[compost_tea] Re: cleaning machines

From: kevin john richardon <kmagic_at_backpacker.com>
Date: 19 Dec 2003 19:32:52 -0000

I used to get traveling in the direction of my aeration.

In my experience this happens in two situations (well actually three).

If one unplugs the aerator, the displacement of the tea (no tea in the tube when aeration taking place, tea in the tube when no aeration) by the air is dicontinued; the tea travels up the pvc tube (which is extending into the tea) to the point of equilibrium with the surface of the H2O. If the tube is lifted out of the volume at a rate (quickly) that does not allow the tea to drain completely, and it is then set in a manner that allows tea to travel into the vinyl tubing...

2 If one wants to pull the pvc pipe from the brewer while brewing tea this also necessitates the discontinuation of air to the pvc tube (which extends into the BobO chamber through a hole) which if absentmindely reconnected and handled in such a way which allows tea to travel into the tubing...

Bob and I dicussed a modification which could aliviate such a predicament, yet...

In my experience, I have observed this, evaluated and learned how this happens and avoided it since. Again this is what happened and worked for me; very minor. Very workable. It was more of my technique that needed to evolve than difficiencies in the design of the brewer.

If one is concerned about film in the tubing, be very careful about tea interfacing that material. I do believe concerning ones self with that is unnecessary. Seems more a matter of sightlyness than an real area for concern of anaerobic biofilm toxins production contamination of the tea. If the issue of dicoloration of the tube is present, and you do not like the looks of it, get some new tubing, make the replacement, and try to keep tea from getting there....

Which brings me to 3; tea just makes its way places. Its liquid and somewhat messy. It stains (depending on materials). Nothing stays new forever? I discontinued use of the pvc piping for an experiment using a spring loaded check valve at the end of the vinyl tubing and let it sink to the bottom of the bottom. Works great. Discontinue the air and the check valve keeps tea from traveling up the tube. The check valves require psi though, to open them, and I lost cfm (maybe 1cfm) which will be significant depending on your system. So, how bout another type of valve? A duck bill, a baby bottle nipple?... I enjoy the continuing prospects of refining design; this is life, enjoy the challenge (realistic expectations of human beings is a whole nutha tangent).

I am into appropriate tech... the design of Bob's Brewers is appropriate to the job at hand. There are many reasons this is true. Maybe the majority of those highlights will be identified on the updated/new website?

This system works for me. When first introduced to the potential logistics of a compost tea operation I was daunted by the variables, which include brewer ability & performance; to date my experience has been pleasurable, the Bobo has performed positively, beyond expectation (my expectation was that running a tea center was not necessarily going to be hard physically, yet time consuming, which is true, yet the Bobo has made aspects of the enterprise simple, what could be and has been presented as being much more involved). Individual logistics are what they are, good tools help us get the job done, happily. Lets talk it out and make specific reccomendations based on individual parameters, this is what we do; help!

Oh and the cleaning the clip, heck the whole brewer. Run your hand over it. All the surfaces are readily accessible. Its kinda like doin the dishes, if ya get to them early, it's a breeze, ya just wipe em off; let 'em stand a while and set up, all crusty, well then you've got more of a job on your hands. On Friday eve I use Peroxide on the equipment to put it to bed for the weekend, which sets me up for the next week of brewing and applying, Sunday eve through Friday.

I am having tremendous success using the system in my business and am very happy; thank you for asking specific questions which could be answered directly. If elaboration is wanted I or maybe someone else could share more. Keep pursuing the best setup for you, keep asking the questions, it turns into great discussion, FUN.

The Bobo has been used to brew 500G. Details about how to make this happen (efficiently, easily, effectively, practically, affordably..) are also available.

It is my hope, that we make this endeavor as simple and efficient (FUN, COOL) as it can be and as it is; this to me is most appropriate. The rewards are pure.

~Kev


On Fri, 19 Dec 2003 11:20:26 -0500 soilfoodweb_at_aol.com wrote:
Hi Chris -

If the pipe with the 90 degree turn isn't in the tea, and is no where near the tea, how does anything that would cause a bio-film get into a pipe well away from the water?

Linda, Mike and others, instead of getting nasty and attacking, I think it would be much wiser to say, "no, really guys, there's a bio-film there. I can show you."

Get to the specific problem. Solutions are only possible when the specific situation is dealt with. Cleaning is a serious issue.

Manufacturers ARE responsible for their designs, and they have been sued for murder when proven willfully negligent. We do not live in a "Buyer Beware" society, as long as someone is willing to fight for the consumer.

Unfortunately, the USDA is the Federal Agency in charge of compost tea. Apparently, what they want to do is shut down the whole compost tea industry because it competes with the chemical - pesticide industry, which is paying the vacation and fringe benefits for the Federal bureaucracy. Big busines has the money to pay for milliions in pay-off money, but not enough money to pay more in taxes. Interesting.

Take home message - pay attention to Kirk Leonard. The USDA is out to make compost tea something you can't use. And people that make machines and sell them on a commercial level which result in harm to plants and potentially to humans (i.e., the machine grows E. coli because of poor aeration design) will be the cause of this industry being shut down unless all of you do something to bring the USDA into line. Your congressional representatives are the way to do this. I've tried working through the Compost Tea Task Force, and folks, it's been a joke. A bad joke, but there are at least two people whose purpose on the task force is to prevent any progress from being made, and they are being successful in achieving their goal.

Back to the issue at hand -

Chris, at least you are interested in solving this problem instead of just causing general grief and harm. You have come forward to say the pipe really does have bio-film in it. The first I've heard that bio-film develops.

The proof I have of my statements on the 90 degree not being a problem is also observational. I have never seen a problem there.

But I'm entirely capable of recognizing a problem when the problem is put before me in a reasonable manner.

I'm not capable of wanting to help people who attack and are nasty.

So, what happened to get tea into that turn? What's going on?

Elaine Ingham
President, Soil Foodweb Inc.
SFI Corvallis, OR
SFI Port Jefferson, NY
SFI Lismore, NSW, Australia
SFI Hilversum, The Netherlands
SFI Cambridge, New Zealand
www.soilfoodweb.com

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Received on Fri Dec 19 2003 - 14:52:45 EST

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