[SafeLawns.org 05 Oct 2012 by Paul Tukey] BOULDER, CO. — Showcasing what is likely the largest compost tea project of its kind anywhere in the nation on Thursday, Oct. 4, the lead turfgrass manager at the University of Colorado offered a behind-the-scenes look at what makes his 70-plus acres of grass truly green. The compost tea, a biologically active liquid — that some in academia claim is just brown water — is sprayed through the entire campus sprinkler system. The result is remarkably beautiful grass that is safe and luxuriant for the school’s 29,000-plus students and faculty. “It was a huge challenge to figure everything out,” said Ryan Heiland, the former golf course superintendent who was hosting a group of lawn care professionals from across the nation. “On one side you have people who just hate dandelions,” he said. “On the other side, you have people who hate the spraying of pesticides just as much, or even more. So my response was to just start using organic fertilizers and methods as an experiment. Then we used them on the entire quad for two years before we told anyone about it. That way no one could tell us that it didn’t work. You stand there and look at the grass and it speaks for itself.” 
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