Hi everyone,
Elaine is coming to Texas to present her Aerated Compost Tea Workshop and t=
wo Microscopy Classes. More information about both of these is below. We're=
also going to include the Texas Tea-Off as part of the ACT Workshop. So fa=
r, we have the following brewers represented at the Tea-Off"
WormGold 100gal.
Bob-O-Lator
Bitty Bob-O-Lator
KIS 25gal.
Earth Tea Brewer 22gal.
Attendees are invited to bring their homemade models, too!
Elaine will be doing the judging and awards will be presented for the top t=
eas. I'll have more information about the Texas Tea-Off next week. Texas ma=
y have been behind the curve on ACT, but we're catching up quick!
Please make arrangements ASAP if you wish to attend these workshops.....spa=
ce is limited!
Steve Bridges
President - Texas Organic
Farmers and Gardeners Association
www.texasorganicgrowers.org
email: steve_at_texasgrown.com
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Texas Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association
Presents:
Aerated Compost Tea Workshop
by Elaine Ingham, PhD
Prerequisite: Introduction to Soil Food Web Course or Equivalent knowledge
Day One (8:00 am to 5:00 pm, Lunch Served)
Brew Time for Tea-Off - See how each brewer is set up, begin the brew for t=
he competition.
Definition of Good Tea - Maturity, stability, E. coli, Standards
Making Healthy Compost Tea - The brewing cycle, the right compost, extracti=
on, aeration, water source, recipes, growing fungi, E. Coli issues
Determining Whether Plants Need Compost Tea - Rates of decomposition, smell=
, color - When to do organism assays, which assays to run - Does your folia=
ge have enough of the right organisms?
Altering the Foodweb in Soil & on Plant Surfaces - The right organisms for =
the plant desired - Bacterial or fungal dominated tea? - The right foods fo=
r the plant desired - Commercial products
Question and Answer Period
Day Two (1:00 pm to 5:30)
!!! The Texas Tea-Off !!!
*** Demonstrations of commercially-available and homemade brewers ***
Earth Tea Brewer - Bob-o-Later/Bitty Bob- o- Later - KIS machines - WormGol=
d
You can bring your own homemade compost tea brewers too! If bringing your o=
wn tea brewer we will need to know so that we can make arrangements for spa=
ce, electricity, etc. Contact Louise with details.
Plus: Demonstrations of application methods and machines.
Contest: All teas will be judged using a Quality Assay during the ACT Works=
hop. If interested in participating, please ask Louise for an entry form. A=
wards will be given!
Dates:
October 19-20, 2004
Location:
The Center for Environmental Research
Austin Water Utility
Hornsby Bend Biosolids Management Plant
2210 South FM 973
Austin, Texas 78725
Fee for ACT Workshop: $225
***If attending both the Microscopy Workshop and this workshop, the total f=
ee will be reduced by $25***
!!! Full amount due by October 12th, But PLEASE sign up ASAP so we'll know =
how many folks are attending !!!
**Please Note: In case of refunds, there will be a 20% service charge. Work=
shop will be limited to 60 attendees, so it is first come, first served! R=
eserve your place early to be a part of this very important lecture series.
Contact:
Louise Placek, Texas Organic Farmers & Gardeners Assoc., (877) 326-5175 or =
email louise_at_texasorganicgrowers.org to register for the workshop. Payment=
by check is preferred, but credit cards (VISA, MC, AMEX) are accepted.
Hotel Arrangements
We have reserved a block of rooms with the LaQuinta Airport. They will hold=
these rooms until October 4th. The room rate for a double, either by that =
date or later if they still have rooms available is $63 for a double. Call =
(512) 386-6800.
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Texas Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association
Presents:
Microscopy Class
by Elaine Ingham, PhD
Two One-Day Classes: October 21st and 22nd
8am - 5pm
Same Location as the ACT Workshop
Prerequisite: Aerated Compost Tea Workshop or Equivalent knowledge
Why Attend? As those of you that attended the Intro to the Soil Foodweb wi=
ll remember, Dr. Ingham also offers a class on how to properly use a micros=
cope to identify the microorganisms in the Aerated Compost Tea. While learn=
ing these techniques does not take the place of professional evaluation of =
tea, it does help you know when you're on the right track. Betsy Ross uses =
a microscope to confirm that there is life in the tea before she sends it o=
ff to be professionally tested at SFI and to confirm with every tea that th=
ere is good activity in the tea. This is just another great tool to use whe=
n learning how to properly brew a good tea.
Which Day? Two separate Microscopy Classes will be held on the dates of Oct=
ober 21st & 22nd. Each class is just one day in length. Local folks may wis=
h to attend on Friday as that would free up Thursday for those that are tra=
veling and would have a "dead" day in between the ACT Workshop on Tuesday/W=
ednesday and the Microscopy Class on Friday. The two classes will present t=
he same material.
Agenda? The first half of the day will consist of reviewing the Microscopy =
Manual that you receive as part of your attendance fee. The second half of =
the day will be hands on training of how to use the microscopes and identif=
y the microbiology in the tea. We will be using the tea brewed during our T=
exas Tea-Off as the tea for the Microscopy Classes.
Microscopes
You will get the most out of the workshop if you have your own microscope. =
You may bring your own if you already have one. SFI Inc. has two types of m=
icroscopes that they recommend and sell if you wish to purchase one from th=
em. Please contact SFI Inc. to purchase one from them. The two types are:
Alexis J-model ~$400.00 Leica CME ~$1200.00
Generic Description: You need a microscope that has 4X, 10X (or 20X), 40X o=
bjective lenses
10X WF eyepieces, Numerical Aperature 2.5 ABBE condensor (needs to have an =
iris diaphragm)
If you wish to order an Alexis J the deadline is October 8th. They will be =
shipped to Hornsby Bend Wastewater Treatment facility and will be there for=
pick up on the first day of the ACT Workshop.
There is a limited supply of the Leica CME's. SFI Inc. has less than ten of=
these in stock.
Please order ASAP to reserve yours.
Contact Soil Foodweb Inc. at (541) 752-5066
Fee for Microscopy Workshop: $175
***If attending both the ACT Workshop and this workshop, the total fee will=
be reduced by $25***
!!! Full amount due by October 12th, But PLEASE sign up ASAP so we'll know =
how many folks are attending !!!
Contact:
Louise Placek, Texas Organic Farmers & Gardeners Assoc., (877) 326-5175 or =
email louise_at_texasorganicgrowers.org to register for the workshop. Payment=
by check is preferred, but credit cards (VISA, MC, AMEX) are accepted.
Hotel Arrangements
We have reserved a block of rooms with the LaQuinta Airport. They will hold=
these rooms until October 4th. The room rate for a double, either by that =
date or later if they still have rooms available is $63 for a double. Call =
(512) 386-6800.
Received on Wed Sep 22 2004 - 20:06:13 EDT