Re: [compost_tea] Tea Ingredients

From: Jeff Lowenfels <jeff_at_gardener.com>
Date: Tue, 27 Jul 2004 10:48:38 -0800

John asked about nutrients for his tea. Then he listed a whole bunch of st=
uff he was considering using.

For beginners making tea: First, the nutrient ingredients are really seco=
ndary. You really can't make great tea by adding lots of stuff to it. What=
 you are making them is microbe food, not aerated compost tea.

Start with good compost and ONE or TWO nutrients for the microbes. Start wi=
th either a "sugar" for the bacteria like maple syrup or unsulphered molass=
es. Then try a tea with a "base" on to which fungi can attach and grow like=
 humic acids, greensand, or cold water grown kelp. Keep it simple. Make a =
few brews and then get one tested by SFI. And do not rely on folks who don=
't make compost tea...Elliot Coleman makes compost. His recipes are for com=
post. Not tea.

Cheers,

Jeff



Received on Tue Jul 27 2004 - 16:00:15 EDT

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