Past

Compost after Writing

Photo courtesy of Cassandra Marketos.

Active Cultures and KCRW present Compost After Writing, a reflective writing program conceived by compost artist and writer Cass Marketos. This program will be presented as part of the LA Times Festival of Books at the University of Southern California across April 18–19, 2026.

Cass Marketos writes about compost as something radical and soul-opening, a practice that connects ecology, philosophy, and everyday life. Her new book, Compost After Reading, is a practical manifesto for purposeful decomposition, and is compostable itself.

At our shared booth, festival visitors are invited to pause, sit, and respond to a set of reflective writing prompts Cass has created, exploring ideas of transformation, memory, and what we leave behind. You’ll write on seed paper that you can take home to plant or compost. Your words, returned to the earth.

On Sunday, April 19 at 2 PM, Cass will join us in-person to run the activity and give a short reading from the book. Copies will be available for purchase at the booth.

Find at us at the KCRW tent (#031 in the Cardinal Zone).

About the Artist

Cassandra Marketos
Cassandra Marketos is a writer, composter, and community organizer whose work explores the relationships between decay, renewal, and meaning-making. Her writing investigates ecological and cultural transformation, with a particular interest in what decomposition can teach us about how we live and create together. Her work has been shown at Vielmetter...
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About Compost After Reading

With wry and brilliant writing, Cassanda Marketos brings the culture, beauty, community, and philosophy of compost to life in Compost After Reading — a one-of-a-kind, inventive work of narrative nonfiction that brings compost out of the dark ages and into the contemporary moment. Delightfully philosophical and inviting, it is an accessible guide to everything you need to know about compost, with actionable advice for beginners and experienced composters. You will learn why compost works, where to put your compost, how to pick your compost set up, the basics of decomposition, what to put in a compost pile, where to source your compost materials, and how to build a pile. With insights on what tools to consider, how to deal with odors, insects, and other critters, and transitioning your compost pile for colder weather, find easy-to-follow compost pile designs, tips on composting in small spaces, composting with worms, and how to compost things you’re always told you can’t (you just need to know how).

About KCRW

KCRW is your connection to music, news, culture, and each other — on the radio, online, and in-person. We belong to Los Angeles, connecting diverse perspectives and the sounds of Southern California with curious communities around the corner and around the world. Our radio broadcast signal in LA at 89.9FM. https://www.kcrw.com/

Credits

Active Cultures is sustained through the generous support of the Los Angeles County Department of Arts and Culture; the City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs; the Vera R. Campbell Foundation; the Getty Foundation; the Jerry & Terri Kohl Family Foundation; the Maurice Marciano Family Foundation; the Offield Family Foundation; Teiger Foundation; James Cohan Gallery; Who Wants To Be A Millionaire/ABC; William Grant & Sons; Active Cultures’ Board of Directors; the Members Circle Annual Fund; Green Art Lab Alliance (GALA); and the Los Angeles Visual Arts (LAVA) Coalition.

Event Details

DATE: April 18 – 19, 2026 TIME: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM

LOCATION: University of Southern California

Registration

Registration has closed.

Thank you to those who attended!

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