When making soil pro-biotics such as compost tea, it is easy to get bogged down in the “chemistry” of compost tea preparation. Often we learn very precise measurements, time and infiltration for air inoculation, and a host of different ingredients to add. And on a large farm or broad acre site, I will recommend to stick to the precision of a large scale pro-biotic recipe. However (the following may raise a few eyebrows) a compost tea for home and patio use can be made in a very short amount of time, with only a few ingredients, and have a great effect on your plants and trees as we have experienced at our urban site in Plano, TX.
The Preparation:
A Finished Life Rich Compost
This is key to the mix and the basis for all compost teas to be healthy. Without the vast amounts of life already in the compost itself, extra work is then needed to try to kick start the life process. Why go through all of that? Make sure to make the compost and not buy it by the bag. Look up the Berkeley method of composting to make a life rich compost in just 18 days (video coming soon).
Rain Water
This may seem like a no brainer for most but there is a reason we use rain water instead of tap/city water. Composting and compost tea making is about creating life and the billions of micro-organisms that come with it. The chlorine that is placed in the tap/city water is added for the sole purpose to annihilate the micro-organisms. This is definitely not good for compost tea and, when thought through, not good for consumption either.
5 Gallon Bucket
Place one or two shovels full of the life rich finished compost into the bucket and then fill the rest with rain water.
Human Feet
Yes you read that right. Sit down (or stand if you have the balance) and start plunging and swirling your feet (one at a time) in the freshly made compost elixir for a total of only 5-10 minutes. This combines air with the brew which is the final and most crucial ingredient to the mix… As an unforeseen bonus – after doing this (only one time) I cleared up a 10 year case of athletes foot.
If using your feet does not seem appealing – a stick with a crooked end can be used to swirl the tea in clockwise and counter clockwise circles. Other ingredients such as molasses or rock dust can be added but not needed. Once finished the whole lot can be poured onto the garden or potted plants – sifting optional.
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4 Comments
MIchael J. Trout
Why not add a wee pee? Let sit a day… urine comes our sterile and the good biotics will thrive on it no?
MIchael J. Trout
Why not add a wee pee? Let sit a day… urine comes our sterile and the good biotics will thrive on it no?
Nicole
Haha! Love it!!!! We have a fish tank pump we currently use to make our compost tea- but this is such a great hands on “start today” method. I may have the kids “pump” some compost tea just for fun next time!
Nicole
Haha! Love it!!!! We have a fish tank pump we currently use to make our compost tea- but this is such a great hands on “start today” method. I may have the kids “pump” some compost tea just for fun next time!