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Ctpumpkin@optonline.net

I spent 40 minutes on the phone today with Joseph J. Whaley BS, MED who is the Executive Director at the Sustainable Studies Institute. SSI is a nonprofit that works closely & shares office space with Dr. Elaine Ingham's Soil Foodweb, Inc. in Oregon.

Joe was referred to the CT GS&PGA by Dr. Elaine Ingham who is the founder of Soil Foodweb, Inc.

Joe has tested & strongly recommends the KIS 5 gallon brewer for the average Atlantic Giant grower.

http://www.simplici-tea.com/

SSI's testing has proven this unit to be a very consistent producer this year. Other prior winners include the Bob-O-Lator.

Has anyone tried these units yet? What did you think?
What other systems have growers found effective?

7/18/2006 11:17:38 PM

Www.extremepumpkinstore.com

I am using Soil Soup, great machine!

7/19/2006 6:13:26 AM

Billerica,Massachusetts

made my own -- 55 gallon drum --- fish airator-- air bubble wall-- piece of screen made into a basket.

7/19/2006 12:03:06 PM

Ctpumpkin@optonline.net

Now the $64 question.....has the resulting tea been tested by SFI?

7/19/2006 12:58:51 PM

Butler, Ohio

Made my own as well. 55 gal barrell, fish tank pump, 2 big airstones, and a submersible pond pump 60 gal/hr, pumping the tea through 1/2" pvc pipe with holes drilled in it to help circulate things...similar to Monty's setup. If I had to build another one, I would spring for a little bit bigger pump myself. But...it gets the job done for now on a budget... :)

7/20/2006 3:56:17 AM

Snoqualmie, Wash.

I have the 25 gal SoilSoup Brewer, They gave it to me as a sponsor. Nick will be coming out to my patch from Seattle soon to take pictures. Great machine. I have used it non-stop since spring. Jerri

7/20/2006 10:34:37 PM

President - GPC

Ive got some too. Been brewing since APril. Had lots of digestion going on. I did it the way Craig ( Agro-K) suggested with his program. I getting ready to put it on starting Sunday according to his schedule. Smells like it should do OK.......30lbs of manure/ 2 bags of maple leaves,,,His Symbex4x and his QT of Calcium DL. Cant wait to try it.

7/21/2006 9:29:31 AM

Owensboro, Ky.

I thought this stuff was dun brewin in a week or so...don't know much about it, so all info is good. Great start of a new topic. Peace, Wayne

7/21/2006 1:34:28 PM

Montoursville, PA

I use the Biti Bobolator. It was one of the first to have it's production tested and posted, on the North Country Organics Site.

I paid, to have one batch tested. OMEGORSH that gets pricy. My results with purchased compost and boosters as suggested, by the maker yeilded high marks. Not quite as high as the maker's but very good. My test was for bacteria, fungi and the living critters amoeba to nematode.

The proven results tested and posted are the only way to be assured of getting the most for your bucks spent.

For the past two years I have used my local compost. I have not and will not test. I am confident the machine performs as it is advertised.

I alternate application with Anaerobic Symbrew, to Craigs specks, in the Agro K program. Symbrew is manure tea with additives form Agro K.

Actually I can get good results with both. It just takes longer, to get the Symbrew, in there and converted. The Aerobic Tea is a living biological package while the Symbrew
is liquid manure plus that has to be converted by you soil biology.

7/22/2006 1:23:49 PM

Ctpumpkin@optonline.net

The Bobolator was tested 3 years ago by SFI & SSI & was recommended then. But like the universities, you have to give your brewer away for free every year to these "testing people" oe they stop saying nice stuff about your product.

I'm sure that all of the named machines here do a good job if they're fed the right stuff.

I am such a sceptic that I really WANT to test multiple batches. SFI offers a "whole season" test program for about $600...OMEGORSH is right.

We can test our own batches if we have the right microscope setup & some training. I was told the Alexis J series is the bare minimum but that the Leica CME (with some pricey additional required stuff) is the preferred model at a price of $1400.

7/22/2006 7:52:34 PM

Montoursville, PA

$600 a year is well within the budget, of any person into medium size or larger truck farming. I think this is the market they wish, to serve.

An option would be, to purchase Dr. Ingram's workbook, on aerobic tea: it's use and making, for $45.00. I have this workbook and attest, to it's value. It is complete enough, to see how aerobic tea and pumpkin growth management can fit together, for success very nicely.

8/2/2006 2:34:29 PM

Ctpumpkin@optonline.net

It is a good read & a valuable resource.

8/2/2006 11:07:01 PM

President - GPC

Got this book and now reading it....

1/22/2007 2:32:39 PM