Re: [compost_tea] Newbie Introduction

From: Stuart Baxter <stu.baxter_at_virgin.net>
Date: Wed, 24 Mar 2004 17:50:15 -0000

Hi

Yes, I checked to see if it was the same one before I posted :o)

All is not lost. If all else fails you can use the pump and air hose for sm=
all test batches. I use a small 100L/hr aquarium pump and a 2.27 liter (lit=
re) or 4 pint imperial measure plastic milk carton for this and it works we=
ll. It's difficult to clean so I discard it after use. 1/3 cup vermicompost=
 and level teaspoon of molasses should (I hope) give a good bacterial domin=
ated tea with the airline bubbling without a stone for 24 hours.

The 'inoculant' bag looks like it may be sealed (no oxygen?) and there's no=
 mention of food supply. The flexible airstone would need cleaning inside a=
nd out too. Still, I'd see what the instructions say when it arrives.

You might want to consider recycling some of your waste through a worm farm=
 - multiplies microbes anyway and you'd know what's in it <smile>.

Be well

Stuart
UK
  ----- Original Message -----
  From: Sonshine
  To: compost_tea_at_yahoogroups.com
  Sent: Wednesday, March 24, 2004 5:17 PM
  Subject: Re: [compost_tea] Newbie Introduction




    <snipped>

    Stuart hello and thank you for the welcome!

    Thank you for your responses. Yes, I didn't think it was quite that ea=
sy and that's why I'm delighted to have found you. My medicinal herbs are =
used for medicine, either dried form or in a tincture form (alcohol extract=
ed) so I must be careful. Our eco system in my part of Houston is horrible=
, difficult to grow and I'm desperately trying to learn good and productive=
 organic methods. Haven't used pesticides or commercial fertilizers for ye=
ars. I do make my own compost, use an organic fertilizers that is suppose =
to contain friendly microbes (in fact, after applying on the soil I can see=
 little fungal growth), have loads of mushrooms in the garden after the sum=
mer storms, and am forever fighting fungal growth on leaves.

    Here's the link to the little kit I bought:
    http://gardensalive.com/item_display.asp?ProductNumber=8798

    The kit includes: "Your Gardener's Gold Compost Tea Kit includes one ba=
tch of Inoculant, 5-gallon plastic carboy, air pump, flexible air stone, 3'=
 clear airline tubing and easy-to-follow directions -- everything you need =
to make 5 gallons of super-potent compost tea!"

    For the price decided I couldn't go wrong but after your comments am wo=
ndering also how will I clean that 5-gallon plastic container. Should I ca=
ncel the order if possible and wait for the experts on this group to tell m=
e what to buy and rig up my own?

    Last year someone suggest a home brew using yeast, molasses, fresh non-=
citrus fruits, blood/bone meal, compost, etc and brew it up in a large cont=
ainer. lol that was the anaerobic tea and my plants didn't like it plus th=
e stench was horrible.

    Thanks for caring,

    Rosie






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Received on Wed Mar 24 2004 - 14:20:10 EST

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