2026 Compost Tea and a Note on Quality
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Sean Smith
May 17, 2026, 7:56:55 AMMay 17
to Toronto Urban Growers, TorontoFarmersNetwork, Compost Toronto
Dear TUGgers,
With the number of batches of compost tea I brew every year with Crooked Farmz, running every single one under a microscope for microbial observation as a solo entrepreneur is both time-impractical and financially prohibitive. But I do feel it's important to have a look at my compost on occasion to ensure my quality remains as high as possible for those who use my products.
So I've turned to Colleen Dempster of Rewild Soils Lab over the years to perform audits of my compost and offer suggestions for how to be better. Colleen is a Soil Food Web certified technician based in Uxbridge who has been studying composts and soil health for the last decade, having trained in the Elaine Ingham school of practice and then venturing out on her own.
Following her suggestion last year to ensure better moisture management in my mature composts, I am pleased to see that this year's audit has shown my healthiest, most biodiverse compost ever!
With the number of batches of compost tea I brew every year with Crooked Farmz, running every single one under a microscope for microbial observation as a solo entrepreneur is both time-impractical and financially prohibitive. But I do feel it's important to have a look at my compost on occasion to ensure my quality remains as high as possible for those who use my products.
So I've turned to Colleen Dempster of Rewild Soils Lab over the years to perform audits of my compost and offer suggestions for how to be better. Colleen is a Soil Food Web certified technician based in Uxbridge who has been studying composts and soil health for the last decade, having trained in the Elaine Ingham school of practice and then venturing out on her own.
Following her suggestion last year to ensure better moisture management in my mature composts, I am pleased to see that this year's audit has shown my healthiest, most biodiverse compost ever!
"It is a very good compost! It contains a complete soil food web in high abundance, making it Biologically Complete. It also has a high fungal biomass (625ug/g) and high F:B ratio (1.14), suited towards growing mid successional plants to shrubs, but also ideal for productive pastures."
So this is the compost I will be using as the primary inoculant for my Crooked Farmz compost teas in Spring/Summer 2026 (along with so many other soil health goodies). If you've been happy with our products in the past, then here's some clear data that we're starting from an even better basis this season.
(purple testate amoebae, important for nutrient cycling)
Does your regular commercial compost or vermicompost have publicly available data supporting microbial quality?
The weather's turning! Time to get your 2026 compost tea CSA subscription today! Your gardens and growing spaces will thank you for this boost of ALIVE that will make them THRIVE!
Order: crookedfarmz.localline.ca
Web: crookedfarmz.net
Story: instagram.com/crookedfarmz
Order: crookedfarmz.localline.ca
Web: crookedfarmz.net
Story: instagram.com/crookedfarmz
Warmest wishes,
Sean
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Brewing fresh compost teas and extracts for microbial health
in agriculture, horticulture and arboriculture.
in agriculture, horticulture and arboriculture.
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We Must Heal The Soil. It's That Simple.
Crooked Farmz is a Certified Compost Facility Operator
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