Farm-scale bio fertilisers: insights from the Brinkley workshop
David Hardwick from Soil Land and Food recently led an engaging workshop on making farm-scale bio-fertilizers at Andrew Smith’s farm in Brinkley. The event drew a full house of 44 participants from across South Australia, eager to learn and get hands-on experience.
The day began with David introducing various fertilizer products, including those he brought along, some provided by the host farmer, and others from different suppliers. These products ranged from fertilizers and bio-stimulants to soil ameliorants, helping attendees understand their differences and what to look out for.
Participants then learned how to make lactobacillus and KAB serums, essential bases for bio-fertilizers. The hands-on session saw everyone involved in measuring and pouring molasses, dissolving trace elements, and adding other ingredients to the mix. The nearly completed bio-fertilizer is now set to ferment for 2 months before it can be used.
Participants worked through the process of making a fish hydrolysate, with 400L of fish mince kindly provided by Matt Henke. The process involved adding water and molasses to the fish mince, followed by a thorough mix using a drill with a paint stirrer attachment. This mixture will also ferment until it is ready for use.
David concluded the day with encouraging words about bio-ferments, asking attendees how many would try making some at home. The response was overwhelmingly positive, with most participants expressing their willingness to give it a go.
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