Re: [compost_tea] Re: pre-activation results

From: Margaret Lauterbach <melauter_at_earthlink.net>
Date: Sat, 15 May 2004 05:59:31 -0600
Ted, what kind of bag do you put your compost in for brewing tea?  Thanks
very much


>Ted Peterson <ted.peterson_at_tcsn.net> wrote:
>Yes, we can predict.  Remember though that we are dealing with billions of
>microscopic creatures.  So I think that excat numbers my not be so
>important in a predictive sense but ranges of critters and diversity show
>"x" results.  Tea does work.  I have test data that shows it works just
>the way it says in the Compost Tea Brewing Manual.  That is pretty
>predicitive as far as I am concerned.
>
>
>You don't need to find a compost, you can make one.  Here is a quick way
>to jumpstart your compost pile.
>
>Start with a bag of commercial compost.  You can even brew with it.  It
>will work but you will be uncertain as to diversity.  Go around your local
>area and pick up some of the leaves and humus under the trees.  Go to a
>bunch of places and take a 2G bucketful from each place.  Get the old
>rotting leaves at the bottom not the newly dropped green leaves.  Plastic
>garbage bags work great.  Try to get a ratio of about 50/50 with the
>leaves and humus you pick up and your commercial compost.  Dump both
>together and keep it about 45% moist.  How do you know that level of
>moisture?  Grab a handful and squeeze it.  It should stay lumped together
>without being muddy.  If you get it too wet, don't fret, it will dry
>out.  Turn this pile with a shovel or pitchfork every couple of days.
>
>If you have a brewer, you can keep a little of the compost and the humus
>you collect and brew a batch of tea.  Put in molasses, fish emulsion
>(fertilizer will work), some kelp and some humic acid.  (I have even used
>ammonium sulfate but I like organic inputs.  The AS works and I use it for
>certain processing but I'm not a real fan.  If you use this stuff, dilute
>it a lot and use it with caution.  To much can have adverse effects on the
>critters.).  What you are going to do is use the commercial compost as an
>organic material base then build a pile using your local leaves and humus
>to give the most local diversity.  Don't expect this pile to heat up like
>a regular compost pile and you should try to keep temps around 90 - 100
>dF.  If you have a source of manure, you can add that but, depending on
>the compost you start with, you may not need any.
>
>  Anyway, brew a batch of tea and pour it on your compost pile.  Depending
> on your brewer, you will probably need no more than a couple of
> gallons.  Pour it in as you turn the pile so you get it into as much of
> the pile as you can without getting the pile too wet.  Let this pile stay
> around for about 2 - 3 weeks.  You should have good fungal growth and
> your bacteria should be reactivated in the commercial and growing from
> your local stuff.   If you keep it turned, you will be promoting the
> aerobes and they will multiply.
>
>
>Ted Peterson
>EW/SOE

Margaret L
Gardening in Intermountain West and Handicapped gardening
http://www.margaretlauterbach.com 



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Received on Sat May 15 2004 - 10:59:17 EDT

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