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‘Dr. Elaine Ingham – Life In The Soil – Microscope Class’ Group BuyGB status – ClosedGB thread – HereSharing elsewhere will result in being banned                                                                                           Dr. Elaine Ingham – Life In The Soil – Microscope ClassDr. Elaine Ingham is recognized around the world as the leader in soil microbiology and research of the soil foodweb. She is an energetic, easy-to-understand speaker who explains what life in the soil is all about. With decades of experience as a professor, researcher, and soil benefactor consulting in the field she has helped thousands of homeowners, growers, and influential companies understand healthy soil via healthy organisms. Elaine transmits sophisticated information in a down-to-earth way. Her mission is to show that the key to making any plant thrive, from the turf on golf courses to vegetables in the garden is to team up with suitable soil microbes. Elaine has astounding results to show for it. Dr. Ingham connects the loop from chemical, biological, to available plant nutrients. her easy and enthusiastic style brings the soil foodweb to life.In 1986, Elaine moved to Oregon State University, but in 1991, because the samples from outside Elaine’s immediate program being sent to her for analysis were becoming a large component of what she was doing, a service through the University was opened called the Soil Microbial Biomass Service. The Service offered researchers and commercial clients the ability to have soil samples analyzed for soil food web organisms. In the fall of 1996, Soil Foodweb Inc. became the commercial enterprise doing this work and labs began to spread around the world.  Working on compost tea with many people around the world has brought a greater understanding of how to properly manage compost, vermicompost, and compost tea to guarantee disease-suppressive, soil-building, nutrient-retaining composts and compost teas. Dr. Ingham works with Soil Life Consultants around the world, , maintains a website, writes books, writes articles publishes scientific papers, gives talks at meetings and symposia around the world and tries to keep current with her children. Her current projects range from working in citrus groves in Florida, to cotton and avocado in Australia, turf and golf courses in many places, roadside restoration in California and just about every other plant system in between. Dr. Elaine Ingham leads this very special class training people to use  simple, but effective, shadowing light microscope methods to identify soil biology. Learn from the master herself about what constitutes good compost and compost tea based on microscope assessment. These sessions are essential for anyone who wishes to gain “eyes on” knowledge of the soil universe and what really goes on under our feet. Get the necessary training to identify bacteria, fungi, protozoa, and nematodes that drive the health and well-being of our plants. Students are required to have their own microscopes to follow along with the videos. Microscope ClassDr. Elaine Ingham leads this very special class training people to use  simple, but effective, shadowing light microscope methods to identify soil biology. Learn from the master herself about what constitutes good compost and compost tea based on microscope assessment. These sessions are essential for anyone who wishes to gain “eyes on” knowledge of the soil universe and what really goes on under our feet. Get the necessary training to identify bacteria, fungi, protozoa, and nematodes that drive the health and well-being of our plants. Students are required to have their own microscopes to follow along with the videos. Learn how to operate a simple light microscope to obtain the best resolution of life in the soil.  Learn to identify the creatures in the soil, and differentiate beneficial from detrimental organisms.  Each participant should have their own microscope or partner with someone who has a microscope. A spreadsheet to convert visual results in the concentration of organisms per gram (teaspoon) of soil, and into biomass per gram will be explained (laptop required). Microscopes with cameras (smart phones work if you have steady hands) are strongly encouraged to record images of the organisms.  Practice sessions allow participants to analyze their own samples –  from soil, to compost, to extract and teas, to water samples, or food — and learn what biology is present. Through a series of video online lessons, Elaine takes us through everything that you will ever need to know on how to use your microscope effectively. We’ve put it together this way so you will quickly get a good overview of all the lessons in front of you but you will also gain the right amount of knowledge in the right amount of time.Course OutlineLesson 1: Introduction to the MicroscopeGuide to selecting a MicroscopeHow to set up microscopeParts and functions of a typical microscopeMicroscope best practiceHow to collect a soil sampleHow to look after your microscopeLesson 2: Sample PreparationDiluting & Preparing SlidesHow to Focus correctly on your Slide and which magnification to useLesson 3: Morphology of BacteriaTrue bacteria, Actinobacteria,Spirilla, Spirochetes,Anaerobic Bacteria as indicatorsLesson 4: Morphology of FungiDecomposer fungi,Mycorrhizal fungi,Diameters, ColorLesson 5: Morphology of Algae, Protozoa & NematodesAlgae, Pollen, Parasites, MicroarthropodsProtozoa; Flagellates, Amoebae, CiliatesNematodes; bacterial-feeding, fungal-feeding, predatory, root-feedingLesson 6: Morphology of Other Materials in the SoilIdentifying other materials such as cellulose, plant debris, thread, diatom shells, mineral particles.Distinguishing between other materials & organismsLesson 7: Quantification (Counting Organisms)Sampling considerations,Replication,Determining diameters, lengths, numbersLesson 8: Data from Counting FieldsSpreadsheet, equations,Calculations,Interpretation of data                                                                                         NowVIP + 2016-7-01Power User + 7-24User 10 Years