[compost_tea] What I think is important
I've been following the recent posts regarding a competition between commer=
cial tea brewing units. With the right controls in place (it sounds like th=
ey were not there according to Steve at the Texas event), it could have som=
e benefit.
However, rather than a competition, I think a certifying agency or some ind=
ustry standard would be far more beneficial to ACT as a technology. There =
are many different designs that make acceptable tea, meaning they extract t=
he organisms into the liquid medium and provide adequate aeration to keep d=
issolved oxygen levels above 6 mg/l. Granted, some will be more efficient,=
cost-effective, or more aesthetically pleasing, but provided the above con=
ditions are met then a brewer design could potentially qualify.
An agreed upon definition about what ACT is and isn't, what it's purposes a=
re, main benefits, and what claims can be made that are proven to be accura=
te and not based on conjecture or anecdotal evidence/opinion.
How many brewer manufacturers actually own and use a microscope and dissolv=
ed oxygen meter to test their tea quality, and base their recommendations u=
pon that data? I see crazy claims all the time. Some companies claim you =
can refrigerate your ACT for up to a week (Vermicrop), or brew continually =
as long as you want, adding compost and foodstocks, but never actually test=
ing the tea with a microscope.
If we want to legitimatize our industry, we need to establish conventional =
methodology that is supported by accurate data and direct microscopy. Othe=
rwise, all we have is some bubbling brown liquid, with no idea if it contai=
ns the proper sets of organisms, with good diversity and biomass.
I think once we have some standard for our industry, the next step would be=
to collaborate on the subject that Bobby eluded to: How can we improve our=
ACT (based on brewer design and inputs) to maximize plant growth across a =
variety of media and environmental conditions?
I'm sick of hearing that ACT doesn't work because people use a 10 gallon aq=
uarium pump and airstone from Petco, or listen to claims that are unsupport=
ed by any data or microscopy.
My 2 cents,
Tad Hussey
www.kisorganics.com
Received on Wed Feb 01 2012 - 15:53:29 EST
This archive was generated by hypermail 2.3.0
: Tue Feb 07 2012 - 13:58:17 EST