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Re: [compost_tea] Compost Tea makers



Hi Bob -

I thought the offer you made was very interesting.  I, of course, being the perennial scientist, want the data.  :-) 

I am so happy when you emphasize the importance of getting research done.  Everyone in the world of compost tea needs to see solid scientific data.   SFI has the data published in the Compost Tea Brewing Manual, of course.  I've shown the results of some of our recent studies at the VermiCo meeting in Portland, at Washington Tilth Producers, and at ACRES.  We'll be publishing those studies as well. 

Last year SFI ran the first three teas that people made for free.  All we asked was that you sample the soil before you start, and apply tea to the soil at least once, as well as the foliage.  We asked to have the soil sampled again at the same time this spring.  If you remember to sample the second time, SFI will run that second soil sample for free next spring.  The three teas are free, the first soil sample costs you money, but that's all you end up paying for.  We send you your data, but we get to use the results in conjunction with the larger study. 

For those of you who think that SFI might not be honest in their assessment of Growing Solutions machines, or SoilSoup machines, let me assure you that the techs in the lab just see the sample number, not anything else.  I don't know samples have come from people until I get the data to interpret, so I don't influence in any way the data being obtained.  I look the data over and try to figure out what's going on.   

The point of the tea grant is to learn about repeatability of the different machines under different conditions.  We want you to use a mix of thermal and worm compost, molasses, kelp, and humic acid or fish hydrolyzate. 

We have seen this year that as long as the compost is decent stuff, has the fungi needed, the compost tea machine does pretty much the same thing regardless of the compost source. 

If the machine being used can't extract fungi, or doesn't allow fungi to grow, then no amount of good compost helps. 

So, those of you who want to sign up, please let us know.  Just e-mail me. 

Those doing the Tea Grant from last year get automatic re-up, but you need to let me know. 

We only want to have three machines from each manufacturer of each size they make.  But we need three machines of each kind.  If we don't get three machines of each kind, we will not do that kind of machine. 

Sorry, if it's a home-made machine, we can't get the replication we need.  

Let me know. 

We finished the SARE grant annual report today.  We need to get the City of Eugene composting trials written up next, with Mary Bradley's help.  Then the Tea Grant data will really appear on the E-zine.

OK?

Elaine
President, Soil Foodweb Inc.
www.soilfoodweb.com





President, Soil Foodweb Inc.
www.soilfoodweb.com

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