Compost Tea Dr Elaine Ingham
earthfriendly

Compost Tea Dr Elaine InghamWant to grow healthy plants and vegetables? Want to avoid weeds? Want to remove petroleum based fertilizers and pesticides from your yard? Want to grow food that is nutrient rich? It all starts with healthy soil, and the easiest and best way to get, and keep, healthy soil is to treat with good quality compost tea.

In the podcast we talk about:

Why Brew Aerated Compost Tea?

  • Multiply microbes fast (in 24 to 36 hours)
  • Cheaper to apply than compost
  • Hauling
  • Applying
  • Amount needed
  • Foliar drench or soil drench
  • Can spray on leaves
  • Great for when planting
  • Increase nutrients
  • Pushing soil from bacterially dominated to fungally dominated
  • Soil succession
    • Brand new dirt is bacterially dominated which works well for annuals and some vegetables but if you want to plant most landscaping shrubs, trees and perennials you need soil that is more fungally dominated.
  • Prevent disease or pests – strong plant – more resistance

What is Compost Tea and Does Compost Tea Really Work?


Remember, just because it is brown doesn’t mean it is really compost tea – must contain the right microbes

  • Smell
  • Microscope

How to Make Aerated Compost Tea or Aerated Worm Tea

To make a compost tea brewer you will need

  • A pump to keep the tea aerated
  • Humic acid to remove chlorine and chemicals from city water
  • A 5 gallon bucket with smooth sides that is clean, and easy to keep clean
  • A bag for the compost

Nice to have but not essential

  • A Microscope to check the progress of the tea
  • A Sprayer dedicated to compost tea, makes it easier to apply.


Or you could just buy a compost tea brewing kit

When to Make and Use Compost Tea

  • Time of year
  • Planting
  • Establishing the yard
  • Treating pests and diseases

Who is doing this

Harvard University – Organic brew puts green back into Yard

 

Photo Credit: Elizabeth Felicella for MVV Associates Inc.Dr Elaine Ingham’s work at the George W. Bush Presidential library

Paul Taylor and Dr. Elaine Ingham – An Introduction to Actively Aerated Compost Tea Brewers

 

earthfriendly
Follow us

earthfriendly

Diane Downey and Sheri Menelli specialize in earth-friendly landscaping practices, including vegetable gardening, rainwater capture, soil health, native plants, and efficient irrigation. Diane is a professional landscape designer with over 10 years’ experience, and Sheri is a certified permaculture designer with a six-year-old food forest in her backyard. Combined, they have over two decades of teaching experience. Their classes are taught to the public in the classroom, in the field, and via one-on-one garden coaching sessions.
earthfriendly
Follow us

Latest posts by earthfriendly (see all)