[compost_tea] Alaska Humus- 48 hours of feeding and no critters

From: burnhampatricia_at_ymail.com <patriciaburnham_at_live.com>
Date: Sun, 23 Jan 2011 11:55:42 -0000

Hi Tim,

Thanks so much for your thoughtful answer, that does make sense.

I was curious to see what all the fuss was about with Alaska humus, so I pu=
rchased some and took a look at it under the microscope when it arrived- no=
thing moving -- hense the first email.... thought I might have been comple=
tely on the wrong track.

Since the first post, I have been feeding the humus with fish hydrolyse for=
 close to 48 hours, --- so far there are no critters. I do think I might h=
ave some fungi starting to grow which is exciting.

I have been doing lots of looking at my worm compost, and other things, so =
do know what flagellates, cilia, bacteria and bacteria strands look like (a=
lthough my spelling might be off). I have to admit, I am not sure I can ide=
ntify a cyst.

Any suggestions? am I just being too impatient?

Thanks again for your help

Patricia
 



--- In compost_tea_at_yahoogroups.com, "Tim Wilson" <thegoodjob_at_...> wrote:
>
> Hi Patricia,
>
> My take: In substances like the Alaska humus and Canadian Sphagnum peat m=
oss, the material has aerobically decomposed to a degree and then had the d=
ecomposition stopped (and sometimes started again off and on) by being subm=
erged in water and/or frozen. When this decomposition is halted the aerobic=
 microorganisms form cysts and other stages of dormancy. In this state many=
 microbes can remain viable indefinitely. When the substance is harvested a=
nd exposed to oxygen the organisms come to life again, feeding on the high =
levels of carbon and if you use it in soil or provide feedstock (like molas=
ses in compost tea) the microbes multiply even more.
>
> Tim
>
> --- In compost_tea_at_yahoogroups.com, "burnhampatricia_at_" <patriciaburnham@>=
 wrote:
> >
> > question- if Alaska Humus is from ancient humus deposits, does this mea=
n the organisms are also ancient?
> > sorry if this is a dumb question... but doesn't make sense to me how on=
e would grow active bacteria, protozoa and fungi from such a material.
> > Your help is appreciated
> > Patricia Burnham
> >
>




Received on Sun Jan 23 2011 - 12:39:50 EST

This archive was generated by hypermail 2.3.0 : Tue Feb 07 2012 - 13:58:03 EST