Want to do more with your compost? Brewing your compost to make compost tea and adding it to your garden offers a number of benefits. It is easy to make and can replace the use of chemical-based fertilizers, pesticides, and fungicides. It increases the amount of nutrients available to plants and soil and helps to prevent foliar diseases. Compost tea has even been found to increase the nutritional quality and improve flavor in vegetables.
Supplies Needed:
2- 5 gallon bucket
1 gallon mature compost (worm or traditional)
1 aquarium valve
1 gang valve (divides air supply into several streams)
4 gallons of water
3+ feet of aquarium hose
1 ounce unsulfured molasses
Cheesecloth, nylon, or old pillow case
**Aeration equipment is especially important because the organisms use up of the oxygen quickly. Without extra oxygen the organisms will become anaerobic and the tea will begin to smell and will harm plants when added to soil.
Where to Start:
- Attach 3 pieces of aquarium hose (each about 12” long) to the gang valve. Place the gang valve on the outside of the bucket, making sure the hoses reach the bottom of the bucket.
- Add your finished compost to the bucket. Ensure the hoses are completely
- Fill the bucket with water up to six inches from the top. If you are using city water be sure to aerate it first by running it through the pump for at least an hour. Chlorine will kill organisms needed in the tea.
- Add the unsulfered molasses. Stir vigorously to aerate the tea.
- Turn on the pump and let the mixture brew for 2-3 days, stirring occasionally. Your tea should smell earthy. Add a second pump and aerate more if your tea smells bad.
- Brew you compost tea! Let the tea sit for about ten to twenty minutes after turning off the pump. Strain the tea through cheesecloth, a nylon stocking, or old pillow case into the other bucket. Spray on plants immediately
Brewing Compost Tea from Taunton Press
http://www.taunton.com/finegardening/how-to/articles/brewing-compost-tea.aspx
