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[compost_tea] Re: SoilSoup Bioblender
> Message: 7
> Date: Fri, 14 Feb 2003 16:35:06 +1100
> From: "Lloyd Charles" <lcharles@webfront.net.au>
> However if Ann was using tea from a soil soup machine, as she did and
maybe still does, she was only putting bacterial on the field, which is why
she may have helped it... <
> How come that with every other brand of tea mchine in North America , by
varying the nutrients (food) and type of compost used , you can make a
fungal tea, but not with this one ? What is it about the construction of
this machine that is so different that its impossible to grow fungi in a
soil soup machine? I want to build a new brewer for myself and sure as heck
dont want to make the mistake these guys did. <
Lloyd -- Good question and I'd like to hear other's thoughts, thinking these
myself: First, the SS bioblender (their name for the machine) compost sock
container was a thick, fuzzy fabric that likely does not allow fungi to move
into the tea. Secondly, it's standard configuration, hung on the lip of the
tank at the same level as the bioblender (well above and away from the pump
stream), also does not really support any "knocking loose" of microrganisms
from the compost particles at any point in the brewing cycle. I'm pretty
sure these two things are part of the problem (and are easily fixed using a
paint filter containing the compost, weighted with a rock and placed on
bottom of the tank directly underneath the pump stream). Thirdly, their
nutrient solution was basically bacterial food (also easy to correct, and SS
have said they were going to do that). Fourth, and this is hypothesis, is
the fact that it is basically a water pump, not an air pump, which means the
organisims have to travel through the impeller; and, as far as I can tell,
the bioblender doesn't inject any appreciable air into the tea, it just
pumps the water.
Early in the life of this listserve there was a debate about systems that
were "air-pumped" v. "water-pumped," and I got a sense from that discussion
that air-pumped was better.
Anyway, my hypothesis is that the bioblender is an air-limited system, in
which the naturally greater numbers of bacteria will dominate and then there
isn't enough air for fungi, even if they could get out of the sock. Fungi
are also generally larger than bacteria and thus more easily macerated by
passage through the impeller, it seems.
My two cents. I'd like to hear other thoughts.
Kirk
----- Original Message -----
From: <compost_tea@yahoogroups.com>
To: <compost_tea@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Friday, February 14, 2003 7:22 AM
Subject: [compost_tea] Digest Number 206
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------------------------------------------------------------------------
There are 7 messages in this issue.
Topics in this digest:
1. Re: CT & Septic systems
From: "Susan Cruver" <scruver@msn.com>
2. DO meter
From: "TaChung Huang" <tachung_h@yahoo.com>
3. RE: DO meter
From: "Tom Jaszewski" <tomj@livesoil.com>
4. RE: DO meter
From: "TaChung Huang" <tachung_h@yahoo.com>
5. Re: CT & Septic systems
From: "Steve Bridges" <kimas@texasgrown.com>
6. Re: CT & Septic systems
From: "Jeff Lowenfels" <jeff@gardener.com>
7. Re: CT & Septic systems
From: "Lloyd Charles" <lcharles@webfront.net.au>
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
Message: 1
Date: Thu, 13 Feb 2003 11:42:14 -0800
From: "Susan Cruver" <scruver@msn.com>
Subject: Re: CT & Septic systems
Nick--Ann Lovejoy kept her failing septic system going for a couple of years
by spraying CT on the drain field. If you have shallow rooting plants on
the drain field, roots should be no problem even with increased depth of
root penetration. I have, however, seen funky drain fields in which the
drainage pipes are too close to the surface. This is rare and the homeowner
has bigger problems than turf grass roots! You might want to talk to Ann
for more details. She even plants rhodies (also quite shallow rooters) and
other carefully chosen shrubs between the drainage runs.
Susan
I was wondering if you should spray CT over septic systems. Was
wondering if you'd get too much root growth or would it be better to
use a fungal dominated tea to promote good soil aggregate? Allowing
oxygen to diffuse into the soil and carbon dioxide to diffuse out of
the soil. And, since a septic system is manure, would it have root
feeding nematodes? Am going to a meeting on septic systems tonight,
and was curious as to your thoughts and ideas on the subject.
