The Cornell delegation at CBEN-2024.

Wendy Alwala and Eli Newell setting up a “YouGo” experiment at Charles Midega’s Circularity and Empowerment Center in Kisumu, Kenya.

Eli Newell works with the Nyalenda Young Turks, a youth group in Kisumu, Kenya, on a design competition for ecological toilets.

A courtesy call to the governor of Kisumu County during CBEN-2023 (the first meeting of the regional Circular Bionutrient Economy Network. Pictured: Benjamin Ombok, Soliver Che Fusi, Gov. Peter Anyang’ Nyong’o, Rebecca Nelson, Charles Midega, Eli Newell.

Debbie Aller (Cornell Cooperative Extension) and Jensen Njagi discussing a YouGo experiment at Dilmun Hill during a Circular Bionutrient Economy field day (Summer 2023).

“Oasis Spaces” garden prototype being developed at the Soil Factory in Ithaca (Fall 2023).

Rhubarb and herbs growing in a “bales as rails” raised bed at the Soil Factory (Summer 2023).

The team at Dilmun Hill: Jensen Njagi, Ace Repka, Henry Perez, Earl Gocking (Summer 2023).

High tunnel at Dilmun Hill Student Organic Farm

Krisztina, Brian, and Shuai prepping materials for the Dilmun Hill high tunnel experiment, 2024.

Lettuce plant grown in organic underutilized resources (OURs) mix of wheat straw, maize stover, and compost.

Lettuce plant grown in soil and compost mix.

Tobacco and skunk beans in 30 gallon grow sacks at Dilmun Hill Student Organic Farm. The experiment was led by undergraduate students Jesse Hernandez and Lea Esipov, with support from postdoc Krisztina Mosdossy and the rest of the lab team. 

Young tobacco plant fertilized with a synthetic liquid fertilizer.

Tobacco plant fertigated with pasteurized human urine as a nitrogen and nutrient source.

Skunk beans grown with various fertilizers at Dilmun Hill. The findings showed that urine was as good as conventional fertilizer, but that fish effluent and black soldier fly frass were not providing adequate nutrients.

Skunk bean plant fertilized with Black Soldier Fly frass.

Jesse harvesting skunk beans.

Group tobacco harvest party clipping leaves.

Jesse with traditional tobacco leaf strand.

An abundance of flowers in the Dilmun Hill straw bale garden.

Jesse fertigating Dilmun straw bale garden with fish effluent from Eugene Won lab at Cornell.

Lab team constructing the new Dilmun Hill straw bale garden.

Lea shows off the new arch and seating area in the straw bale garden.

Soil Factory 1

Soil Factory 3

Soil Factory 4

Soil Factory 5

Soil Factory 6

Soil Factory 7

Soil Factory 8

Soil Factory 9

Resource Recovery-Burning organic materials to make biochar.

Resource Recovery-Adding urine during the biochar formation process.

Resource Recovery-Newly formed biochar being transferred for storage.

Resource Recovery-Andrew by his biochar reactor.