Join us for an evening with Mark Stumpf-Allen, former City of Edmonton Compost Programs Coordinator. Discover practical techniques, soil biology basics, and simple solutions for building nutrient-rich growing environments in Edmonton gardens.
Simple Solutions from Edmonton’s Compost Expert
The success of gardens and food forests relies on healthy soil.
With so many products and amendments advertised, the process gets complicated fast. Mark Stumpf-Allen is here to tell you the solutions are simpler than you think.
Mark, fondly known as Markster Composter, has gardened in the Edmonton region for nearly fifty years. His goal has always been building soil that grows tasty, nutrient-dense food. As the former Compost Programs Coordinator with the City of Edmonton, he helped thousands of residents learn how to turn kitchen scraps and yard waste into black gold.
Tonight he walks through the steps to building healthy compost, understanding soil as a living system, and achieving the benefits of growing food in an environment that nurtures plants, ecosystems, and people.
You’ll also meet other gardeners working to build better soil and discover what’s happening locally in Edmonton’s growing permaculture and regenerative agriculture community.
What You’ll Learn
Composting fundamentals – balancing greens and browns, managing moisture and aeration, knowing when compost is ready to use
How soil biology works – the bacteria, fungi, protozoa, and larger organisms that make nutrients available to plants
Building compost systems that fit your space – from apartment balconies to large properties, simple methods that work
Troubleshooting common problems – addressing smell, pests, slow decomposition, or materials that don’t break down
Soil as a living ecosystem – understanding how organic matter, mineral content, and biological activity create fertility
Regenerative soil practices – moving beyond amendments to building self-sustaining soil health over time
Seasonal composting in Edmonton – managing systems through freeze-thaw cycles and making compost work in cold climates
Mark’s teaching draws on practical experience from city-scale organics management, community gardens, and decades of home composting across different conditions.
His approach focuses on understanding principles rather than following rigid rules, so you can adapt techniques to your specific situation.
After the presentation, there’s time for questions about your composting challenges, soil conditions, or gardening situations.
Bring your questions – Mark’s conversational teaching style makes complex soil science accessible.
RITCHIE PRESENTS
Our 2025-2026 session of Ritchie Presents is hosted by our friends at the Edmonton Permaculture Guild. They’re bringing together organizations across Edmonton who work, advocate, and organize across a variety of fields with the common values of “Earth Care, People Care, and Fair Share”.
The Edmonton Permaculture Guild connects you with hands-on education, a growing community of practitioners, and practical skills for building food security and resilient landscapes across Edmonton and all of Alberta. Click here to learn about all of their upcoming events.