If you aren’t already composting, what are you waiting for? People across the country are experiencing how compost (aka black gold) can transform the nutrition of a garden and divert unnecessary waste from the landfill. Whether you buy a fancy compost tumbler or build one on the cheap with salvaged materials, it’s easy to get started making this valuable soil amendment.

And be sure to mark your calendars: Every year, the first week of May is International Compost Awareness Week. (Yeah, there’s a holiday for that.) During this time, the U.S. Composting Council encourages communities to host events meant to inspire, from backyard composting and vermicomposting workshops to city-wide compost collection.

If these events aren’t enough to get you revved up for compost action, check out the slideshow below to see how Urban Farm readers have incorporated composting into their urban-farming operations.