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  • From: Lawrence London <lfljvenaura@gmail.com>
  • To: permaculture <permaculture@lists.ibiblio.org>, marketfarming <marketfarming@lists.ibiblio.org>
  • Subject: [permaculture] Compost-Tea.FAQ, June 2000 update
  • Date: Tue, 12 Feb 2013 21:45:57 -0500

[maybe some of you can use these elementary FAQ's in your courses]

http://www.ibiblio.org/london/orgfarm/faqs/Compost-Tea.FAQ

From: jko@xprt.net (Jeff Owens)
Newsgroups: alt.permaculture
Subject: Updated Compost Tea FAQ
Date: Tue, 27 Jun 2000 23:41:57 -0700


Compost Tea FAQ
--------------------------
revised 6-21-2000


What is compost tea?

A wide variety of organic slurries are called compost
tea. Generally, the tea contains living organisms which
provide useful functions. Since it is made from organic
materials it can also function as a fertilizer.

This broad definition of "compost tea" isn't accepted
by everyone. The terms "compost leachate" and
"manure tea" are sometimes used to identify non-brewed
forms of tea. Specialized teas also have different
names and commercial teas are now appearing with
unique labels. Too see a long list of products
and suppliers enter the quoted phrase "compost tea"
into any search engine.

Is compost tea based on science or folklore?

Compost tea has a long history of use and does contain
much folklore. It is doubtful that the hype will
go away in the future. Instead, we will probably
see specialized methods and names appearing to separate
the various types of tea.

Biodynamics is one area which many people consider myth.
It takes a more holistic view and talks about life energies
and cosmic influences. Included within biodynamics are
numerous herbal teas, liquid manures, and preps that are
brewed and sprayed. It is probable that today's interest in
compost tea has its roots in biodynamics.

The metaphysical philosophy of biodynamics might reject
this casual discussion of compost tea as unrelated and a
compost tea researcher might reject biodynamics as
unsubstantiated. The one fact everyone can agree on is the
results. These sprays work.

Why do we need compost tea?

The uses for compost tea are still emerging but here is
a partial list:

1. foliar feeding
2. soil pest control
3. disease control
4. soil revitalization

Orchard magazines are talking about controlling soil
life using teas along with apple scab and fungus. Garden
magazines describe booster sprays for mid season. The
list of uses are long as are the types of compost tea.

How does compost tea work?

It is believed that compost tea works in many ways. Since
it is a soup of diverse organisms the result can also be
very diverse. If the tea finds a niche it can fill then
it will. In nature everything eats a neighbor and adding
new neighbors can change the ecology quickly. Anyway,
that is one view. The scientific view might focus on
beneficial nematodes and how they attack cutworms, root
weevils, and other soil pests.

The predictability of tea is something farmers need and
this has resulted in more controlled methods of production.
Dr Ingham has written a manual for a more scientific
approach and sells it along with some supplies (see
references).

If tea is that great why isn't everyone
using it?

The use of compost tea is growing and new companies selling
specialized products appear each day. Many garden catalogs
are now carrying various teas. The problem is that each
site is different and the variety of possible teas is almost
infinite. We have begun to open up the old efficient farming
issue again. Do you make teas for a specific function and
manipulate the ecology or do you build a diverse healthy
garden an let it regulate itself. The later view would
be more sustainable and less interested in a large array
of specialized products. The efficient farming approach
would want teas to address specific problems and simple
rules for using teas with various crops.

What approach fits sustainable gardening
and agriculture?

The use of compost tea is ideal for sustainable farming
and gardening. It trades local labor for imported products
to fight pests or increase fertility. It also connects
a farmer with the soil and rewards careful observation.
The gardener spends time brewing tea, thinking about
soil and plants, identifying optimum spraying times,
and developing a local art. Compost tea can be part of
local recycling and use of compost piles.


Are there easy methods to make compost tea?

The process of making tea can use complex fermentation
equipment or be the byproduct of other organic activity.
Some people use the liquid from worm bins or the liquid
from composting toilets, but most small scale tea production
is from fermenting finished compost in water. Another easy
approach is to ferment organic materials in a large tub
of water. This process can utilize summer temperatures
to speed the fermentation and dark containers to increase
solar heating. For most sites an easy method of making
tea can be found which utilizes existing materials
and fits the climate.

