Musket Ridge Golf Club is proud to be the first Zero Food Waste facility in the United States. Since 2002, all of the food waste generated from weddings, events, and daily service in Lock, Stock & Barrel has been composted into fertilizer using a Japanese process called Bokashi.
Eco-Friendly Weddings and Events
Bokashi composting uses fermentation rather than decomposition to break down food scraps in a large drum before being released in a covered pile outside. The method, which utilizes a powdered mixture that contains a microbe to promote the fermentation, takes half as long as conventional composting and creates less odor. It also attracts fewer pests and animals, and produces a liquid fertilizer that Musket Ridge uses in its on-site organic vegetable and herb garden.
Impact of These Sustainability Initiatives
On an average year, we keep 8,000 pounds of food waste out of landfills.
Leading the Way in Eco-Friendly Golf Courses
There are several other practices that show Musket Ridge's commitment to being a responsible steward of the environment:
- Rainwater collected by on-site rain barrels irrigates the organic garden
- Kitchen grease is turned into biofuel
- A partnership with the Valley Elementary School "Green Team" enables and encourages these students to lessen their environmental impact and grow a garden at the school
- Cleaning agents are free of chemicals that harm the environment
- All cardboard, aluminum, glass and plastic is recycled
Our Community
Musket Ridge is dedicated to giving back to the community that makes the Club successful. Every year we do a number of activities and fundraisers to show our appreciation to our customers and neighbors. These are just some of the examples of how Musket gives back:
- Love & Liberty Wedding Giveaway - To thank those who risk their lives serving our country, Catoctin Hall at Musket Ridge has given away a September 11th wedding to a military service member, recent veteran or first responder annually since 2011.
- Turkey Shoot for the Needy - Since 2008, the Club holds a tournament before Thanksgiving that requires an entry fee of a frozen turkey that is donated to a local food bank. Last year, over 1,650 pounds of turkey were donated to local low-income families.
- Wellness Fair - A free public event, the Wellness Fair offers resources and activities for attendees of all ages and levels of fitness. A number of on-site health screenings and demonstrations are available, as well as a fitness program for golfers and a volunteering activity to benefit youth in need, which in turn benefits participants' mental health.
- Patriot Golf Day - Musket Ridge collects and matches donations over a three-day weekend to benefit the Folds of Honor Foundation, which provides educational scholarships to the children and spouses of military men and women who have become disabled or lost their lives in the line of duty.
- Challenge at Musket Ridge - In 2012 the Club held the LPGA Symetra Tour's inaugural Challenge at Musket Ridge and a portion of the tournament's proceeds benefited local women's and children's charities.