Modern farming practices have resulted in a loss of soil biology, soil carbon, and their benefits. Compost teas containing diverse microorganisms are used to restore soil biology and carbon storage, but hot commercial compost teas are not suitable for regenerating soils. Dr. Elaine Ingham and Dr. David Johnson have achieved excellent results in regenerating soils with high fungal compost teas using cold composting methods. However, these composts are not commercially available, and DIY Instant Compost Tea is an alternative that produces an equivalent high fungal tea. DIY Instant Compost Tea uses locally available inputs, is low cost, does not require specialized equipment or knowledge, and produces large quantities on-farm within seven days as needed. Observations so far include beneficial effects in plants and soils, soil biology spread, improved water drainage, and reduced pests and diseases. For lasting benefits, farming and grazing practices must be adjusted to protect and nurture the soil biology. 

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DIY Instant Compost Tea Factsheet – Starter and Application for Gardeners

This factsheet provides instructions for making an instant compost tea for gardening. The process involves collecting local soil biology, mixing it with worm casts, bran, molasses, and water, and placing it in a cardboard box or tray to grow for 24-48 hours. Once fungi cover the surface and threads are visible throughout the mix, the starter is ready to use. The starter should be soaked in water for 10 minutes before use, then applied to the garden with a watering can without a nozzle, and watered in with a hose. It is important to use soil from areas that have not been cultivated or sprayed, check the mix regularly, rewet the covering cloth twice a day, and protect it from rain, sprinklers, and hand-held hoses.

DIY Instant Compost Tea Factsheet – Brewing for Gardeners

This factsheet provides instructions on how to create an aerated compost tea that can be used to improve soil quality and control disease in plants. Aerated brewing is necessary to promote good natural soil biology and prevent anaerobic bacteria from taking over. Up to 40 litres can be brewed using various designs, including an aquarium pump, conduit, poly pipe and fittings. Multiplying biology requires food and the ingredients added during brewing favour fungal growth, which builds soil structure and captures long-term carbon. The brew can be applied by watering can, backpack sprayer, water pump and hose, or battery-powered sprayer. It can be applied to soil or foliage for disease control. The factsheet also includes photos of the equipment used and the effects of the brew on plant diseases.

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DIY Instant Compost Tea Factsheet – Starter for Farmers

This factsheet provides instructions for making an instant compost tea starter for farmers to improve soil health. The starter involves collecting local soil biology and mixing it with worm casts, mill run, and molasses or sugar. The mixture is placed in a cardboard box or tray to grow and multiply for 24 to 72 hours until fungi cover the growing medium. The starter is ready when fungi are visible throughout the medium. The factsheet recommends testing the process with small starters before attempting a 40-liter starter for larger areas. The article also provides photos to illustrate the process.

DIY Instant Compost Tea Factsheet – Brewing for Farmers

This factsheet provides instructions for farmers to make their own instant compost tea using aerated brewing, which is essential to create the right aerobic conditions for soil biology. It suggests using a 1,000-liter pod with specific pipes, fittings, an air pump, a control tap, and a water pump. The ingredients used to stimulate the growth of fungi are provided, and the brew should be allowed to sit for 24-48 hours before being applied. The factsheet recommends using a microscope to check for the presence of fungi and other biology and a low-pressure water pump to transfer the brew to a distribution tank. Lastly, it provides tips such as not putting the starter in a bag and cleaning the equipment while still wet.

DIY Instant Compost Tea Factsheet – Application for Farmers

This factsheet describes a method of applying DIY instant compost tea for farmers to improve soil biology. The application involves diluting 100 L of brew with chemical-free water and injecting it below the surface of the soil, which allows the biology to grow and spread fast, so narrow spacing of application rows is not required. The recommended application rate is 100 L brew per hectare. The factsheet provides guidance on how to apply the brew by tractor or irrigation, and recommends additional nutrients like sea minerals, fish emulsion, and seaweed liquid. The factsheet concludes by discussing future management practices, and grazing practices that increase soil biological activity.

