*You’ll need to complete the Foundation Courses before you can start the Grower Training Program.
Putting the Theory Into Practice
and Making a Change in the World
Three Steps to Rapid Soil Regeneration
Make your own
BioComplete™ Amendments
In Stages 1 & 2 of the GTP you’ll make your own BioCompleteTM Compost and Liquid Amendments. And you’ll Master the Microscope, so you can quality assure your products before you apply them to the soil.
Boost the Biology
in your Soil
In Stage 3 of the GTP you’ll replenish the microbes in your soil using the amendments you’ve produced. And you’ll adopt regenerative practices to ensure that the soil ecosystem is well protected and nourished.
Reap the
Rewards
You can expect to see measurable results in the first growing season. You’ll monitor the biome using your microscope, and you’ll see improvements in: yields, root-depth, BRIX, water-holding capacity, infiltration, compaction and more.
As a GTP student you can join the CTP Forum, which is accessible only to CTP
& GTP students and to graduates of the school.
In the CTP Forum you will be able to ask questions and get support from other
students, Certified Soil Food Web Consultants and from Dr. Elaine Ingham and
the school’s faculty.
Members of the forum occasionally organize group webinars where they
discuss complex topics with Dr. Ingham. You’ll get access to all previously
recorded webinars.
GTP – Stage One
The BioComplete™ Compost Practicum
In Stage 1 you’ll be supported by your mentor as you develop your microscopy and compost making skills to the required standard. You’ll have several 1-on1 sessions with your mentor to work on your microscopy technique and you’ll be required to complete the Microscopy Proficiency Assessment.
GTP – Stage Two
The BioComplete™ Liquids Practicum
In Stage 2 you’ll work on producing BioComplete™ Compost Extracts, that can be used as a soil drench, to deliver microbes deep into the soil profile, and BioComplete™ Compost Teas, that can be used to coat the above ground portion of the plant with beneficial microorganisms.
GTP – Stage Three
Implementation
In the final project you will regenerate the soil on a test plot, adjacent to a control plot, so you can compare the results. You will begin by producing a site assessment and subsequently a biological plan. You will then treat the soil with the BioComplete™ amendments which you made in Stages 1 & 2. You’ll monitor the soil biology and other metrics through the growing season, submitting samples to your mentor for verification at key stages. Upon successful completion of Stage 3, you will be awarded a completion certificate.
What Will It Cost ?
There are two payment options for the GTP: Full Access or the Payment Plan, which consists of 3 stages. Click on the button below for more information.
Stage One
BioComplete™ Compost Practicum – Make your inoculum
$1540
Stage Two
BioComplete™ Liquids Practicum – Convert from solid to liquid
$500
Stage Three
The GPT Implementation – Regenerate your soil
$1260
Full Access
Commit to all three stages at once and save $300
$3000
Dr. Elaine’s™ Grower Training Program
What's Included:
- A 30-day no questions asked money-back guarantee
- One-to-one Microscopy Training with your mentor
- Advanced Classes Exclusive to the GTP
- Access to the exclusive CTP Forum, Webinars & Community
- Mentoring from a member of Dr. Ingham’s Deep Knowledge Team—56 hours included, but more time is available if required (additional costs apply).
- A certificate of completion
Entry Requirements:
- Students with an average score of at least 90% in the Foundation Courses automatically qualify for entry to the Growers Training Program.
- You do not need a background in biology or science to enter this program.
- You will need to purchase several pieces of equipment in order to complete each stage. The precise budget will depend on the size of your operation. Your mentor will be able to advise you on equipment selection. The minimum requirements are likely to cost around $1,000-$1,200.
Frequently Asked Questions
I am a CTP/GTP student and I am up to recertify, do I have to? What happens if I don't? Can I delay my recertification?
As a CTP student, if you choose to let your certification lapse, you still keep access to Foundation Courses, CLP course materials, and CTP course materials appropriate to the stage in which you are in the program.
