Compost & Biofertiliser Workshops with Dr Chandra Iyer - Marian QLD

Want to make compost on farm with low costs methods?

Want to learn how to make range of biofertilisers on farm?

Explore how to use biologicals to improve soil health.

• Learn how to make and use compost on your place
• Learn the basics of making biofertilisers on the farm

This 2 day Essentials Bootcamp will get you started! 

You can choose to attend both days or just one

Join us for this intensive, hands on, practical Bootcamp as we explore the basics of on farm composting and fermentation based biofertilisers. These workshops will give you practical tips and recipes for making compost and biofertilisers on the farm. The workshops will be held on farm at Marian near Mackay Queensland.

Dates & Time

Thursday July 4th  & Friday July 5th 2024

8.30am to 4.30 pm

Workshop Content

Day 1 - Biofertilisers - 4th July 2024

• The different types of products: inoculants, biostimulants and biofertilisers.
• The different approaches including Bioferts, Effective Microorganisms and Korean Natural Farming.
• How to make a range of basic Starter Cultures
• Compost Inoculants and Hydrolysates - high protein bioferments made with animal or food biomass
• A range of biofertilisers and biostimulants products using different approaches and ingredients
• Quality Control, storage and handling
• The different equipment options for making on farm at different scale
• This Workshop will demystify bioferments on farm and will give you practical tips for making and using them. The Workshop will be held on farm and includes a Manual with open-source recipes. We will be making a number of products during the workshop.

Day 2 - On-Farm Composting - 5th July 2024

• Compost: what it is and why use it
• Humus and Compost.
• The 3 ways to make compost on farm: Fermentative, Aerated and Vermicomposting.
• Preparing to compost on farm: 5 things you need to plan: Site, Compost Feedstocks, Equipment, Water,
• Government Regulations. What you need to know.
• Making Compost
• Making Compost: how to control the decomposition process by fermentation and/or aeration.
• Setting up windrows and heaps. Inoculating and covering.
• Process Management: Turning, watering and monitoring the compost. Troubleshooting issues.
• Customising your Compost: adding minerals, clay and/or biology
• Compost Quality: it's all about humus, biology and nutrients.
• Understanding the Australian Standard for Composts.
• Compost contamination.
• Assessing compost quality on site and using tests.
• Using compost: rates and timing of compost for different situations.

Presenters

Simon Mattsson

Soil Land Food team member Simon is a regenerative farming extension specialist, Nuffield Scholar and consultant who focuses on plant diversity for managing soil biological function to improve soil for increased productivity and better environmental outcomes. He grew up on a family cattle station near Mt Coolan, Qld, before the family moved into sugarcane and cattle operations in Mackay. A Nuffield Scholarship in 2014 to research soil biology gave Simon the opportunity to travel the world exploring multi-species cropping. After visiting farmers on three continents, including Gabe Brown, he came home and planted sunflowers in his sugarcane! Since then he has sown many multi-species crops and pastures using biological approaches and has helped numerous other farmers do as well! Simon has been an active user of soil and sap tests on his farm for many years growing a range of crops and pastures. He currently grows tropical fruits and makes and uses compost and biofertilisers on farm as part of his enterprise. For the last 4 years he has helped deliver a number of workshops and courses for Soil Land Food in Queensland and NSW. In 2023 Simon completed the 4 day Soil Biology Masterclass at Western Sydney University.

Dr Chandra Iyer

Chandra is a professional microbiologist based at Forbes in NSW. His company, Green Microbes, manufacturers and sells rhizobia nitrogen fixing bacteria inoculant products to the legume sector across Australia's cropping regions. He also works as a consultant on jobs where applied microbiology is needed such as managing effluent ponds and composting. He provides technical services to a number of biotech projects in Australia. For 10 years he has helped Soil land Food deliver training workshops for farmers across NSW on soil biology and making biofertilisers on farm. He is passionate about helping farmers build their own skills in on farm microbial technologies. Green Microbes and Soil Land Food have partnered to conduct research and development on bioferstiliesrs made on farm to help Australian farmers improve their recipes. Find out more about Chandra's work here: www.greenmicrobes.com.au

Venue & Catering

The course will be hosted by Simon Mattsson on his Native Fruits farm near Mackay in QLD. Morning Tea, Lunch and Afternoon Teas and a Workbook are included in the Course fee. Bring boots, hat and outdoor gear.

Places & Conditions

Places in this Bootcamp are limited to 30 each day. A minimum of 10 people is required for each day for the event to go ahead. In the event that the course does not go ahead due to minimum numbers not being reached 7 days before the course commences, or due to exceptional circumstances such as COVID restrictions, a full refund will be given.