[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index][Thread Index]

[compost_tea] newbie recipe questions



I have a vegetable garden and fruit trees that I grow organically on my 1/3 acre lot in the suburbs of Seattle.  I bought a K.I.S. Tea Brewer, and I plan on brewing my first batch soon.  It comes with some compost packets, and refills can be ordered.  I would prefer becoming self-sufficient in supplying raw materials for brewing my compost tea.  Bob Norsen was kind in recently advising this simple recipe:
 
2 or 3 cups of a forest duff/worm compost mix
2 tablespoon of oat flour
teaspoon of humic acid
 
Except for the humic acid, that seems like a simple recipe that I could assemble without much trouble.  Would I allow these ingredients to float around the (5 gallon?) bucket loose, or should I contain them in a sock?
 
Here is an even simpler recipe from the Department of Enviromental Protection in Pennsylvania:
http://www.dep.state.pa.us/dep/deputate/airwaste/wm/recycle/Tea/tea1.htm 
1 gallon of mature compost
1 oz unsulfured molasses
5 gallon bucket of degassed water
 
The webpage shows the compost just floating in the bucket loose.  Sounds too easy.  If I use this recipe and create fresh batches of sweet earthy smelling tea that is dark brown, it seems like my garden should benefit from the bacteria and fungi that are growing in it.  I could boost the population of beneficial things by adding humic acid, kelp, fish hydrolyzate, but wouldn't the simple recipe "get me in the ballpark"?
 
One ingredient that I could add to the mix is spent sawdust from production of oyster mushrooms.  Any thoughts on this ingredient?
 
-Mark Lee

Yahoo! Groups Sponsor
ADVERTISEMENT

To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
compost_tea-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com



Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service.