Compost Teas: 24 hour, EM, IM, BD & fermented plant extracts

["ranui" <ranui AT allwest.net>]

I did 10 batches of compost tea last January - April in New Zealand
using flow forms.  The teas were made with a certified bio-grow compost
with the addition of plant extracts of ragwort and gorse from our farm.
I also added molasses a seaweed extract that we made from seaweed we
collected on the east coast of NZ and a first fertilizer made by John
Pearce, a Biodynamic farmer located on the Kaipara Harbor.  I placed the
compost in a mesh bag in a 2500-liter tank and ran the flow forms for
between 18 and 26 hours.  We saw moderate to no temperature increases.
We sprayed the tea on pastures and monitored changes in pasture growth.
On only one occasion did we see a very visible difference in pasture
growth.  The farm is a conventional dairy that is in its first year of
conversion to an organic system.

We have not had any testing done of the compost tea.  I believe that
Elaine Ingham has done some testing of flow forms and found good
aeration in the forms however, the holding tanks can go anaerobic.  We
plan to add an aeration system in our holding tank and hopefully get
some tests done later this year.

Steven Erickson  Ranui Gardens

-----Original Message-----
From: compostteas-admin AT lists.ibiblio.org
[mailto:compostteas-admin AT lists.ibiblio.org] On Behalf Of
compostteas-request AT lists.ibiblio.org
Sent: Monday, August 12, 2002 10:00 AM
To: compostteas AT lists.ibiblio.org
Subject: Compostteas digest, Vol 1 #95 - 1 msg

Send Compostteas mailing list submissions to
        compostteas AT lists.ibiblio.org

To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit
        http://lists.ibiblio.org/mailman/listinfo/compostteas
or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to
        compostteas-request AT lists.ibiblio.org

You can reach the person managing the list at
        compostteas-admin AT lists.ibiblio.org

When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific
than "Re: Contents of Compostteas digest..."


Today's Topics:

   1. Re: Compostteas digest, Vol 1 #94 - 3 msgs (Jim Fullmer)

--__--__--

Message: 1
Date: Mon, 12 Aug 2002 00:51:42 -0700
From: Jim Fullmer <jfullmer AT peak.org>
To: compostteas AT lists.ibiblio.org
Subject: [Compostteas] Re: Compostteas digest, Vol 1 #94 - 3 msgs

Graeme,
I have been using a tower of 7 forms to aerate compost tea for my own
caneberry operation as well as 3 vineyard consulting clients. The same
tower is also being used to stir preparation 500 and 501.

The forms in the tower [10 ft high, one on top of the other] are my own
renditions created out of side by side castings of my wife's pregnant
belly. Such a form lends itself quite well to the creation of a vortex.
The castings are fused togehter in such a way that the unit generates
well formed opposing vortices w/ vigrous flow.

I've been really pleased with it's ability to aerate compost tea.
Looking at nature, a creek for instance, it becomes apparent that the
vortex plays a paramount role in the aeration of water [ good reading on
this is T. Schwank, Sensative Chaos]. I feel it works well. After some
testing I discovered that the compost I built this year [ cow manure ,
grape pommace] is very "bacterial". It has worked quitre well for the
control of powdery mildew [ grapes] and leaf spot [ caneberries].

j
Jim Fullmer
Hoskins Berry Farm / Philomath, Or.

compostteas-request AT lists.ibiblio.org wrote:

> Send Compostteas mailing list submissions to
>         compostteas AT lists.ibiblio.org
>
> To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit
>         http://lists.ibiblio.org/mailman/listinfo/compostteas
> or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to
>         compostteas-request AT lists.ibiblio.org
>
> You can reach the person managing the list at
>         compostteas-admin AT lists.ibiblio.org
>
> When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific
> than "Re: Contents of Compostteas digest..."
>
> Today's Topics:
>
>    1. subscribe to list (Chuck Easton)
>    2. Flow forms (Graeme Gerrard)
>    3. flow forms - oops! (Graeme Gerrard)
>
> -- __--__-- 
>
> Message: 1
> Date: Fri, 09 Aug 2002 11:47:59 -0700
> From: Chuck Easton <ceaston AT olympus.net>
> To: compostteas AT lists.ibiblio.org
> Subject: [Compostteas] subscribe to list
>
> Hello- I would like to subscribe to your list. Thanks, Autumn Scott
>
> -- __--__-- 
>
> Message: 2
> Date: Sat, 10 Aug 2002 06:38:30 +1000
> To: compostteas AT lists.ibiblio.org
> From: Graeme Gerrard <ggerrard AT resonant.com.au>
> Subject: [Compostteas] Flow forms
>
> Hi,
> Is anybody using flow forms to aerate their teas?  Had any tests?
> How do they compare to regular tanks?
>
> --
> Graeme Gerrard
> ggerrard AT resonant.com.au
>
> -- __--__-- 
>
> Message: 3
> Date: Sat, 10 Aug 2002 07:30:17 +1000
> To: compostteas AT lists.ibiblio.org
> From: Graeme Gerrard <ggerrard AT resonant.com.au>
> Subject: [Compostteas] flow forms - oops!
>
> Sorry,
> A couple of people sent me mail asking what a flow form is.  I guess
> that means they don't use them, but here are a few websites, all the
> same.
>
> http://www.anth.org.uk/virbelaflowforms/
> http://www.mullum.com.au/flowing/waterflowform_kits.htm
> http://www.livingwaterflowformsaustralia.com/
> http://www.waterflow.net/
>
> They are used:
> - to stir the BD preparations (this is contentious for some)
> - to aerate and purify grey water
> - as garden sculptures
> --
> Graeme Gerrard
> ggerrard AT resonant.com.au
>
> -- __--__-- 
>
> _______________________________________________
> Compostteas mailing list
> Compostteas AT lists.ibiblio.org
> http://lists.ibiblio.org/mailman/listinfo/compostteas
>
> End of Compostteas Digest



--__--__--

_______________________________________________
Compostteas mailing list
Compostteas AT lists.ibiblio.org
http://lists.ibiblio.org/mailman/listinfo/compostteas


End of Compostteas Digest