Re: [compost_tea] Water temps for brewing

From: Ted Peterson <ted.peterson_at_tcsn.net>
Date: Mon, 19 Jan 2004 20:44:32 -0800

----- Original Message -----
  From: soilfoodweb_at_aol.com
  To: compost_tea_at_yahoogroups.com
  Sent: Monday, January 19, 2004 7:20 PM
  Subject: Re: [compost_tea] Water temps for brewing


  Hi Ted -

>> I use distilled water. However, it is not
> pharmaceutical grade.

  This is a problem. Distilled water lacks physiological balance. You nee=
d to use a buffered physiological solution, like physiological saline, or p=
hosphate buffer, or citrate buffer.
>> Will do. I actually have some saline but wasn't sure exactly how to u=
se it.

   So, great that you look at all of them, but this is where you really nee=
d the ability to assess activity. Many of the hyphae in soil are not activ=
e, and can be "left-over" from a long time ago.

>> Well I should have more accurately stated that I look at the soil and =
determine frequency of organisms. When I brew, I check for frequency or or=
ganisms and how they group. I can't tell what type they are only that they=
 are there. I look at this frequency then I look to see how this frequency=
 transfers to the soil. I don't test immediately but wait a while. I can o=
nly get trends, of course, but if those trends can be repeated with regular=
ity, I feel more confident.

  I can't even be sure that two batches of tea are the same. I can, of cou=
rse, shoot for diversity but even with the best compost, I can't be sure of=
 total similarity from batch to batch. So I have to rely on trends. If I =
see certain bodies in my tea and they transfer to the soil and the plant an=
alysis comes back showing improved use of nutrients and the soil food web i=
s established, I have to think what I am doing is working and repeatable to=
 a degree.

  You need to distinguish actinobacteria hyphae from oomycetes, from ascomy=
cete, from basidiomycete. All based on morphology of course. Some trainin=
g would be a good idea, since these things are not usually pointed out in t=
ext books.

>> I'm not against training but, quite frankly, do not have the resources=
 to throw myself or someone else into a training program which, I figure, w=
ould cost me somewhere in the range of $25K without the $20K microscope. I=
 have to pay the person taking the training, pay for the training and compe=
nsate for the time they are not here generating capital.

  Or have him look at the samples, and send a sample into SFI, and then he =
can see what we saw, and learn something from the interaction that way? =
 

>> Good idea. He right now has developed a formula to try and predict ho=
w many more and the complexity of organisms he is plotting to see if he can=
 predict growth from sample time to sample time.

  Not quite sure how to take this response from you. Hopefully you are jus=
t kidding me?

>> Yes, of course. It's like the person who said: "You are very difficul=
t to argue with because you keep refuting my arguments with facts."
  Ted Peterson
  Earth-Wise/Spirit of the Earth

    




Received on Tue Jan 20 2004 - 00:31:37 EST

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