About Us
a Composting Community
How It Started
Resources
Publications
Additional Organizations
About Us
Why Compost?
In the United States:
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30% of landfill waste is yard and food waste
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The average person generates 230 pounds of yard waste per year
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Every year, food waste produces as much in greenhouse gas emissions as 37 million cars.
Composting reduces landfill methane, enriches soil naturally, and closes the food loop.
Your backyard makes a difference.
Nice To Meet You!
I’m Stewart Martin
Chef. Composter. Urban Gardener. Educator.
My journey began in the kitchen — where a love of cooking evolved into a passion for growing and returning nutrients to the soil. For the past 23 years, my family and I have lived our lives at the intersection of food, soil, and sustainability.
Over the past two decades of composting, we have
- Diverted 20 tons of food scraps from the waste stream
- Produced more than 20 cubic yards of nutrient-rich compost
- Designed and refined a composting system ideal for urban/city living
- Helped families throughout the Providence nutrify their gardens area grow their own food
Credentials & Certifications
- URI Master Composting & Recycling Program Graduate
- URI Master Gardener Program Graduate
- Maine Compost School Graduate
- RI Tree Council Certified Tree Steward
For me, composting is more than waste diversion. It’s empowerment.
“My whole life had been spent waiting for an epiphany, a manifestation of God’s presence, the kind of transcendent, magical experience that lets you see your place in the big picture. And that is what I had with my first compost heap. I love compost, and I believe that composting can save not the entire world, but a good portion of it.”
—Bette Midler, 1996
Publications
“Learn why backyard composting may be one of the simplest and most impactful ways to reduce waste and support a healthier environment. ”
“After perfecting his home composting system, Martin realized he had something to share that would be beneficial to his community. Providence GardenWorks began as a concept for a home composting company, but after encouragement from a friend, Martin soon realized that urban gardening had to become a part of it, too.”
Providence Monthly
The East Side Goes Greener
“I have not contributed so much as a cupful of food waste to the waste stream. Food waste is a big contributor to climate change, and yet 100 percent of food waste is compostable.”
Summit Neighborhood Association
De-Mystifying the Urban Composting Process with Stewart Martin
“Stewart has become a trusted resource that is fully committed to my composting success, often stopping by on his walks around the neighborhood to check on my compost and to give it an extra mix.”
Resources
♻️ Composting Education & Training
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University of Rhode Island Master Gardener Program
Research-based gardening and composting education.
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Maine Compost School
Professional compost training and soil biology programs. -
BioCycle
Industry-leading publication on composting and organic waste recycling. -
URI Food Safety
Garden-to-table food safety guide (PDF)
🪱 Composting Services & Regional Operations
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Earth Care Farm
Large-scale composting and soil production in RI. -
Bootstrap Compost
Residential food scrap collection service. -
Earth Appliance Organics
RI-based compost collection program. -
The Worm Ladies
Vermicomposting education and worm bin resources.
🌎 Local Environmental Organizations (Rhode Island)
🌿 Urban Gardening & Growing Food
🌎 Inspiration & National Conversation
*Subscription Required
Why Diversity Is an Advantage in a Vegetable Plot
Climate Curious: Food Waste
Additional Organizations
Stewart’s work doesn’t stop in the garden. His passion for hands-on learning, craftsmanship, and community extends into technology, food, and photography. Each venture reflects the same thoughtful approach and practical expertise you’ve come to expect.
