Enhancing Sustainability Workshop:
Compost Teas, Compost, and On-farm Beneficial Microbe Extracts
October 20, 2003
Pittsboro, NC
The Chatham County Center of North Carolina Cooperative Extension will present a crop production workshop as part of its Enhancing Sustainability Workshop Series on Monday, October 20, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. in the auditorium of the Agricultural Building in Pittsboro, North Carolina. Compost Teas, Compost, and On-farm Beneficial Microbe Extracts will be presented by Steve Diver, a Program Specialist from ATTRA (Appropriate Technology Transfer for Rural Areas), the USDA-funded national sustainable agriculture information service of the National Center for Appropriate Technology (NCAT) based in Arkansas; Dr. Frank Louws, North Carolina State University Researcher and Extension Plant Pathologist specializing in sustainable disease management for NC growers; and Debbie Roos, Agricultural Extension Agent with North Carolina Cooperative Extension in Chatham County. The program is outlined below.
Compost Teas
- History of Compost Teas
- Types of Compost Teas and Extracts
- Components of Compost Teas
- Use and Benefits of Compost Teas
- Rhizosphere and Phyllosphere Target Sites
- Rhizosphere Benefits for Microorganisms
- Soil Foodweb Concepts
- Compost Teas for Disease Suppression
- Mechanisms and Target Pathogens
- Compost Tea Production Methods
- Brewing Compost Teas
- Compost Tea Recipes
- Compost Tea Brewing Equipment: Commercial-scale and Home-made
- Minimum Standards for Compost
- Pathogen Risk Reduction
- Compost Tea Use in North Carolina - What Are Farmers Doing?
Compost, Humus, and the Living Soil
- Soil Foodweb Concepts
- Compost Methods
- Farm-scale Compost Turners
- Compost Quality and Standards
- Humified Compost
- Mineralization Rate
- Using Compost as an Inoculant to Improve Crop Vigor - NC Research
Parallel On-farm Extracts and Beneficial Microbe Inoculation Systems
- Effective Microorganisms
- Indigenous Microorganisms
- Biodynamic Preparations
- Cow Patty Pit
- Fermented Plant Extracts
- Purchased Inputs and On-farm Inputs
- Alternative Farming Systems Tools: Nature Farming, Biodynamics,
BioOrganics
- Substrate and Microbial Culture
- Benefits of Plant and Compost Extracts
The cost of the workshop will be $20 and includes lunch and a comprehensive resource notebook. Pre-registration is required by October 10. Contact Debbie Roos at 919-542-8202 for more information. To register, download a registration form from the Workshop section of the Growing Small Farms website at