However, if you choose to let your certification lapse, you won’t be actively certified, so you will lose the website listing, and, more importantly, you should not perform any commercial assessments during that time using the SFWS name. Once you re-certify, you may have these benefits back. Additionally, it is important to note that you need to be a Certified Lab-Technician (CLT) to elevate from Stage 1 and graduate the program.
What are the benefits of remaining certified as a CLT?
As a Certified Soil Food Web Lab-Technician, you have the following benefits:
* You can advertise yourself as a Certified Soil Food Web Lab-Technician
* Listing on our website
* Continued access to the Foundation Courses, where new content continues to be added
* Continued access to the CLP course materials, including all updates
How do I purchase and complete my recertification?
Please click here to purchase your recertification. Then, log in to your account at clp.soilfoodweb.com to take the MPAs to recertify.
I completed the CLP, where do I find my certificate?
Your completion certificate is generated as soon as you complete MPA4 and can be found in the same place where you took the exams, clp.soilfoodweb.com.
Where can I view my completed MPA exams?
Previously completed MPA exams can be viewed in the same place where you took the exams: clp.soilfoodweb.com/assessments
What technical requirements does my microscope need to meet?
For Soil Food Web work, we use a standard biological compound light microscope. It should have a trinocular head; objective lenses with 4x, 10x, and 40x magnification; and an Abbe condenser. Microscopes come with 10x eyepieces as a standard, thereby providing 40x, 100x, and 400x total magnifications.
What technical requirements does my camera need to meet?
Your camera must provide a viewable area measuring at least 200 µm wide. It should provide detailed images and relatively smooth video, which is important for viewing moving organisms. Therefore your camera should be rated at least 5MP resolution, and should be equipped with USB 3.0 technology, connecting to a USB 3.0 port on your computer via a USB 3.0 cable. There are, however, cameras that perform well without the faster USB technology; for questions about particular models please contact the help desk.
Why is the camera field-of-view size important?
A small camera FoV introduces several difficulties. Because it offers a smaller space in which to conduct observations and generate data, it results in greater data variability. Techniques can be applied to compensate for this, but they increase the complexity, and therefore the time consumption, of the soil assessment process. A smaller FoV narrows the focal plane, making it more difficult to view microbes, especially when they are of larger size and/or motile. Therefore it also makes it impossible to capture the sort of high-quality images that are important in communicating with other technicians, with potential clients and the general public, and of course with your mentor/instructor.
How do I know whether a camera model meets the field-of-view-size requirement?
A camera that meets the requirements will most likely have C-mount threading, an industry standard. Many of these cameras are further packaged with a reducing, or wide-angle, lens attachment. These are usually 0.5x magnification, and in the case of most cameras, they ensure that the viewable aspect easily meets the required 200 µm width. Some cameras, typically those of lower resolution, are equipped to mount only on a tube like the ones that hold your eyepieces; these cameras will not meet the FoV size requirement.
What are the entry requirements for students to enroll in the Advanced Programs (AP)?
Students must complete the Foundation Courses (FCs) with 90%+ overall AND be enrolled (have purchased) at least one AP program which is the Certified Lab-Tech Program (CLP), Consultant Training Program (CTP), and Grower Training Program (GTP).
What do the different acronyms mean?
GTP – Grower Training Program
CTP – Consultant Training Program
CLP – Certified Lab-Tech Program
MPA – Microscopy Proficiency Assessment (exam to be taken at the end of the CLP)
FC – Foundation Course
Can I select a mentor of my preference?
Currently, mentors are assigned based on their availability and paired to students in relation to their time zones and language preference. All of our mentors are highly qualified.
When will I receive access to the CTP Forum?
Only students enrolled in the CTP and GTP who are already assigned a mentor will be added to the CTP Forum.
Can I get certified as a Consultant if I am in the Grower Training Program (GTP)?
The GTP is intended for farmers, growers and ranchers who do not wish to become certified consultants but if you change your mind during your program (before you enter Stage 3), you can transfer from the GTP to the CTP and complete Stage 3 of the Consultant Training Program. This will enable you to be certified as a Soil Food Web Consultant.
How long will it take to complete all 3 stages of the GTP?
