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RE: [compost_tea] recipes, procedure & perfomance



Steve,

 

I’m using the Bob-O-Lator for 250 gallons. The great folks at Soil Food Web suggested

I use some rock powder as a perch for the fungi.  So I added a quart of Azomite.  I have

quarries near me that have the fine powdered granite dust and basalt available; the

quarries consider this as waste. The fungal compost tea recipe that was suggested to me was 5 gallons

water, 2 ounces molasses, and 10 ounces fish hydrolysate plus some rock dust.  For

a large brew, I should increase the nutrients proportionate to the amount of water, but not

so the compost, and to check with the brewer manufacturer, as all the good brewers

mentioned on this list use different amounts of material.  For 250 gallons water, that would

be 100 ounces (.75 gallons) molasses and 500 ounces (3.91 gallons) of fish!

It was also suggested that I not use seaweed together with fish, as there might be too much

salt. 

 

I added 2 cups molasses at the start and some to the tank later into the brewing cycle.  Figuring

the cool molasses was falling to the tank bottom, I began adding it to the chamber.  I won’t do

that again.  The chamber bubbled up and it took 1 ½ hours to calm it down.  But in the morning,

I found the lid had blown off the chamber and there was a mound of compost sitting on the brewer’s

ledge. Bob Norsen suggested that next time I should add molasses that’s been warmed or add

warm water to the molasses.

 

Did I miss a post on any agreement about the amount of molasses in our recipes, as to 3% or 5%

or somewhere in between?  I checked and can buy 5 gallons of unsulphered organic Blackstrap molasses

for $40 from the local food co-op.

 

Thanks,

 

Judi

 

 

-----Original Message-----
From: Steve Bridges [mailto:kimas@texasgrown.com]
Sent
:
Tuesday, July 08, 2003 2:23 PM
To: compost_tea@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [compost_tea] recipes, procedure & perfomance

 

Judy,

If you have a motor-driven, impellor-type pump, then you can't use rock dust in your machine. I have a 22gal. Earth Tea Brewer and rock dusts cause a $15 seal in the motor to wear out after 4-5 brews. One of the composts that I was using had some decomposed granite in the compost. I could visually see the scuff marks on the seal where the granite had scarred the seal, causing it to leak.

Steve Bridges

Kimas Tejas Nursery

----- Original Message -----

From: Judi Stewart

Sent: Tuesday, July 08, 2003 3:34 PM

Subject: RE: [compost_tea] recipes, procedure & perfomance

 

Jeff,

 

I have some questions for you. 

 

Is there a specific number of days in advance that’s preferable? 

 

Would the same hold true if you were making a bacterial or fungal

tea?

 

Have you used any rock dust in your brews, and if so, how much?

 

Sorry, but I can’t make it this weekend.  I think it’s a most

important meeting.  Being able to see how the

compost tea is made by the experts is an excellent idea.

Perhaps someone would be willing to tape this for those

who can’t be there in person and have it available

for a fee.

 

Thanks for your help,

 

Judi

 

 


From: Jeff Lowenfels [mailto:jeff@gardener.com]
Sent:
Tuesday, July 08, 2003 10:52 AM
To: compost_tea@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [compost_tea] recipes, procedure & perfomance

 

Bob,

 

I think you will find that you will have greater success if you add the ingredients to the compost SEVERAL days ahead of time. This gives the fungi a chance to get started.

 

I hope you and your customers are all going to be at the ICTC event this Friday and saturday. I know I look forward to seeing folks from this list.

 

Cheers,

 

Jeff L



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