Biological Composting & Soil Restoration Mentorship Program
Master Biological Composting. Build Living Soil. Join a Community that's Bringing Land Back to Life.
Join the ProgramProgram Begins October 8, 2026.
Whether you're a farmer, community composter, composting business owner, land steward, or aspiring soil consultant, Compost Academy helps you build biologically active compost systems that restore soil fertility, reduce/eliminate dependence on synthetic inputs, and create measurable results in the field.
Over 13 weeks, you'll learn directly from experienced practitioners, receive personalized feedback, and join a global community of people committed to healthier soil and healthier ecosystems.
Compost Academy Student
"I learned more in the first day I was here than I learned in the last year doing workshops."
Learn Biological Composting Skills
That Create Real-World Results
Most composting courses teach theory.
Compost Academy teaches implementation.
You'll learn how to create biologically active compost, compost extracts, and soil restoration systems that can be applied on farms, community composting projects, businesses, and ecological restoration sites.
By the end of the program, you'll know how to:
- Build compost with confidence
- Source and evaluate materials
- Troubleshoot common composting problems
- Produce biologically active compost extracts and teas
- Improve soil fertility naturally
- Identify quality compost
- Design systems that work at your scale
“The knowledge is beyond anything I've acquired over ten years of working with living soil."
- Compost Academy Student
This isn't information you'll forget after a weekend workshop.
It's a practical skill set you'll continue using and that will impact both you and your community for years to come.
Who This Biological Composting Program Is For
This program is designed for people who already know compost matters and want to take their skills to the next level.
You might be:
- A farmer looking to improve soil fertility and reduce input costs
- A community composter building local composting programs
- A composting business owner seeking better systems and consistency
- A regenerative agriculture practitioner
- An ecological educator
- A land steward restoring degraded landscapes
- An aspiring soil consultant looking to deepen your biological understanding
No matter your starting point, you'll be surrounded by experienced instructors and a community of people who share your passion.
"Being around like-minded people is so important."
"You have people to think with. People understand what you're talking about."
"It's really inspiring to see how many people have the same struggles, the same goals, and the same ambitions."
This isn’t slide-based theory.
It’s field experience translated into usable systems.
What You’ll Learn to Do at Compost Academy
After this training, you’ll be able to:
- Build biologically active compost with consistency
- Design recipes based on your materials, climate, and scale
- Engage with your community to access support with input materials, expansion, and labor
- Produce compost extract and tea that deliver living biology
- Identify maturity and safety with confidence
- Troubleshoot issues before they become costly
- Create repeatable systems that work season after season
- Reduce reliance on synthetic inputs through biological understanding
You won’t just follow instructions.
You’ll recognize what success looks like — in the pile, under the scope, and in the field.
Why Students See Results Faster at Compost Academy
We focus on implementation. We teach you to:
- Build compost that grows biology.
- Build systems that fit your land
- Apply soil amendments with intention
- Observe, adapt, and make informed decisions
Many programs teach soil science.
We teach how to apply it — consistently and at scale.
This is about building skill.
Skill that saves:
- Time — fewer seasons of trial and error
- Money — fewer unnecessary inputs
- Guesswork — because you can verify results
And ultimately, skill that builds soil you can stand behind.
The 2026 Live Soil Mentorship Program
This is where composting becomes a system — not a guess.
Over 13 weeks, you’ll design, build, apply, and integrate biological compost methods into your real-world context — supported by live guidance and a working cohort. This is structured implementation.
By the end, you won’t just understand compost.You’ll know how to manage it.
What You’ll Walk Away With
You will:
- Design a compost system suited to your land and labor
- Source and manage inputs intentionally
- Build and maintain active compost
- Troubleshoot effectively
- Produce and apply compost extract and tea
- Improve lower-quality compost
- Scale applications through fertigation
- Create a practical yearly soil plan
This is skill-building — not content collecting.
How The Program Flows
Weeks 1–3: Foundations
Design your compost space, evaluate inputs, and build the infrastructure and support systems that sustain the work.
Weeks 4–6: Building & Management
Construct piles, manage moisture and temperature, and learn how to recognize and correct problems.
Weeks 7–9: Liquid Biology
Produce and apply compost extract and tea with intention, and strengthen weaker compost systems.
Weeks 10–11: Scaling & Planning
Design application systems and build a clear annual soil strategy.Week 7 - Troubleshooting & Long-Term Compost Care
Weeks 12–13: Integration
Refine your system, resolve final questions, and leave with clarity.
