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President - GPC

Finishing reading the book Compost Tea Brewing 5th edition, wow......How many of you have tested your tea by looking at it under a scope? How many have foliar sprayed? How often and how much?

2/20/2007 10:28:33 AM

Montoursville, PA

Aerobic Compost from proven source. First year once a week with five gallons. Second year every other week. Third year once a month. Fourth year every third week. I get my supplies from North Country Organics. They have perhaps the best web site on the subject. The counsulting person, Mr. Paul Sacks is thought by many to be on a professional experienced and educated level with the trusted persons providing the latest teaching on the subject. The base receipe I use is clearly discussed on that site. The brewer that works in about eighteen hours, absolutely finishes in that time, is easy to build and to clean is clearly shown on that site. I find that site and the Ingram workbook to be just about the gospels, of this day. They are more in agreement than with heated differences of opinion.
.....The scope required to properly study tea starts at several thousand bucks and goes up from there. The cost of testing is beyond hobby consideration in most cases. North Country Organics provides a visual account of their early test results. Do what they do, as they do and you will not be far off from excellent the very first time. You will be in tune with Dr. Ingham which I beleive you have just read.
....There are many alternatives out there based on much less academic leadership. In many cases there is little but sales talk supporting the system and the product. Personal testimony is a powerfull tool but not always the easiest way, for you or I, to be dealing with the best total story.

2/20/2007 10:56:53 AM

Cheshire,Ma

I just started my first batch of compost tea. I have been looking under a microscope to see what's going on. I'm also monitoring dissolved oxygen and temperature. Today I checked ammonia and nitrate levels. The levels were at zero until I added some nutrients. My ammonia level went to 2.4 mg/l. I would expect to see the nitrate level go up as the ammonia is consumed. Dan

2/20/2007 4:27:04 PM

Ctpumpkin@optonline.net

Gary,

It isn't cheap but everyone should test once in a while to make sure things are going as planned.

http://www.soilfoodweb.com/

The Oregon lab is closest to you. They also offer microscope classes (I really would like to take this class) for those with the tanacity & resources to buy one.

2/20/2007 11:02:49 PM

Seattle, WA

Just wanted to throw it out there that if you want to send me a sample I can look at it under the microscope and give you a qualitative report on it for free.

~Tad

1/15/2008 8:38:57 PM