [email protected]

Waste Management, formerly Twin Cities SET
Joy Harms: [email protected]
please CC Jake Duame: [email protected]
​
Glacier Ridge 
Nathan Reinbold: [email protected]

CreekSide Soils
Cassandra Meuffels
[email protected]
​
Greater Minnesota
Please contact Zaria Romero at [email protected] for information
​on other Greater Minnesota composting locations.

​
Note: A ten cubic yards
of compost should to fill
​500 bags

Presenting Sponsor

Supporting Sponsors

MNCC's International Compost Awareness Week
Plate to Garden Events

2022 Plate to Garden Hosts
​

SMSC Organics Recycling Facility
Mississippi Market & Minnesota WasteWise
Metropolitan Airport Commission
Love the Earth Event  | PDSWM compost for your garden: Bagged by Boy Scouts & LutherCrest Volunteers
Church of St. Paul
MNCC Minnesota Compost Awareness Day presented by BizRecycling at CHS Field
MNCC at Urban Growler
​
First Lutheran Church
​Boston Scientific - Arden Hills
​Bethel Manor/Winona Shores gardening program
St. Johns Lutheran Church
​Boston Scientific 
Tangletown
City of New Brighton 

2021 Plate to Garden Hosts

Carver County Environmental Center
Columbia Heights High School Key Club
Waste Wise
Private Organization
​Scouts BSA Troop 9260 & 7269 
​US Bank Virtual Plate to Garden
MNCC & Urban Growler
​Private Organization
​FIT Academy Charter School
​St. John's Lutheran Church Lakeville
Private Organization
​Tangletown

2020 Plate to Garden Hosts

No events were held in 2020 due to COVID-19.

2019 Plate to Garden Hosts

Carver Co. Environmental Services
Minnesota Composting Council
First Lutheran Church
Landscape and Horticulture Club
Lynnhurst Environmental Committee
In the Heart of the Beast Puppet and Mask Theater
​Boston Scientific Arden Hills
St. Agnes School
5th & 6th Grade Class
Glenwood Area Girl Scouts
Boston Scientific Maple Grove

Plate to Garden Compost program featured in articles!

Plate to Garden event
Here is a fun example of a Plate to Garden event as a digital ad in the Northeaster Newspaper from 2021. Enjoy the read!

​The Plate to Garden program was also featured in the May 2016 issue of BioCycle Magazine! 

Plate to Garden is a fundraiser for any organization interested in selling compost to their friends, family, and the general public. The MNCC provides bags and equipment, and helps promote the event. The fundraising organization is responsible for coordinating the delivery of compost and selecting a delivery location for the compost, mobilizing necessary volunteers, promoting the event, and coordinating the return of borrowed supplies.
​

Past Plate to Garden Fundraising Events

Waconia School Event

Boston Scientific

MN Landscape Arboretum

McDonalds - Coon Rapids