Oregon Coast TODAY **Nicole Cousino and Richard Haskell are offering community education classes on their “Newledo Exploration Hub” property between Newport and Toledo.**

By GRETCHEN AMMERMAN/Oregon Coast TODAY

When Nicole Cousino and Richard Haskell purchased a property visible from U.S. Highway 20 between Newport and Toledo that features a stunning dairy barn and plenty of open space, they had visions of creating a place that they and others could use as a positive resource.

“We were originally envisioning a sustainability education center, but we soon realized we didn’t want the information to be only going one way,” Cousino said. “A better way to describe our goal is a community hub, where people can learn together about sustainable practices and climate-friendly living and can build relationships with other like-minded folks.”

Dubbing the site “Newledo Exploration Hub,” the couple began to offer a few workshops and opportunities not available to those with less expansive space. For example, they housed bees and welcomed those who wanted to explore the apiary arts to help maintain the bees and then share in their bounty.

“I’ve read that you get a dopamine hit from learning and creating together,” Cousino said. “We’re not looking for volunteers, we’re looking to build mini-community groups of like-minded individuals.”

The couple are offering two winter information gatherings – a biochar workshop called “Biocharge 2025” on Saturday, Jan. 25 and a Compost Café on Feb. 15.

“Biocharge is really an open house,” Cousino said. “Rich is going to be running his biochar kiln and we’ll have another person with a demonstration using coffee grounds and another demonstration using naturally fallen branches.”

Biochar, Cousino said, is an excellent material for soil enrichment and fertility, moisture and nutrient control and carbon sequestration that can be made in your backyard.

“Based on the wisdom of pre-Columbian people who made biochar more than 6,000 years ago and established the fertile areas of Terra Preta in the Amazon, biochar is an exceptional, high-carbon, low-ash soil amendment that works in conjunction with water and fertilizers to hold and slowly release moisture and nutrients as the plants demand,” she said.

The event will cover the basics of biochar, why it’s great for soil building and how to apply it on the land. Guests will also learn how to make a simple kiln and use locally abundant wood chips as the material and enjoy free barbecue and s’mores while learning about this ancient soil building solution.

“It’s a great alternative to burn piles,” Cousino said.

And everyone, whether new to composting or an expert with knowledge to share is invited to join Newledo for its first Compost Café.

“Compost Café is also very much an open house,” Cousino said. “We want to find people to work together to make the compost to take home. Or people that like to garden together.”

Compost, the turning of waste into a material that can enrich and build healthy soil, helps plants thrive and keeps organic waste out of the landfill.

“We’ll be sharing different compost systems and strategies including vermicomposting, or worm composting, and aerated static piles,” Cousino said. “Plus, we’ll have a demonstration on how to make your own low-cost worm bin.”

Coffee, canapes and conversation will be offered for adults, and there will be kid friendly snacks and interactive composting activities to encourage kids to get involved.

Biocharge 2025 will run from 2-5 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 25. The Compost Café will run from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 15. Newledo is located at 88 Fruitvale Road east of Newport. For more information, go to Newledohub.org or email Nicole@NewledoHub.org