[compost_tea] Re: Making compost tea extract
if you have a choice than always make the liquid extract fresh.
Here is a simple&affordable DIY LCE approach I have used for my home lawn:
1. Extract 1 gallon of high quality vermicompost in 5 gallons of water for =
a 24 hour period. I stir, using a long handled spoon, vigorously each hour=
for the first 4 hours and again each hour 4 hours prior to harvesting the =
liquid.
2. Filter out the solids using a 5 gallon paint strainer bag.
3. Dilute the extract liquid concentrate to 100 gallons with water using 2-=
55 gallon rain barrels with spigots.
4. Add 1 quart of 12% Humic Acid to each rain barrel. Mix well.
5. Apply the diluted liquid to 1 acre of turf using a hose and a Honda 1hp =
pump.
6. Repeat monthly during growing season.
So with this procedure I use around 1 cubic foot of vermicompost and 4 gall=
ons of 12% humic acid per season.
Keep in mind that the LCE is a soil microbial inoculant where less used mor=
e often is better than alot used less often.
So use less compost, apply liquid monthly, and watch your soil improve. =
my 2 cents.....
Mike Flynn
Green Quest LLC
BioSpecific LLC
--- In compost_tea_at_yahoogroups.com, phishphan12_at_... wrote:
>
> Extraction is basically taking the microbes off of the compost without ad=
ding any additional foods to the brew. This is what gives LCE its shelf lif=
e. You do use roughly 10x the amount of compost used in tea brewing, so it =
does have its disadvantages too. Buying an extractors isn't cheap either, b=
ut I think in the archives someone uses an old washing machine.
>
> Also, a lot of the bottled "teas" on the market are dormant spores or som=
e other brew and other not really "teas". Do some homework.
>
> Matt
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "waynerz123" <wayner123_at_...>
> To: "compost tea" <compost_tea_at_yahoogroups.com>
> Sent: Thursday, March 17, 2011 2:59:26 PM
> Subject: [compost_tea] Making compost tea extract
>
>
>
>
>
>
> If I understand it correctly, and I am probably way off, the good microbe=
s in compost tea lessen the longer it sits. But there are a number of compa=
nies that sell compost tea extracts. So how does one take homemade compost =
tea and make it dormant or give it a shelf life?
>
> The benefit of this would be to make one large batch and then aerate it w=
hen needed/wanted.
>
Received on Thu Mar 17 2011 - 17:07:48 EDT
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