Composting and Building Better Soils with Mary Cole

Want to turn readily available organic materials into a valuable resource for your soil? Join renowned soil biologist Dr Mary Cole for a hands-on workshop exploring how compost and compost tea can support soil health, pasture/crop production and farm resilience. Mary will demonstrate how a simple ring (or compost cage) can be used to efficiently produce high-quality compost using materials commonly available on farms and rural properties. This low-cost system promotes airflow, retains heat for effective composting and can be easily dismantled for turning and harvesting. Working alongside attendees, Mary will guide participants through the key steps of successful compost production: • Building a compost ring • Selecting and preparing compost ingredients • Creating the right mix of materials • Layering and compacting the pile • Monitoring temperature and moisture • Turning the compost for optimal results • Recognising when compost is ready to use Compost tea demonstration While the compost is beginning the composting process, Mary will introduce the principles of actively aerated compost tea. Participants will learn: • What compost tea is and how it is made • The role of beneficial microorganisms in soil • Equipment and ingredient required • Brewing and monitoring techniques • Dilution rates and application options • When compost tea may be useful in production systems This practical session is ideal for farmers, land managers, growers and anyone interested in improving soil health using low-cost biological approaches. Morning tea and lunch provided. This project is supported by the Australian Government through funding from the Natural Heritage Trust under the Climate-Smart Agriculture Program.