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Re: [compost_tea] Re: Why have regs, and the ICTC
Bill basically asked, why do we have to have regulation?
Why do we have to set standards?
Because there are people without scruples in this world, who will tell you that something is compost, or something is compost tea, when, in fact it is not.
There are people who will try to sell you machines and the machine does not in fact produce what they tell you it produces.
How do you KNOW something is what you need it to be, or to make what you need it to make?
You have to do a great deal of study in order to determine that, OR you have a group that sets standards, so that you can easily KNOW that this IS compost, or compost tea.
How easy is it to determine that compost is good stuff? Not possible just be looking at it often. Smelling it helps, but there are compounds out there that mask the odor. when buying that "compost", it smells ok, but you have to ask whether they used odor-masking compounds, or you end up with anaerobic, non-smelling compost. Wrong set of organisms for the plants you are trying to grow. The compost doesn't do what you want it to do. It may do the opposite.
So, we need standards and regulations. None of us may like it, but until you rid the world of people who only care about money, and how fast they can part you from yours, we are going to have to put protections in place.
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I've been looking at the website for the International Compost Tea Council, and I'm happy with the information and the direction they are showing.
Is the group perfect? They have some things to still show us. The feedback they are getting is good, and they have made changes based on that feedback. That shows that they are willing to make changes, when changes need to be made. They are willing to listen to opinions critical of what they have put on the site, and change their organization when the criticism is valid.
I expect that once the council is established and on a firm footing, they will make the organization self-sustaining. All the people on the organizing group have businesses, they can't maintain those businesses and the council. They have to deal with transfer of power in the future. Maybe people concerned with how power is transfered, and how democratic the governance of the group should be, could talk directly with the president of the ICTC about what they see works and doesn't work. I see nothing on the website about voting rights, how new presidents are elected, etc. Discuss your concerns with Sheaneen Hummel.
I'm looking forward to more and more information going up on the ICTC site. When people read the information, and want to suggest improvements, that needs to be sent in to the group.
The council is a work in progress. This group of people have shown that they are willing to communicate, willing to change things when it is clear that the initial posting needs to be changed.
They have not ever cut people from the list of folks they communicate with. They are willing to listen and change. That is very promising to me.
Elaine Ingham
President, Soil Foodweb Inc.
Corvallis, OR
Port Jefferson, NY
Lismore, NSW, Australia
Hilversum, The Netherlands
Cambridge, New Zealand
www.soilfoodweb.com
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