More Than a Composting Course: Mentorship, Community & Accountability
- Real-time feedback
- Cohort discussion and shared problem-solving
- Study circles for troubleshooting
- Templates, tools, and field-based examples
The content adapts to the group.
The learning is active.
The systems are practical.
You won’t just learn biological composting. You’ll implement it with confidence.
EnrollWhat You'll Also Get...
Self Paced Course Access
As part of the 2026 Live Program, you also get access to the full Compost Academy Self Paced Program. With this partner program, you can learn at your own place with a multi-module course that will help you cut your learning curve for improving your soil fertility. Includes deep dive lectures, coaching session replays, and practical demonstrations.
- 24 Practical Video Training Lessons
- 6 Lesson Deep Dive Lectures
- 13 Weeks Soil Mentorship Program Replays
See How Microbe-Rich Compost Restores Landscapes...
Biological composting might seem like just a nice tool, but it has the power to bring back life to degraded landscapes by regenerating the soil biology of an ecosystem.
In this case study video, see how Compost Academy teachers Keisha and Casey Ernst used Biological Compost and extracts to restore a 25 acre landscape after devastating fire.
Farmers, Community Composters, Soil Consultants & Composting Professionals
Some Compost Academy students are farmers looking to break down waste and turn it into income streams. Some are professional composters. Some are community composters.
Some are aspiring soil consultants and ecological educators. Everyone of them shares a passion for creating life by learning the process of Biological Composting.
Why Compost Academy Students Recommend the Program
Over 100 students from around the world have come to the Compost Academy to solve their unique problems, improve their livelihoods, and connect over their love of Composting. Here is what they have to say about the Program...
Bonuses:
More gifts you'll get when you sign up for the Program.
Lifetime Access
Never worry about forgetting a lesson. Return to the training anytime you need a refresher, encounter a new challenge, or want to revisit advanced concepts.
Free Access to Next Live Program
Keep learning alongside future students and continue developing your skills and community long after your first cohort ends.
Discounts and Goodies
Receive priority access to workshops, events, and special opportunities available only to Compost Academy students.
What Makes this Program Different:
Secure Your Spot in the Program
Starts October 8 2026
Live Program
$1950
1-6 Month Payments Available
- 13 Week Live Soil Mentorship Program ($2500 value)
- Self-Paced Essentials Course ($1500 Value)
- Deep Dive Lecture Series ($1000 value)
- Free Access to Next Live Program ($2500 value)
- Discounts to Future Events
- Payment Plans Available (3-6 Months)
- Access Begins October 8th 2026
Need to talk to someone before you join? Call us at 925-330-0846
Course Topic Overview
Practical Soil Foodweb Studies
Reversing Soil Degradation with Compost
The Art of Composting (Thermophilic, Vermicompost & Static Composting)
Application Techniques
Introduction to Compost Technologies and Scaling
Real World Case Studies
Syntropic Agriculture Bonus Lessons
Soil Microbe Adventure
Compost Extract and Teas
Meet Your Instructors
Each of the four founders of The Compost Academy came to this work through a love of gardening and individually found their way to each other. They discovered their unique skillsets could help change food production for the world. Composed of professional soil consultants, composters, and educators who are passionate about practical soil biology The Compost Academy has trained hundreds of people from every background how to take soil restoration into their own hands.
Raleigh Latham
|
a producer, educator, and soil consultant in training. His passion for ecological entrepreneurship, soil biology, and water cycle restoration led him to co-founding three different online schools over the past 7 years, The Soil Foodweb School with Elaine Ingham, Water Stories with Zach Weiss, and the Sustainable Design Masterclass with Neal Spackman. |
Keisha Ernst
is dedicated to advancing microbe farming and soil health. As an owner at Catalyst BioAmendments for six years, Keisha creates specialized compost recipes using microscopic data and environmental factors. She also consults with farmers, compost producers, and home gardeners to enhance microbial content in their practices through the consultation company Soil Matters.
Casey Ernst
discovered his passion for natural systems through a transformative reforestation project in the Andes Mountains of Southern Ecuador. Over seven years, they developed expertise in permaculture design, terraforming, and constructing natural systems, which sparked their drive to create a broader impact on soil and agricultural communities.
This drive led to the creation of Catalyst BioAmendments and Soil Matters.
Brian Vagg
left his work as an engineer when his passion for organic farming and compost teas turned into a full time career. He seamlessly integrated his love for soil health, microorganisms, and sustainability into his consulting practice, ensuring client well-being remains paramount. His homesteading lifestyle fuels a deep connection to soil and the intricacies of nature.
