[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index][Thread Index]
Re: [compost_tea] Fungi in tea
Folks,
This is not a commercial, really! I just want to emphasize the two posts
from Doc. Elaine and from me about pre inoculation of compost to grow fungi.
We have had a lot of tea brewers call Alaska Humus, LLC this week about
fungi.Of the calls, at least half of the brewers said they tried to grow
fungi in their compost as we have discussed and did not have good results.
Not coincidently,they are having trouble getting fungal numbers in their
teas. Hmmmmm, pretty obvious connection, it seems to me. What goes in the
tea makes what comes out.....It all starts with the compost.
I am now fully convinced that one of the best things that will come out of
this listserve (this year) is the "discovery" ( in quotes because I am sure
Doc I has known this but has not been able to tell us because of client
information) and discussion of growing fungi in compost BEFORE making tea
and that pre-brew growing and addition of fungal nutrients really should be
part of the procedure in just the same way cleaning the machine after each
us is or adding nutrients to the brew is......
IMHO, every tea brewer should test a sample of each compost/humus batch they
buy for fungi before making teas with it. (Of course, getting the seller to
supply a SFI test should be a must, too). No fungi? Mix it with something
that does have fungi. It only takes a week to test and one cup or less of
material is required,a few tablespoons of water (watch the chlorine) and
nutrient. If fungi grows, then the compost/humus has the ability to make
good, fungal teas.
In addition to batch testing as above, there should be a pre brew
inoculation and fungal growth each time before making teas that call for
higher fungal numbers. May be the next compost(/humus) tea brewing manual
should include such instructions.
Comments?
Cheers,
Jeff L
To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
compost_tea-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
.