C.O.R.E.

All kinds of educational services offered at C.O.R.E., including backyard, schools, and farm scale composting instruction. Also offering bulk vermi-compost sales.

Compost is key to growing healthy gardens and reducing waste in Santa Fe. “Composting is one of the best things we can do for the environment,” says Sam McCarthy, known around town as “the compost man.” “Food scraps make up at least 30 percent of the waste stream in most places. You can eliminate most of that by composting.”

“Backyard composting? Too hard? Too smelly? Too dry in New Mexico? If one or more of these characterizes your experience with home composting, yet you understand the tremendous benefits to our environment that this simple activity can have, behold the amazing red worm. Compared with other methods, composting with redworms requires the least labor, the least water, and in most cases, the least time to complete. The best part (so good it should be illegal) is that worm compost-castings-is simply the most fabulous compost in the known universe. The local soil has pretty good mineral content but lacks nitrogen and carbon found in greener locales. Compost solves the problem.”

Listen to Sam discuss the how-tos and importance of vermiculture on KSFR’s Garden Show on 7/23/16 by clicking here.

A chat with Sam in 2018

What is a signature item that you sell? Worms! They can be gray, red, blue, green or black. These are shallow dwelling worms which makes for a better compost. I sell the worm in an 8oz. cup that hold 50 to 100 worms. I also sell a one pound bag of worms and worms casings. And, I sell compost, just not at the Market.

How long have you been farming? 20 years

How long have you been a member of the Market? 19 years

Share a favorite memory of the Market: A little boy about 10 years old walked up to my table, held up a worm, and immediately ate it! I then said to his mom, “you owe me $5.”  Obviously, it must have been a bet.  They left right after that.

How did you get into farming? I worked as the Farmers’ Market Manager from 1996-1999. Then the original worm vendor at the Market passed away.  I took over his spot, not realizing that I’d get hooked on this worm/compost business.

Do you own or rent the land you grow on? Own – I just bought property in La Mesilla.

How was your growing season last year?  Last year was the best year I’ve had. This year has also been above average.

Besides farming, what takes up your time? I Enjoy mountain biking and working on cars

Are you celebrating anything special this year? Buying property is a big deal for me.  After living Santa Fe for a number of years, I’m looking forward to the quiet countryside.

How would you describe yourself in one word? Overworked

What is your favorite dish to make? Pasta Carbonara

Red or Green? Both

Which veg/fruit speaks to you on a personal level and how? I love carrots- This was my mother’s favorite veggie too and I learned all about them as a child. Furthermore, her gardening efforts got me interested in worms and gardening.

What is the strangest thing you’ve eaten? Grasshopper, Ants and a snake

What have you done that you are most proud of? Working as a worm vendor at the Farmers’ Market

Day in the life of a farmer: Works 8-5 at Payne’s Nurseries. Has a sweet deal with his full-time job at Payne’s Nurseries because he is the Manager there and is able to raise worms on 4 acres at Payne’s Organic Soil Yard (POSY) on the southside of town. One hour every day is spent in maintaining his worms at the POSY.