Buttercup Compost Lab – Bioreactor Workshop & Demo

Come learn about the Johnson-Su No Turn Composting Bioreactor which makes a fungal dominant compost. Jes & Keith of Buttercup Compost Lab will be hosting a Bioreactor building workshop on Sunday May 6th from 9am to 12pm  at the School of Adaptive Agriculture.

Dr. David Johnson, a molecular biologist at New Mexico State University in Las Cruces, developed this technology with his wife which is simple, inexpensive and can be used most anywhere. The following link has a how-to video plus a talk about the benefits: http://www.regenerationinternational.org/bioreactor/

Donations Welcome. ($30 Suggested)

Please RSVP to keithmichalak@gmail.com.

This event is part of a larger weekend program. Here is a full description…

The Johnson-Su No Turn Composting Bioreactor makes a fungal dominant compost which is superior to windrow/turned compost in fostering soil life, hence plant growth and carbon sequestration in soil. Dr. David Johnson, a molecular biologist at New Mexico State University in Las Cruces, will address how the composting technology he and his wife developed is simple, inexpensive and can be used most anywhere. Soil carbon increases resulting from field application of this compost, along with the adoption of a biologically enhanced agriculture management approach have far exceeded the soil carbon sequestration results the Marin Carbon Project generated while using only 400 to 500 lbs per acre (or even just a pound per acre when used

as a seed inoculant), instead of tens of tons per acre. The following has links to a how-to video plus a talk about the benefits: http://www.regenerationinternational.org/bioreactor/

Now there is an opportunity to have face to face interactions with the creators, Dr. David Johnson and his wife, Hui-Chun Su. There will be three hands-on sessions where you can learn how to build and fill the composter, a presentation on results obtained with it and fascinating microbiological information on how and why it works, with ample time for questions and answers. Each site has different materials and conditions so coming to more than one will add to your learning.

Schedule:

Sunday, May 6, 2019- Bioreactor building workshop 9 AM-Noon, Ridgewood Ranch, Willits
Potluck lunch 1 PM-2:15 pm Floodgate Farm on Heart Mountain, Redwood Valley
Bioreactor building workshop and a look at a previously built reactor 2:30-5:30 PM, Floodgate Farm

Monday May 7, all at Mendocino College Agriculture Department, 1000 Hensley Creek Rd., In Ukiah. Microscope examination of finished and partly finished compost; bring yours to estimate fungal to bacterial ratios 1-2 PM,

Bioreactor building workshop 2-5 PM,
Presentation, questions and answers, 6-7:30 PM

Costs: We are asking donations, to help cover travel and meal expenses for the presenters. Suggested is $30 per workshop, $10 for the microscope exploration, and $20 for the talk. $100 for the entire two days.

|__|Sun. AM $____   |__|Sun. PM $____  |__|Mon 1-2:15 $___ |__|Mon 2:30-5:30 $___

|__|Mon. Talk $___ |__|Both days $______

To register, please send a check to Bill Taylor, P.O. Box 848, Ukiah, CA 95482 and tell us which parts you are planning to attend. 707-272-1688

More information about the presenters:

David C. Johnson, is a molecular biologist implementing metagenomics to research how soil microbial community diversity and biological functionality influences plant growth and soil carbon sequestration. Johnson’s research was recently highlighted in a book called “The Soil Will Save Us” by Kristin Ohlson.

Hui-Chun Su, co-inventor of the Bioreactor and research assistant grew up in Taiwan observing traditional agricultural practices and how the transition to synthetic fertilizers increased rice production but killed off common dietary protein resources – fish, cockles, and frogs – that had lived in the paddies.