Re: [compost_tea] SFI Workshops in Texas

From: Robert Norsen <bnbrew_at_yahoo.com>
Date: Thu, 23 Sep 2004 11:17:44 -0700 (PDT)

YEAH TEAM Let the TEA be wonderous! Texas has a lot of ground to cover! Bob

Steve Bridges <steve_at_texasgrown.com> wrote:Hi everyone,
Elaine is coming to Texas to present her Aerated Compost Tea Workshop and two 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 far, 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 teas. I'll have more information about the Texas Tea-Off next week. Texas may have been behind the curve on ACT, but we're catching up quick!
 
Please make arrangements ASAP if you wish to attend these workshops.....space is limited!
Steve Bridges
President - Texas Organic
Farmers and Gardeners Association
www.texasorganicgrowers.org
email: steve_at_texasgrown.com

---------------------------------


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 the competition.

Definition of Good Tea - Maturity, stability, E. coli, Standards

Making Healthy Compost Tea - The brewing cycle, the right compost, extraction, 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 foliage 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 for 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 – WormGold

You can bring your own homemade compost tea brewers too! If bringing your own tea brewer we will need to know so that we can make arrangements for space, 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 Workshop. If interested in participating, please ask Louise for an entry form. Awards 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 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 !!!

 

**Please Note: In case of refunds, there will be a 20% service charge. Workshop will be limited to 60 attendees, so it is first come, first served! Reserve 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.


---------------------------------




---------------------------------



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 will remember, Dr. Ingham also offers a class on how to properly use a microscope to identify the microorganisms in the Aerated Compost Tea. While learning 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 off to be professionally tested at SFI and to confirm with every tea that there is good activity in the tea. This is just another great tool to use when learning how to properly brew a good tea.


Which Day? Two separate Microscopy Classes will be held on the dates of October 21st & 22nd. Each class is just one day in length. Local folks may wish to attend on Friday as that would free up Thursday for those that are traveling and would have a “dead” day in between the ACT Workshop on Tuesday/Wednesday and the Microscopy Class on Friday. The two classes will present the 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 identify the microbiology in the tea. We will be using the tea brewed during our Texas 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 microscopes that they recommend and sell if you wish to purchase one from them. 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 objective 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.

 

 

 
 

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Received on Thu Sep 23 2004 - 14:44:47 EDT

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