On Tue, 13 May 2003 03:36:00 GMT, animaux wrote:

Okay, we finally had FIVE inches of rain today. Nothing for 9 weeks, then 5
inches. Good thing I watered yesterday so a lot of it soaked into the ground,
vs. running off...anyway...

I have several rain barrels full of beautiful rain water. In one of them I want
to make compost tea. I have compost which is both fungal and bacterial. In a
75 gallon drum, how much compost should I use, and should I make a tea ball out
of it with cheese cloth, or just let it sit in the bottom when I steep with the
air stone?

Any suggestions are welcome. I've never made aerobic compost tea before. I'm
on my way over to www.soilfoodweb.com but would like to hear back from anyone
who has made their own.

Thanks,
Victoria
Victoria,

In a 75 gallon drum you would need a very good air source AND a pump
to extract and grow the biota. Why not build a 5 gallon brewer and
produce high quality CT? At a rate of 25 gallons/ acre (a high rate) 5
gallons goes a long way. I have a 500, 100, 22 and 5 gallon. In a 5
gallon a cup of good vermicompost and some simple ingredients will
make aerobic tea in 24 hours. If you email me I'll provide
instructions for a 5 gallon like the one sold by www.alaskagiant.com

Cheese cloth is not a good idea. The fungi and bacteria will get hung
up on the fibers.





"Nature, left alone, is in perfect balance.
Harmful insects and plant diseases are always present,
but do not occur in nature to an extent which requires the use of poisonous chemicals.
The sensible approach to disease and insect control is to grow sturdy crops in a healthy environment."

Masanobu Fukuoka, One Straw Revolution--1978