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Location

Message

Date Posted

Bristol R.I. USA

Does anyone know of a good cheap brewer. I'd like a small one that does about 5 gallons.

11/11/2009 8:34:06 AM

Cedar Lake, IN.

a 5 gallon bucket and air stones with air pump cost: $20.00

11/11/2009 12:57:47 PM

Seattle, WA

Make sure you get at least .08 cfm per gallon. If you decided to use air stones, you'll need to clean them thoroughly and get the glass bonded ones.

11/11/2009 3:02:40 PM

Brooklyn Corner, Nova Scotia

Try making one yourself Kenny, you probably have just about everything you need already. The only thing I paid for was an aquarium pump, $20, that was intended for a 30 gallon aquarium. Took ten minutes to set up. The tubing goes from the pump to a circular cooling rack that fit perfectly at the bottom,easiest thing in the world

http://www.bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryViewOne.asp?eid=105930

11/11/2009 4:18:11 PM

Eastern Pennsylvania

i use the keep it simple 5 gallon brewer. you spend plenty of money on the other things for your patch, why not on a brewer and tea food thats proven to produce the microbes you want?

11/12/2009 1:39:09 PM

Seattle, WA

In the "Do It Yourself" vs buying a commercial unit debate, I think it's important to ask yourself a few questions.

1. Do you have the knowledge to make a good brewer. The info. is out there but does require a bit of research and time.

2. How serious are you in regards to knowing the quality of your tea? It's going to look like brown water and there's no visual clues to whether it is good or not. Only way to know for sure is with a microscope and dissolved oxygen meter. You can follow guidelines but you'll have to experiment, as there are a multitude of variables involved every time you brew such as temperature, water quality, compost quality, food resources, dissolved oxygen levels, elevation, etc...

3. Many people just spray their plants, never test, and are happy with their result. The testing costs money and that's essentially what you're paying for when you buy a commercial system.

All that being said, just so you know I own Keep It Simple so I sell brewers for a living. I didn't think it was fair to comment without throwing that out there in case you didn't know where I was coming from.

If you do decide to go the DIY route, check out www.microbeorganics,com. I think he has a design up there you could follow.

Cheers,
Tad

11/12/2009 5:39:58 PM

Gold Hill, Oregon

looking for a 5 gallon brewer check out you tube. you can build your own pretty cheap.

11/17/2009 5:06:45 AM

Seattle, WA

Keep in mind that most of the videos of brewers on youtube are from people who are not doing any testing of their designs. That's the only way to know you're actually making good tea. In general, aquarium pumps aren't pushing enough oxygen. You need .08 cfm/gal. as a general rule when designing a brewer.

2/8/2010 3:04:00 AM

Owensboro, Ky.

Tad, for a couple/3 yrs. or so, you have been a valuable source of info for tea brewers here on bp.com!!! The info you put forth is invaluable!!! Thanks!!! Peace, Wayne
PS..yer honesty, is Kul, and appreciated!!!

2/9/2010 12:18:59 AM

Seattle, WA

Thanks Wayne! I'm hoping people will learn how beneficial this technology is, and the more people out there making good tea the better. Pumpkin growers are one of the friendliest groups of people I've seen.

Hope the info. helps!

Cheers,
Tad

2/9/2010 2:49:43 PM

Owensboro, Ky.

Tad, what other growers use tea? Peace, Wayne

2/9/2010 4:10:31 PM

South Hero, VT

Tad, don't be shy: give us your web site. DIYers probably are just going to waste money on setups that don't deliver the goods.

2/9/2010 6:34:58 PM

Seattle, WA

My company is www.simplici-tea.com, but I'm working on a hobby site for biological horticulture at www.gardeningwithmicrobes.com but it's not done yet. I've got some microscope video and articles on there though that are already posted.

Wayne,
I know that The Wiz and Biz are using our tea and the Emmons and Will Bobier. I've gotten others but don't know the names off the top of my head. I get a lot of feedback from medical marijuana growers and those guys take their plants as serious as you guys. :)

2/10/2010 2:36:16 AM

Owensboro, Ky.

Tad, bad on my part, w/ the way I asked the question... ? was supposed to be, what growers...other than Pkn growers...are using compost tea? Just notice the medical MG's part!!! Do you check them out??? LOL Peace, Wayne

2/10/2010 6:47:08 PM

Seattle, WA

Wayne,

Besides the MJ guys, there's an organic vineyard in WA that's won a ton of awards that uses our tea. We have the 2nd largest organic farm in WI (I think that's the state) that has a 1,000 gal. brewer. Harvard university is using it on their yard. We've got scattered small farms around the country. Oh, and in Vegas many of the casinos are using the tea now since it's safe to spray with people around and there's no issue of liability that you could have with the chemicals.

2/12/2010 1:26:41 PM