I was hoping you would speak up on this subject Evan. I'd be more intereste=
d in the tracked dissolved oxygen than the testimonials (BTW I don't know i=
f anyone told you advertising is on Sundays only) I do believe that a semi-=
perpetual brew is possible but do not know whether it is more beneficial th=
an starting a brew over. Some of the longterm brews I've carried out have w=
ound up with a predominence of ciliates and/or fungal hyphae quite devoured=
by bacteria.
If you have tracked the microbial development and/or DO2 I'd be interested =
in hearing/seeing.
I was asked recently to put on a seminar for a college growing program and =
they did not have a brewer. I threw together a 5 gallon airlift brewer to d=
onate, using the 2 CFM Hailea. Because of time constraints we started the b=
rew at my place so it would be on about 36 hours for the seminar. I checked=
the brew at 11 hours and it blew my mind. It was complete. Bacteria/archae=
a, flagellates & mega fungal hyphae. The DO2 was 8.2 ppm. Next morning shut=
it down, drove about 2 hours, then started the brew back up again. I did n=
ot take the O2 meter but samples under the scope at 36 to 40 hours were beg=
inning to show chewed down hyphae and quite an abundance of ciliates and le=
ss flagellates. Now does that mean the ACT is not as functional? I don't kn=
ow. But it was on its way to being overun by ciliates. We've been told by s=
ome in the field, this is a bad sign. I believe ciliates cycle nutrients bu=
t I think the lack of diversity is not great.
On an upnote; What an incredible little brewer I stumbled on.
*Evan; I'm working on the testing thing.
Salutations,
Tim
--- In compost_tea_at_yahoogroups.com, "evanfolds" <evan_at_...> wrote:
>
> We have been brewing perpetually for many years using a Vortex Brewer. He=
re is a video of many happy customers using compost tea created in this way=
:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-fNWyTqUUN0
>
> it is important to refresh teh solution at least once per week. In other =
words, if you are distributing 10 gallons a wekk using a 60 gallon unit the=
inputs compound on themselves. We suggest adding a certian amoutn of input=
for every 5 gallons of water added to the unit. It works great.
>
> This not only makes sense on a convenience level, but also on a "plant fo=
od" level. We all know microbes make perfect plant food. When attaining a s=
hredder dominance after 48 hours it makes sense that this process creates m=
ore plant food the longer the tea is brewed. After all, the guts of bacteri=
a make up humus, i.e. plant food.
>
> We are not suggesting that this provides a replicable biological product,=
only that it is a living solution that cannot be purtchased from a shelf. =
Depending on the application, the plant food aspect may be more important t=
han the biological aspect. Consider container gardening or indoor gardening=
where the goal is not necessarily to establish an operating soil food web.=
>
> We have distributed compost tea from a Vortex Brewer to every gardening s=
ituation imagineable over the last 5-6 years, sometimes with a brew that ha=
s been spinning for up to 6 months without cleaning the unit, and never hav=
e we had a negative response.
>
> I would not receommend using other compost tea units in this capacity, no=
t because it will not work, but becasue I have not personally tested it. Th=
ere is still MUCH work to do to determine the potentials of compost tea, bu=
t perpetual brewing sure makes sense from our perspective.
>
> Evan
> www.VortexBrewer.com
>
>
>
> --- In compost_tea_at_yahoogroups.com, "RTS Friction - Carruthers" <home_at_> w=
rote:
> >
> > It would seem you run the risk of outside contamination if you continue=
to use your base stock, much the same as using your yeast again and again =
in beer making. Look forward to other comments good question.
> > If you trail through the archives you will see the discussions on addin=
g extra food/nutrient, many members believe it is not necessary. Thanks to =
good advice I now rely on the release of nutrients in the compost/vermicast=
to multiply the MO's, I do add a little barley malt if using the tea for g=
etting the compost heap going or doing a lawn drench.
> > Ian C
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: Paul M Moriarty To: compost_tea_at_yahoogroups.com
> > Sent: Monday, June 20, 2011 9:03 PM
> >
> > New guy here. I've searched through the archives and haven't found an=
answer to my question. Hopefully, one of you can help me out.
> >
> > Is it possible to just keep a batch of tea going by, draining off 1/2=
the tea and replacing with water & food as one would with a sourdough star=
ter, or is it necessary to replenish the castings as well? As an urban farm=
er, I'm trying to get as much mileage out of my castings as possible.
> >
>
Received on Fri Jun 24 2011 - 09:06:08 EDT