Chicken Ranch Rancheria of Me-Wuk Indians

Chicken Ranch Rancheria’s compost system began in 2022 with the goal of recovering organic resources from Tribal lands. The compost system has grown from a simple backyard style hand-turned system to a 60-foot wide concrete bay system capable of processing over 10k lbs of food scraps each month. As of May 2026, 120,000 lbs of food scraps have been composted by the Tribal Compost team, with weekly collection weights reaching 2,000lbs and climbing. The composting process is managed following STA certified compost guidelines to efficiently create a high-quality compost. Finished compost is applied to the soil at Suchumumu Tribal Farm to grow nutrient-rich produce for the casino kitchens, tribal members, and the broader community.

Food scraps are collected across Chicken Ranch Rancheria, including from:

• Perch Rooftop Dining
• TWLV Kitchen & Bar
• (209) Kitchen
• Wahlburgers
• Cold Prep and TDR
• Tribal Administrative Buildings

The increase in organic inputs coupled with Chicken Ranch Rancheria’s regenerative practices means that more nutrients are captured and recycled into high-quality compost as this program grows. What does an increased quantity of high-quality compost mean? It translates into more produce grown on Tribal land to nourish the Tribe and eventually the community at large.