Thanks,
Nick
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Message: 2
Date: Thu, 13 Feb 2003 13:37:25 -0800
From: "TaChung Huang" <tachung_h@yahoo.com>
Subject: DO meter
Where do I buy a reliable DO meter that has data logging capability?
Regards
TaChung Huang (?A?jc?)
-----
[This message contained attachments]
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
Message: 3
Date: Thu, 13 Feb 2003 14:33:01 -0800
From: "Tom Jaszewski" <tomj@livesoil.com>
Subject: RE: DO meter
http://www.extech.com/WhatsNew/PDF_datasheet/Datasheets_English/407510.pdf
there are two models one has a 13 foot lead.
*P Grainger, Lake Forest, IL 1-800-473-3473 x2196
*P Techni-Tool Corporation, Worcester, PA 1-800-832-4866
*P Davis Instruments, Baltimore, MD 1-800-368-2516 / 1-800-492-6767
*P Cole-Parmer Instrument, Vernon Hills, IL 1-800-323-4340
*P Transcat, Rochester, NY 1-800-828-1470
*P Lab Safety Supply, Janesville, WI 1-800-356-0783
*P Time Motion Tools, Poway, CA 1-800-779-8170
*P Contact East, N. Andover, MA 1-800-225-5370
*P Specialized Products, Southlake, TX 1-800-866-5353
*P Future Electronics, Montreal, Canada 1-800-655-0006
*P MSC Industrial Supply, Plainview, NY 1-800-645-7270
*P McMaster-Carr Supply, Elmhurst, IL 1-732-329-3200
Tom Jaszewski
www.livesoil.com
702-595-7012
-----Original Message-----
From: TaChung Huang [mailto:tachung_h@yahoo.com]
Sent: Thursday, February 13, 2003 1:37 PM
To: compost_tea@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [compost_tea] DO meter
Where do I buy a reliable DO meter that has data logging capability?
Regards
TaChung Huang (?A?jc?)
-----
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Message: 4
Date: Thu, 13 Feb 2003 14:32:54 -0800
From: "TaChung Huang" <tachung_h@yahoo.com>
Subject: RE: DO meter
Tom: Thank you very much.
Regards
TaChung Huang (?A?jc?)
-----Original Message-----
From: Tom Jaszewski [mailto:tomj@livesoil.com]
Sent: Thursday, February 13, 2003 2:33 PM
To: compost_tea@yahoogroups.com
Subject: RE: [compost_tea] DO meter
http://www.extech.com/WhatsNew/PDF_datasheet/Datasheets_English/407510.p
df
there are two models one has a 13 foot lead.
*P Grainger, Lake Forest, IL 1-800-473-3473 x2196
*P Techni-Tool Corporation, Worcester, PA 1-800-832-4866
*P Davis Instruments, Baltimore, MD 1-800-368-2516 /
1-800-492-6767
*P Cole-Parmer Instrument, Vernon Hills, IL 1-800-323-4340
*P Transcat, Rochester, NY 1-800-828-1470
*P Lab Safety Supply, Janesville, WI 1-800-356-0783
*P Time Motion Tools, Poway, CA 1-800-779-8170
*P Contact East, N. Andover, MA 1-800-225-5370
*P Specialized Products, Southlake, TX 1-800-866-5353
*P Future Electronics, Montreal, Canada 1-800-655-0006
*P MSC Industrial Supply, Plainview, NY 1-800-645-7270
*P McMaster-Carr Supply, Elmhurst, IL 1-732-329-3200
Tom Jaszewski
www.livesoil.com
702-595-7012
-----Original Message-----
From: TaChung Huang [mailto:tachung_h@yahoo.com]
Sent: Thursday, February 13, 2003 1:37 PM
To: compost_tea@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [compost_tea] DO meter
Where do I buy a reliable DO meter that has data logging capability?
Regards
TaChung Huang (?A?jc?)
