One Day | Soil Testing and Fertiliser Making | 18th October 2025

Description

Tutor: Kay Baxter. 

Early bird special, discounted price, get in now! Price will increase 10% one month prior to the course starting (from the 18h of September 2025).

This is a 1 day event, that can be done on it’s own or added to the end of the Gardening Masterclass 

The purpose of this workshop is to empower us all to be building soil and nutrient dense food without the need for expensive testing and unsustainable non renewable industrial fertiliser.

Join us for a comprehensive workshop where you’ll learn how to conduct your own soil and plant testing, as well as create your own balanced fertiliser using materials sourced from your garden or local surroundings with the help of the Kōanga Compost Calculator.

At Koanga, we have embarked on an enlightening journey to eliminate the use of industrial fertilizers in all of our seed gardens and food gardens. To achieve this, we have developed a Compost Calculator that guides us in determining the necessary additions to our existing materials. This ensures that we maintain the right mineral balance and relationships within our compost, effectively replenishing the minerals extracted by our food plants while simultaneously promoting carbon buildup in the soil.

This transformative journey and workshop will empower you with the skills to  do your own soil soil plant analysis and and in response create and supply the  things required to be building your soil and plant health

 You will:-

1: Learn to use a refractometer to analyze the dynamics within your garden

2: Learn to use  a sap pH meter to cater to understand your plants’ specific needs

3: Master the utilization of a conductivity meter to help evaluate soil and plant health, and decide where to from there..

4: Use and understand the value of a Microbiometer to test microbe soil levels and ratios of bacteria to fungi

These tools, while simple and affordable, enable you to make informed decisions in enhancing soil and plant vitality without relying solely on soil tests or industrial fertilizers.

During this workshop, you will learn to make all of our key  soil nutrient inputs including :

• 1: Fish Hydrolysate
• 2: BioFert 
• 3: Creating a range of Compost recipes, and making compost
• 4: Biochar
• 5. Bone char
• 6: Bone ash
• 7: A Johnson Su compost in a Johnson Su Bioreactor 

This workshop promises to be an extraordinary experience, particularly for those who have been connected to Kōanga for some time and are already on the  journey. 

As a special offer, attendees of this in-person workshop will receive a 15% discount for our online “Growing Nutrient Dense Food” workshop, plus each attendee will be able to bring a soil sample from their own garden to test with the Microbiometer, as well as take home 1 litre each of BioFert, and a 200 gms  of BioBrew  (Johnson Su compost) where 1 kg covers 1 hectare.

Meals Provided: 

Saturday – Morning Tea – Lunch – Afternoon Tea –

For your convenience, we offer very basic camping facilities on-site, allowing you to fully immerse yourself in the experience. Alternatively, you can opt to stay in Wairoa at your own cost. If you’re traveling from a far and need accommodation the night before or after the workshop, please contact us to discuss your needs. 

If you have done the gardening masterclass and wish to stay Friday night please contact us and discuss your needs

We look forward to welcoming you here at Kōanga Institute.