[compost_tea] Re: SFI requirements
Thank you for the clarification!
--- In compost_tea_at_yahoogroups.com, soilfoodweb@a... wrote:
>
>
> Perhaps I missed your original question, so I am glad you asked
again.
>
> SFI advisors have to take the introductory class, which is a three
day, 8
> hour a day, intensive course. They then need to take a day and a
half course
> on compost, and another one on compost tea. We expect them to
have the
> ability to do the small microscope assessments of compost or tea,
but they do not
> have to be able to do these assays, as they can send the samples
into the lab.
>
>
> They then have to do a set number of assessments in the field with
the lab,
> so we know that they know what they are doing in interpreting SFI
results.
>
> They then are invited to take a class which is another three day
intensive
> course to go through the advisors training. We concentrate on
getting them to
> really understand nutrient cycling, the interaction of soil biology
and soil
> chemistry, and to focus on learning to do the SFI approach in the
crop or
> plant system of their choice.
>
> No one is an expert in all plant-growing systems, so please don't
expect
> that all advisors can help in all plant production systems.
Typically if an
> advisor does not have expertise in a particular plant system, they
will get help
> from another SFI advisor who is an expert in that plant system.
They can
> always call me, and if I don't know, I ask people I know about the
question.
>
> So, even if an advisor doesn't know everything (grin!), they should
be able
> to apply the non-toxic approach to plant health.
>
> Advisors then have to practice their craft by working in the field,
doing
> samples, interpreting, helping people achieve results, etc.
Advisors who do
> not work with SFI can not remain advisors.
>
> On rare occasions we have had people do the training, but then not
use the
> knowledge properly. We have had one or two people who trained
with us, and
> used the SFI name to push one particular product. These people
have not
> remained SFI advisors for long. SFI advisors can have products
they sell, but they
> cannot be tied to one product, or one product line alone. They
have to
> recommend what is right to get the biology working in the soil, so
they have to
> be willing to use a range of products.
>
> We have had people who do similar consulting as SFI advisors, but
not stick
> with a program of moving soil into a healthy condition. I cannot
support
> people who year after year use toxic chemicals, when they should
be able to get
> biology doing the work for the grower.
>
> There are the situations where trained people did not send in any
soil
> samples to any SFI lab. If they are not assessing biology, and
trying to move
> people into a biological sound condition, then how can they be
practicing their
> craft?
>
> If you don't measure, you can't manage. If someone doesn't
measure the
> biology in soil, then they can't be an SFI advisor.
>
> Hope this helps.
>
> Elaine
>
>
> In a message dated 3/13/2005 12:27:17 P.M. Pacific Standard Time,
> louiequist_at_y... writes:
>
>
> The
> question remains unanswered. "wht your folks in the field have
been
> trained in". How then can their assessmant of tea quality be
> dependable?
>
>
>
>
>
> Elaine R. Ingham
> Soil Foodweb Inc., Corvallis, Oregon
> Soil Foodweb Inc., Port Jefferson, New York
> Soil Foodweb Institute, Lismore Australia
> Soil Foodweb Institute Cambridge, New Zealand
> Laboratorios de Soil Foodweb, Culiacan, Mexico
> Soil Foodweb Inc., Jerome, Idaho
> Soil Foodweb Inc., South Africa
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Received on Wed Mar 16 2005 - 01:08:50 EST
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: Tue Feb 07 2012 - 14:15:49 EST