Oh yes, testing. In the early stages, I would suggest you don't test. The=
formula I gave you has been tested so you don't need to spend the money. =
However, when you use different nutrients or change your brewing cycle subs=
tantially in a way that doesn't come from an accepted or tested recipie, I =
would suggest testing. Better than testing your tea is to test your compos=
t.
I don't know about Jeff's commercial product because I make my own. Ask hi=
m for a compost analysis. I'm sure he has done the footwork and can give y=
ou something that will let you know his stuff is as good as reported. I wou=
ld suggest you learn to make your own also. In the process of building com=
post, you will learn a lot about tea. If you want to use a commercial sour=
ce, Jeff's is at least as good or better (It is probably substantially bett=
er than commercial compost you can buy at a nursery.) as any other. Many p=
eople use worm castings so if you are into vermiculture, you already have a=
good source of compost. Mine is all custom and I use it to seed other pro=
jects. I know it is highly diverse and very active. It's also expensive so=
someone really has to want it for me to sell it. It's easier to make you =
own.
If you are interested, send me an email and I will send you some designs fo=
r a passive static compost process I have been working on. I can make tall=
er piles with smaller footprints that I don't need to turn. I use convecti=
on to naturally aerate the pile and it works.
Again about testing. It's expensive. Unless you are going after this as a=
commercial enterprise and are selling your tea for profit or are involved =
with establishing custom recipies, I don't think you need to test. If you =
use general recipies and brew within alloted cycles, you will get good bact=
erial/fungal numbers in your tea. The testing has been done by others and =
you can be assured you will get results.
Ted Peterson
Earth-Wise/Spirit of the Earth
----- Original Message -----
From: Jeff Lowenfels
To: compost_tea_at_yahoogroups.com
Sent: Sunday, February 22, 2004 1:06 PM
Subject: Re: [compost_tea] Information for Newcomer
Nice summary Ted! Thanks!
Did you include the need to test your tea once or twice as soon as you? =
Yes, it is a bit expensive, but it will tell you if you are doing things ri=
ght. You have to test using the proper procedures.Go to www.soilfoodweb.co=
m to find the nearest lab.
Ted hit the nail on the head with the advice about compost. People can fo=
ol around all they want with brewers and nutrients, but it is the microbiol=
ogy in the compost that counts.
And, because it is Sunday, the day when the list "accepts" advertising, l=
et me advise those who are not sure about their compost or who want to use =
a compost proven to excel in making teas, then check out www.alaskahumus.c=
om. This is the rich, natural humus that produces the big vegetables in Ala=
ska. It makes terrific tea with very high fungal and bacterial numbers. One=
box will last most home users a full season and spring approaches........I=
nquire about larger quantities.
Cheers,
Jeff L
---------------------------------------------------------------------------=
---
Yahoo! Groups Links
a.. To visit your group on the web, go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/compost_tea/
b.. To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
compost_tea-unsubscribe_at_yahoogroups.com
c.. Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service=
.
Received on Sun Feb 22 2004 - 17:40:40 EST