The amount of time required depends on your other commitments. Students are expected to complete the GTP within 2 years. The maximum allowable time for completion is 3 years, after which your enrollment will expire. This policy is designed to help students to remain focused and motivated. You can of course apply for an extension if there are extenuating circumstances. Below is a breakdown of the time needed to complete each stage of the GTP:
GTP Stage 1 – The BioComplete™ Compost Practicum
Students typically need to make at least 6 compost piles before they can achieve the required standards for passing the compost practicum. If you have the resources, you can make multiple piles, with varying recipes, simultaneously, to save time. Each pile will require up to 28 days to complete, once built. A reasonable timeframe for the compost practicum is 3-12 months. Some students may take longer.
GTP Stage 2 – The BioComplete™ Liquid Practicum
Students can expect to complete Stage 2 within 3 months, or less if they are well-prepared and focused.
GTP Stage 3 – Implementation
The duration of the Final Project should be around one growing season +/-1 month. You should allow sometime prior to the growing season for preparation; several hours per month, during the growing season, for data collection; and several days of work at the end of the growing season for data analysis and the write-up of your project.
Can I complete the practical training at the Soil Food Web School?
This is not currently possible, but we are hoping to put on a number of in-person intensive workshops in 2023.
Is the Certified Lab-Tech Program included in the Grower Training Program?
Yes, it is. GTP students are required to complete the CLP in Stage 1 of the GTP. Click here for more info
Will I need to buy any equipment to complete the GTP?
You will need to purchase several pieces of equipment in order to complete each stage. The precise budget will depend on the size of your operation. Your mentor will be able to advise you on equipment selection. The minimum requirements are likely to cost at least $1,000. You may be able to repurpose some of your existing equipment e.g. spraying rigs for the application of liquid biological inoculation. Once you are enrolled in the course, you will receive access to the Equipment List, which has all equipment information.
Can I use the trademarked term BioComplete™?
The term BioComplete™ is used to refer to compost and liquid amendments that meet the minimum biological requirements defined by Dr. Elaine Ingham as being required in order for the amendment to be effective in restoring the soil biome when correctly applied. You will be trained on how to make these amendments in the GTP. Once you have successfully completed the GTP, you can apply to the Soil Food Web School for a license to use the term in association with your products, but the term can only be used by individuals and corporations that have a license agreement in place. Licensees will be required to meet stringent quality assurance requirements.
Do I need any qualifications to join the Grower Training Program?
The courses are designed for people who are either farmers, ranchers or growers. While you don’t need a background in science or any other qualifications, you will need access to some land and other resources. If you are considering taking this course before you purchase land, that’s ok, so long as you have some space and resources to make your compost (and to practice microscopy) in Stage 1, and to make your liquid amendments in Stage 2. You will need the land by the time you reach Stage 3 for implementation.
How long will it take to complete Stage 1 of the GTP?
Students typically need to make at least 6 compost piles before they can achieve the required standards for passing the compost practicum. Each pile can require up to 28 days to complete, once built and it can take about a month to three months to source the needed feedstocks to make the pile. A reasonable time frame for the compost practicum is 3-12 months. Some students may take longer.
Can I complete the different GTP stages in different locations
The CLP can be completed while in any location, as you will only need to take some samples and use your microscope. However, once you start composting you should remain in that location throughout the rest of the program as the compost produced in Stage 1 is the foundation for both the Stage 2 Liquids and the Final Project. In other words, all composting-related activities should be carried out in the same location.
Can I request an extension for completing the GTP?
While you may request an extension for completing the GTP, it may only be granted in extenuating circumstances. In several cases, requesting to pause the program may be a better course of action.
Can I pause my GTP program?
Yes. Please email [email protected] for assistance. Make sure to include the reason for your pause and your intended resume date. The time that you spend in paused status will not be deducted from the 3 years that you have to complete the GTP. Note that you can only pause your program for a total of six months cumulative during your 3-year enrollment period. If you request a pause, your spot with your mentor may not be held.
Can I take the GTP along with someone?
Currently our system is designed for 1:1 interactions. You must be an enrolled GTP student to take part in any meeting.