The difference between Good Science & Bad Science in Soil Health for lawns - compost tea

Not sure where to post this, either here or down in lawns section. A couple of years ago I use to follow the Washington State University Agricultural Extension site, in particular something called "The Garden Professor's blog", but quit visiting their because of the condemnatory attitude by the Professors themselves who derided anyone who didn't accept the industrial science business model said to be backed by peer-reviewed consensus science. One of the things they did a couple years ago was arrogantly criticize and insult with derogatory name calling were the Harvard Yard Groundskeepers which made a conscious decision back in 2009 to abandon all synthetic chemical fertilizers, insecticides, herbicides and fungicides and go strictly organic approach. The technique they use on their lawns is compost teas brewed in a commercial brewer and sprayed on the lawn with professional commercial equipment. I never wrote about this story which was in the New York Times back then, but I should have. What moved me to do so now was yet another arrogant article dealing with Compost Teas recently. The motive behind this article was that WSU Ag Extension is going to offer a free webinar on brewing compost teas and the health benefits to the landscape. All the Professors are extremely upset, so I wrote my own critique on their imaginary unfair and bad science technique bashing of organic compost tea being pseudoscience.


The Arrogance and the Ecstasy: The Difference between Good and Bad Science when it comes to Soil Health


Also here is the link to the WSU Ag Extension Webinar for brewing and using compost Teas.

WSU Ag Extension: Making and Using Compost Teas

Thanks for posting this kevin, intereting stuff. Ever since i started being interested in the finer details of compost tea, i knew there would become a point where the scientific evidence would become overhwleming and a rapid change would occur in common practices. I think there is an element of out with the old and in with the new, both with the people involved and the practices. Alot of stubborn people will never change their minds and they will die off and be retired as the new evidence and new blood rolls in. Scientific research can move pretty slow when the focus isnt in the right place, but i am already impressed that alot of the scientists i am exposed to are taking into consideration that the environment is where we live, if its not taken care of we wont be living.