Re: [compost_tea] Information for Newcomer

From: kevin john richardon <kmagic_at_backpacker.com>
Date: 23 Feb 2004 04:21:17 -0000

I disagree, Ted. Test your tea, folks. You want to be sure about what you are getting outta what you are doing. There are so many dynamic factors involved that what works for one person may need to be tweaked in order for it to work for you. Environmental factors, materials... Until now, I have not heard a manufacturer reccomend against testing!

What are you gonna be applying this too? You sure as heck don't wanna be applying bacterial stew to your perrenials. Do fret the fungi. And watch out for that filtering procedure (three porch screens?, try one). Test post filter, that outta be interesting. If necessary, modify aspects of yur application procedure to accomodate the benis in yur tea. Over doing the filtration and hanging up the dudes by straining out too much of the fine particulate... If yur gonna go through the trouble of brewing, go ahead, treat yurself and get the all the beni!

I agree "it" is an easy process. Yet testing is fundamentally what makes it easy.

Besides, the education, especially if learning is gonna be an attribute of tea making we agree is cool, is awesome. The dimension added to the experience from testing and knowing what exactly happened from what you did, makes the whole thang much more fun and rewarding. This is where the coorelation between what you do and the result (cause and effect) happens; how you'll actually get the understanding and know how and go on and get better at it and become a soil microbiology allstar. Otherwise yur just crossing your fingers. Go on get into, go Big or go home! Besides, Ted saved us all that $moola$, invest a portion of it on some quality assurance.

Post the SFI Tea results from that brew procedure, Ted. You've got about three, at least, right? I am really suprised about your stance on testing. Despite the ease, no matter what one says, another must do. Execution may be lost in translation. Fundamental to our human plight is pilot error.

Maybe you are correct, Ted, in your perception that individual testing may be unwarrented by specifically repeated procedural (accounting for all materials and environmental gradients?) results. Are these procedures foolproof? No amount of error will lead to unsatisfactory, or worse, detrimental result?

Ultimately its up to to the individual, yet once you test you'll be really glad you did. Knowledge is empowering. And can be a real time, money, and energy saver!

Besides, how else are ya gonna be able to tell us all how awesome yur tea came out?!?

~K

On Sun, 22 Feb 2004 13:33:06 -0800 Ted Peterson <ted.peterson_at_tcsn.net> wrote:
Oh yes, testing. In the early stages, I would suggest you don't test. The formula I gave you has been tested so you don't need to spend the money. However, when you use different nutrients or change your brewing cycle substantially in a way that doesn't come from an accepted or tested recipie, I would suggest testing. Better than testing your tea is to test your compost.

I don't know about Jeff's commercial product because I make my own. Ask him for a compost analysis. I'm sure he has done the footwork and can give you something that will let you know his stuff is as good as reported. I would suggest you learn to make your own also. In the process of building compost, you will learn a lot about tea. If you want to use a commercial source, Jeff's is at least as good or better (It is probably substantially better than commercial compost you can buy at a nursery.) as any other. Many people use worm castings so if you are into vermiculture, you already have a good source of compost. Mine is all custom and I use it to seed other projects. I know it is highly diverse and very active. It's also expensive so someone really has to want it for me to sell it. It's easier to make you own.

If you are interested, send me an email and I will send you some designs for a passive static compost process I have been working on. I can make taller piles with smaller footprints that I don't need to turn. I use convection to naturally aerate the pile and it works.

Again about testing. It's expensive. Unless you are going after this as a commercial enterprise and are selling your tea for profit or are involved with establishing custom recipies, I don't think you need to test. If you use general recipies and brew within alloted cycles, you will get good bacterial/fungal numbers in your tea. The testing has been done by others and you can be assured you will get results.

Ted Peterson
Earth-Wise/Spirit of the Earth
  ----- Original Message -----
  From: Jeff Lowenfels
  To: compost_tea_at_yahoogroups.com
  Sent: Sunday, February 22, 2004 1:06 PM
  Subject: Re: [compost_tea] Information for Newcomer


  Nice summary Ted! Thanks!

  Did you include the need to test your tea once or twice as soon as you? Yes, it is a bit expensive, but it will tell you if you are doing things right. You have to test using the proper procedures.Go to www.soilfoodweb.com to find the nearest lab.

  Ted hit the nail on the head with the advice about compost. People can fool around all they want with brewers and nutrients, but it is the microbiology in the compost that counts.

  And, because it is Sunday, the day when the list "accepts" advertising, let me advise those who are not sure about their compost or who want to use a compost proven to excel in making teas, then check out www.alaskahumus.com. This is the rich, natural humus that produces the big vegetables in Alaska. It makes terrific tea with very high fungal and bacterial numbers. One box will last most home users a full season and spring approaches........Inquire about larger quantities.

  Cheers,

  Jeff L



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Received on Mon Feb 23 2004 - 00:16:32 EST

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