Re: [compost_tea] Re: pre-activation results
Ted, what kind of bag do you put your compost in for brewing tea? Thanks
very much
>Ted Peterson <ted.peterson_at_tcsn.net> wrote:
>Yes, we can predict. Remember though that we are dealing with billions of
>microscopic creatures. So I think that excat numbers my not be so
>important in a predictive sense but ranges of critters and diversity show
>"x" results. Tea does work. I have test data that shows it works just
>the way it says in the Compost Tea Brewing Manual. That is pretty
>predicitive as far as I am concerned.
>
>
>You don't need to find a compost, you can make one. Here is a quick way
>to jumpstart your compost pile.
>
>Start with a bag of commercial compost. You can even brew with it. It
>will work but you will be uncertain as to diversity. Go around your local
>area and pick up some of the leaves and humus under the trees. Go to a
>bunch of places and take a 2G bucketful from each place. Get the old
>rotting leaves at the bottom not the newly dropped green leaves. Plastic
>garbage bags work great. Try to get a ratio of about 50/50 with the
>leaves and humus you pick up and your commercial compost. Dump both
>together and keep it about 45% moist. How do you know that level of
>moisture? Grab a handful and squeeze it. It should stay lumped together
>without being muddy. If you get it too wet, don't fret, it will dry
>out. Turn this pile with a shovel or pitchfork every couple of days.
>
>If you have a brewer, you can keep a little of the compost and the humus
>you collect and brew a batch of tea. Put in molasses, fish emulsion
>(fertilizer will work), some kelp and some humic acid. (I have even used
>ammonium sulfate but I like organic inputs. The AS works and I use it for
>certain processing but I'm not a real fan. If you use this stuff, dilute
>it a lot and use it with caution. To much can have adverse effects on the
>critters.). What you are going to do is use the commercial compost as an
>organic material base then build a pile using your local leaves and humus
>to give the most local diversity. Don't expect this pile to heat up like
>a regular compost pile and you should try to keep temps around 90 - 100
>dF. If you have a source of manure, you can add that but, depending on
>the compost you start with, you may not need any.
>
> Anyway, brew a batch of tea and pour it on your compost pile. Depending
> on your brewer, you will probably need no more than a couple of
> gallons. Pour it in as you turn the pile so you get it into as much of
> the pile as you can without getting the pile too wet. Let this pile stay
> around for about 2 - 3 weeks. You should have good fungal growth and
> your bacteria should be reactivated in the commercial and growing from
> your local stuff. If you keep it turned, you will be promoting the
> aerobes and they will multiply.
>
>
>Ted Peterson
>EW/SOE
Margaret L
Gardening in Intermountain West and Handicapped gardening
http://www.margaretlauterbach.com
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Received on Sat May 15 2004 - 10:59:17 EDT
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: Tue Feb 07 2012 - 14:15:16 EST