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Case Study Factsheet – Soy Bean Field Trial

This factsheet reports on the results of a soybean field trial where “DIY Soil-biology Booster” was applied to soybeans to test effects on yield and soil. NB: this is now called “DIY Instant Compost Tea”. This tea is based on a wide range of locally-sourced soil biology and is ‘brewed’ on farm. The tea was injected as an inoculant to boost fungal growth into the soil. The only extra costs are minor inputs into the ‘brew’ and one pass-over of a tractor. The soybean yields in the treated areas averaged 9% higher than those in the controls, which equated to an estimated $190 increase in Gross Margin/ha. Effects of better drainage and increase in soil biology were also observed in photographs. The trial demonstrates the potential for regenerative agriculture practices to increase crop yields and improve soil health.

Case Study Factsheet – Saving Macadamias – Bundaberg Botanic Gardens

This factsheet discusses the transplantation of young macadamia trees to Bundaberg Botanical Gardens to preserve the genetics of the Australian native macadamia tree. The trees were not doing well due to wind and soil conditions, and were treated with a DIY Soil biology Booster tea (now called ‘DIY Instant Compost Tea’), as well as minerals, humic acid, and sea minerals. Results were as follows:  two to four times the growth, healthy leaves, and better structure in the soil. The experiment confirms that healthy trees require an increase in soil biology, a wider range of minerals, and a reintroduction of biology where it is not present. This can happen in a much shorter time than currently believed. The DIY Soil-biology Booster starter was developed by Trevor Galletly, and is now called the DIY Instant Compost Tea. 

Case Study Factsheet – Increasing bin weight in avocado crops

This factsheet discusses the benefits of using sea minerals and humic acid to improve soil biology, leading to healthier and more productive trees. A test was conducted on an avocado farm where sea minerals and humic acid were applied to some rows of trees, resulting in an 11% increase in bin weight, higher leaf sugar levels, and better-tasting fruit. The article suggests that investing in soil biology can pay off in one harvest and increase income for farmers. Further testing by commercial growers would be beneficial. 

Case Study Factsheet – Increasing carrying capacity on grazing land

This factsheet tells the story of Brent Lashford’s shift to regenerative grazing, which he started in 2000 on his 400-acre property in Queensland. He followed a natural approach to landscape and farm management, which included ripping each paddock once to break plough pans and improve water drainage, building dams and weirs, increasing pasture diversity, and rotating steers through many paddocks to crop pastures instead of grazing them into the ground. As a result, his carrying capacity has steadily increased from 30 to 90 steers, and his property was the last in the area to experience the recent drought and the first to recover from it. Overall, Brent aims to keep improving his management practices to carry even more stock in good years.

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Science Factsheet – Carbon from Air to Soil Pasture

This factsheet discusses how carbon from the air can be turned into solid forms in the soil, with green plants and soil microbiota playing important roles in the process. Root exudate from plants feeds bacteria and other life forms that recycle dead plant material back into food for the next generation of plants, while fungi convert dead plant material and form complex long-term carbon-based molecules that can last for centuries when left undisturbed. The factsheet also highlights the importance of soil structure and grazing management in increasing carbon content in soils and retaining rainwater.

Science Factsheet – Building Soil Carbon – Nature’s Way

This factsheet is about a DIY Soil Biology Booster (now called ‘DIY Instant Compost Tea’) that can increase soil carbon in a regenerative and sustainable manner. The booster is made from local biology from chemical-free on-farm areas and nearby remnant vegetation, making it cost-effective and safe. It has been tested on soybeans and avocados and has yielded substantial crop gains within one crop cycle. The DIY Soil Biology Booster (now called ‘DIY Instant Compost Tea’) takes only four to six days from start to application and uses diverse local fungal species to create long-term carbon in the soil. Under regenerative farm management practices, the increase in soil-bioactivities will continue and lead to the building up of soil carbon. The factsheet provides detailed instructions about growing the starter and brewing the booster on the property.

Science Factsheet – Liquid Sea Minerals

This factsheet mentions the benefits of using Liquid Sea Minerals to replace those that have been removed from cultivated land by erosion and in produce sold. These minerals enhance nutrient up-take and stress tolerance, improve crop quality and have led to higher yields. The factsheet lists 13 major and trace elements, plus another 19 all in very small amounts. It suggests how much to apply to pastures and crops, as soil drenching and as foliar spray. It provides a link to case studies and further information.