Sundiata Hardy-El, a graduate of Florida A&M University, considers himself a social entrepreneur. The owner of Compost Community, Tallahassee’s only compost pick-up service, Hardy-El also manages the Frenchtown Urban Farm, Promise Land Urban Farm, and the FAMU Agroecology Mini Farm. Much of his time is spent in a service capacity, speaking on compost, gardening, health, and nutrition to various groups throughout Tallahassee and Florida. Hardy-El has 13 years of experience in the urban farming movement and subscribes to the Soil Food Web School composting methodology.
RAFI Farmers of Color Network Communications Project Manager Hope Ostane-Baucom spoke with Hardy-El about composting for small-scale farmers. This conversation has been edited for brevity and clarity.
Hope Ostane-Baucom (HOB): Can you share how Compost Community began and what inspired you to focus your work on composting in Tallahassee, Florida?
Sundiata Hardy-El (SHE): Compost Community started in 2013 with the idea of providing an important service to the people of Tallahassee. I was inspired by compost itself. Compost is an intricate network of microorganisms working in harmony to provide life to other organisms, i.e., plants and then humans. I learned how important composting is, and the process itself intrigued me.
HOB: What benefits will farmers see when they begin producing and managing their own compost?
SHE: Composting can significantly reduce the amount of soil inputs, like fertilizer, on any farm. Composting will automatically improve soil fertility, leading to greater plant growth and nutrient density. Farmers will experience increased crop health when they implement composting and agroecological principles into their farming systems.
In addition to saving on inputs, farmers can generate additional income from producing compost and selling that compost or creating compost-related products such as seed-starting mixes that are tailored to specific groups of plants. This can be done with research and product development.
HOB: What makes compost truly effective in terms of nutrient availability and balance for plants?
SHE: A good, quality compost is a catalyst for what we call nutrient cycling. Nutrient cycling is the process by which particular organisms in the soil make nutrients available in the form of soluble trace minerals that are available to be taken up by the roots of plants. Additionally, one of the organisms of a good compost is the presence of fungi, which act as “gatherers” of additional nutrients for the plants’ root systems. Some mycorrhizal fungi integrate with the root system of plants and stretch out farther than the root system to pull in what the plant needs through its hyphae into the root. Good compost is able to increase nutrient availability. Pretty amazing, isn’t it?
HOB: How does composting contribute to climate resilience on farms, especially in regions facing extreme weather?
SHE: Composting helps with carbon sequestration, the process of removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere — where it contributes to global warming — and absorbing it into the soil, where it improves soil health to benefit plants.
HOB: What knowledge or skills do farmers need most in order to manage compost effectively?
SHE: Farmers should adhere to the organic standards for compost manufacturing and the Soil Food Web method to manufacture compost effectively and confidently. Discipline in taking temperatures and monitoring moisture levels is required to ensure the compost is being produced properly. Otherwise, the compost is merely organic matter, lacking nutrient density.
The soil food web is the living network of organisms in soil, including bacteria, fungi, protozoa, nematodes, insects, and earthworms, that break down organic matter and make nutrients available to plants. When this underground ecosystem is healthy and balanced, it improves soil structure, water retention, plant health, and overall farm resilience. The concept was pioneered by soil microbiologist Dr. Elaine Ingham, founder of the Soil Food Web School, whose work highlights the vital role soil biology plays in sustainable agriculture.
HOB: Compost Community blends environmental stewardship with entrepreneurship. Can you walk us through how your composting business model works and how you sustain it financially?
SHE: Our revenue model allows us to generate revenue on the front end and the back end. Customers who purchase a subscription have their compost picked up/dropped off, and we also sell finished compost to our local community. We’re able to sustain primarily because of that subscription model, which allows us to pay employees and reinvest in the business.
HOB: How does Compost Community help bridge urban waste streams and local food production?
SHE: We primarily serve home gardeners and homesteaders who focus on “Grow Where You Are.” Many of our clients experience a significant reduction in their waste production. This is evidence of our impact on the local community.
HOB: For farmers interested in launching their own compost enterprise, what are important first steps they should consider?
SHE: For farmers and individuals looking to launch their own compost enterprise, the first consideration should be the target clientele. This decision will help shape the business model and streamline efforts (financial and marketing) in the right direction. Consider whether you want to focus on collecting residential waste, commercial organic waste, or both to supply your compost, as well as whether you want to go around and pick up the waste for composting or create drop-off locations.
HOB: What do you say to farmers who are hesitant to start composting?
SHE: It takes time, labor, and space in order to reduce input costs. This approach is critical to any farm’s sustainability efforts. Even if there’s minimal compost produced, it can be used to start seedlings for the farm. You don’t have to produce a ton of volume for it to be profitable.
HOB: Looking ahead, what gives you hope about the future of composting and soil health in the Southeast?
SHE: Composting is the future of the earth. Carbon sequestration is a major component of composting. Compost and soil health in the Southeast will thrive as more farmers come to understand the importance of biological farming without synthetic inputs. We are garnering support from the larger community, from Florida to Texas and up the East Coast, to begin transforming our soil profiles through compost, compost teas, and extracts. The compost industry as a whole is advocating for policy changes in many states and municipalities across the country, and we are excited about the legislative changes underway. I am extremely excited and hopeful about the future of composting.
Hope Ostane-Baucom has been with RAFI since 2024, serving as its Farmers of Color Network Communications Project Manager. Hope is passionate about local food systems and integrated pest management. She volunteers at farmers markets, tends her garden, and performs spoken word poetry.