Your Checkup

Submit your soil, compost, or compost tea sample for a microscope assessment of beneficial and detrimental microorganisms.  The assessment will include actinobacteria, amoebae, bacteria, ciliates, flagellates, fungi, oomycetes, and nematodes (bacterial-feeding, fungal-feeding, predatory, and root-feeding).  For each sample, you will receive a report with population or biomass estimates of each organism group listed above, along with the fungi-to-bacteria ratio.  Comments and pictures will be included as needed to communicate specific concerns.

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1. Collect samples:

• For soil, identify areas of interest (for example, zones in a field or lawn that are unproductive or highly productive).  In each area of interest, randomly collect at least 5 sub-samples using an apple corer, soil probe, or shovel.  Sub-samples should be collected 3 inches deep after removing vegetation from the soil surface.  Mix sub-samples thoroughly in a clean container.

• For compost, randomly collect at least 5 sub-samples from your compost pile or windrow and mix them thoroughly in a clean container.

• For compost tea or extract, randomly collect sub-samples from the center of your container (e.g. your compost tea brewer) and mix them in a clean container.

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2. Package samples:​

• For soil or compost, put 1 cup of each sample into a clean resealable plastic bag.  Leave some air-space in the bag.  Use permanent marker to label the bag with your name, the date the sample was collected, the intended crop - if applicable (e.g. corn, figs, lawn, pasture), and a name or location to identify the sample (e.g. "northeast garden").

• For compost tea or extract, pour 1 cup of each sample into a clean container, which should only be one-third full. Place the sealed container in a resealable plastic bag. Use permanent marker to label the bag with your name, the date the sample was collected, and a name or location to identify the sample.

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3. Submit samples:​

Submit your sample(s), your email address and phone number, and a check for $80 per sample to:

Brian Campbell

47 Sharon Road, Enola, PA 17025

• Send soil or compost samples using 2-day shipping or faster.

• Send compost tea or extract using overnight shipping.