What ingredients can be used?

Most organic materials can be used to make tea. Teas
made from animal manures are preferred for some applications
but other teas also work. We still have a lot to learn
about ways to brew tea. Some of the materials mentioned
often are:

animal manure fish emulsion kitchen scraps
molasses citrus rinds grass clippings
kelp comfry leaves weeds
compost mushroom compost nettles
seaweed worm castings urine
cider vinegar straw animal bedding coffee grounds

In addition to these ingredients some people add wetting
agents and other things before spraying. Here is a partial
list:

soap (wetting agent)
molasses (as wetting agent)
rock dust
baking soda

How is compost tea made?

Quick tea can be made by mixing one gallon of finished
compost with 5 gallons of water and letting sit for 10
to 14 days. The ideal temperature for this is somewhere
over 50 degrees F. Probably temperatures of 80 degrees would
reduce the time and increase the fermentation.

Commercial tea production usually requires a tank with
attached bubbler and enough heat to keep the mixture at
around 70 degrees F. This method requires 2-3 days.

Home brew systems can be much simpler. Any tank
can be filled with water and a starter mixture
added along with organic matter. In some cases it
is enough to just dump in organic matter and let
nature takes its course. This can take months.

A very simple biodigester can be made from two garbage
cans and works well for small urban sites. It provides
both compost and tea. This is described at the
Cornell composting site (see references).

What are some common recipes?

Simple Teas:
1. place aged compost in cloth bag (panty hose)
and soak in tub with 5 parts water (by volume).
After 2 or more weeks remove the bag.

2. Mix 2 tbls molasses, 2 tbls seaweed extract,
1 tbls apple cider, 1 gallon of water. Ferment
for awhile.

3. In late spring fill a barrel with comfry or nettles,
or other greens. Place barrel in warm spot and
wait till well aged and stinks. Strain and use
liquid.

4. Fill tub with 5 parts water to one part urine.
let it age for two weeks in warm spot or use
immediately.

Commercial Teas:

1. Obtain a fish tank bubbler and method to keep
tea container at around 70 degrees F. Mix 5 gallons
water with 1 part compost, 4 oz of molasses, and
kelp extract. Ferment and bubble for about 2
days. Strain and spray on trees and plants.

2. For large quantities a pond pump is used and
the liquid sprayed back into the top of the
container. This method sometimes uses commercially
prepared starter mixes with molasses, seaweed,
and alge. A typical brew might be:
1 gallon starter mix or compost
8 gallons water (filtered or rain)
8-12 tablespoons of blackstrap molasses
8 tablespoons of seaweed
8 tablespoons of natural apple cider vinegar
mix and brew for two or more days.


Notes: All of the above teas use volume measurements and the
water should be filtered or natural. Avoid chlorinated
water. Usually, they are not diluted before spraying
but this depends somewhat on usage and strength of the
tea. All teas should be brewed at close to seventy
degrees and often reach higher temperatures.

Where can more information be found?

http://www.comost.org/ICAW99compostteaPR.html
Compost Council of Canada

http://www.attra.org/attra-pub/comptea.html
Good article on state of art compost tea

http://www.life.ca/nl/compost.html
Simple compost tea recipe

http://www.cfe.cornell.edu/compost/Composting_Homepage.html
Cornell compost home page

http://www.icangarden.com/home.htm
garden ideas including compost tea.

http://www.growingsolutions.com/compostmanual.html
Dr. Ingham's manual on compost tea

http://www.igg.com/bdnow
http://www.gardeningforthefuture.com
Biodynamic sites recommended by Allen Balliett

http://www.biodynamics.com
Biodynamic farming and gardening association


Disclaimer
----------

This FAQ probably has errors and would benefit from
additional information in some areas. If you see potential
improvement please help others and yourself by sending comments
to jeff owens at:

email: jko@xprt.net
web: http://www.xptr.net/~jko

or to the ecopath discusson list at ecopath@csf.colorado.edu

This FAQ can be found at:

http://www.xprt.net/~jko/faq/tea.htm

Text version available, email author

@UnCopyright - This FAQ belongs to you. Pass it on, put your
name on it, modify it, consider it a seed to be planted.



  • [permaculture] Compost-Tea.FAQ, June 2000 update, Lawrence London, 02/12/2013

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