Tilth Conference + Farm & Food Symposium

Conference Schedule

Conference Schedule

How Do You Brew? Exploring Compost Teas and Extracts in the PNW

  • Date: Friday, November 14
  • Time: 4-5:15 p.m.
  • Speakers: Lynne Carpenter-Boggs, Washington State University; Maren Friesen, Washington State University; Carol McFarland, METER Group; Josh Riddle, Farm It, LLC
  • Location: Room 212
  • Track: Practical Skills & Production Practices

How are compost teas and extracts currently used in the PNW? What microbes are present? Can compost tea enhance nutrient cycling? WSU researchers are working with farmers to study these aspects of compost teas/extracts. We’ll share survey results from farmers, our analysis of compost tea/extract microbiomes, and a study of how compost tea affects straw breakdown. A farmer will talk about his experience using compost tea/extracts in his production system. Attendees can use this information to support on-farm decision-making around the use of compost teas/extracts. They can make connections with others utilizing compost teas/extracts to support the safe and effective use of these approaches.

About the Speakers

  • Lynne Carpenter-Boggs

    Washington State University

    Lynne Carpenter-Boggs is a Professor and Department Chair in the Department of Crop and Soil Science at Washington State University (WSU). Her primary areas of research and teaching are biologically intensive and organic farming systems, and beneficial plant-soil-microbial interactions. She works with scientists and farmers to understand and improve the carbon footprint of farming, crop nutritional quality and safety, soil health, livestock/human composting, and other aspects of sustainability. Lynne received the 2022 Tilth Alliance “Advocate of the Year” award at the Tilth Conference in 2022 in honor of her decades long support of the Tilth movement.

  • Maren Friesen

    Washington State University

    Dr. Maren L. Friesen is an Associate Professor in the Department of Plant Pathology at WSU. Her research focuses on the evolutionary ecology and molecular basis of mutualistic interactions between plants and their microbiomes, particularly nitrogen-fixing bacteria, in wild ecosystems and agroecosystems. She is interested in how interactions between organisms can be harnessed to promote plant and soil health and how management practices can enhance sustainability and resilience.

  • Carol McFarland

    METER Group

    Carol received her Bachelor of Science in Agroecology from Montana State University, served for two years as a Peace Corps Volunteer with the World Food Programme in the Kingdom of Leostho, and obtained a Master of Science in Soil Science from Washington State University. In addition to lab and field research, Carol has worked on farms of various scale and practice, while actively engaging in food systems work. Her expertise encompasses soil health, applied agroecology, soil acidification, food systems, outreach, and community engagement.

  • Josh Riddle

    Farm It, LLC

    Josh Riddle is a fourth generation dryland grain/cattle farmer on the Peone Prairie. He has built his operation from farming smaller parcels to comprise one larger-scale farm business. Over the last 5 years he has been on a journey to push toward farming more in alignment with nature. In practice, he is integrating cover crops, applying inputs made on-farm- such as compost teas and extracts (and more!), and reducing dependence on synthetic off-farm inputs. His heart and soul are driven to grow quality food that heals people and the land.