-----
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Message: 5
Date: Thu, 13 Feb 2003 20:50:27 -0600
From: "Steve Bridges" <kimas@texasgrown.com>
Subject: Re: CT & Septic systems
There is another problem with drain fields and the plants around them. A
septic system operates on the bacterial side of the equation. If you have
plants that need a fungal dominated soil, such as trees and woody shrubs,
then the bacterially dominated drain field can post problems.
I built a house about five years ago. There is a large oak tree between the
house and the drain field. The distance from the house to the drain field is
about thirty feet. The oak trees sits in the middle of the thirty feet. The
tree (a Post Oak) showed some decline the third year after the house was
built. I applied a Sick Tree Treatment (http://www.dirtdoctor.com/) and some
compost and it regained some vigor. Two years later it started it's to show
some stress again. Mainly tip die back, and a canker fungal degeneration
(peeling bark) at the base of the tree, on the septic side of the tree.
My query,,,Is the bacterial dominated soil of the septic system causing the
degeneration of the tree. Common sense would say yes. If so, with an
aeration procedure (3" holes, drilled on 2' centers, about 18" deep, to 10'
beyond the dripline of the tree) followed by a fungal dominated soil drench
(and application of a plant based compost) correct the decline in the tree?
Here in Texas, we value the trees on the western side of the house. Any
advice would be appreciated.
Steve
----- Original Message -----
From: Susan Cruver
To: compost_tea@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Thursday, February 13, 2003 1:42 PM
Subject: Re: [compost_tea] CT & Septic systems
Nick--Ann Lovejoy kept her failing septic system going for a couple of
years by spraying CT on the drain field. If you have shallow rooting plants
on the drain field, roots should be no problem even with increased depth of
root penetration. I have, however, seen funky drain fields in which the
drainage pipes are too close to the surface. This is rare and the homeowner
has bigger problems than turf grass roots! You might want to talk to Ann
for more details. She even plants rhodies (also quite shallow rooters) and
other carefully chosen shrubs between the drainage runs.
Susan
I was wondering if you should spray CT over septic systems. Was
wondering if you'd get too much root growth or would it be better to
use a fungal dominated tea to promote good soil aggregate? Allowing
oxygen to diffuse into the soil and carbon dioxide to diffuse out of
the soil. And, since a septic system is manure, would it have root
feeding nematodes? Am going to a meeting on septic systems tonight,
and was curious as to your thoughts and ideas on the subject.
Thanks,
Nick
To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
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Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service.
[This message contained attachments]
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
Message: 6
Date: Thu, 13 Feb 2003 19:53:25 -0600
From: "Jeff Lowenfels" <jeff@gardener.com>
Subject: Re: CT & Septic systems
<<<Ann Lovejoy kept her failing septic system going for a couple of years by
spraying CT on the drain field. >>>
Obviously this falls into the category of anecdotal evidence, right?
However if Ann was using tea from a soil soup machine, as she did and maybe
still does, she was only putting bacterial on the field, which is why she
may have helped it...
Lawns are balanced, fungal and bacterial. The oak is probably not that
unhappy as it is fungal, sure, but not conifer-style fungal!.
The soil has been compacted. I would think some good fungal teas ( and we
now know how to make them) would greatly help along with the aeration
treatment and some organic lawn food such as soybean meal at 3 pounds per
100 sq ft.
Cheers,
Jeff
www.alaskahumus.com
[This message contained attachments]
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
Message: 7
Date: Fri, 14 Feb 2003 16:35:06 +1100
From: "Lloyd Charles" <lcharles@webfront.net.au>
Subject: Re: CT & Septic systems
However if Ann was using tea from a soil soup machine, as she did and maybe
still does, she was only putting bacterial on the field, which is why she
may have helped it...
How come that with every other brand of tea mchine in North America , by
varying the nutrients (food) and type of compost used , you can make a
fungal tea, but not with this one ? What is it about the construction of
this machine that is so different that its impossible to grow fungi in a
soil soup machine? I want to build a new brewer for myself and sure as heck
dont want to make the mistake these guys did.
Lloyd Charles
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
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.