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Location

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Date Posted

Annapolis Valley Nova Scotia

Would I look at the tea on a slide or in a dish or what?

11/11/2010 7:03:11 PM

South East

a tiny drop, on a slide.

11/11/2010 11:42:49 PM

Bristol,RI,USA.

tina and frank are correct ! drop on a slide !!

11/15/2010 9:48:49 AM

President - GPC

Phil,

I got me a cheapy microscope that even has a camera attachment... I have been looking at compost teas all summer long....checking out the biodiversity (and yawl thought WiZ iZ a stupNeagle....lol) and found the best critter population came from pond water used to start with....
with a lil molasses....we got even more critters....I saw some amaZing stuff...right our of star wars....
saw critters eatin other critters....
This one was really freaky.....looked like something from a Dr Seuss novel..... big ole elephant trunk with a scooter body... saw cork screw worm like critters....
It was like looking into a galaxy. Really cool. I would advise everyone to try and check this out.....Everthing was moving....
I put it on a slide then wiped it across and moved the slide Low power worked well....next Im going to use iodine stain with slip covers.... pics will be in our 2011 RMGVG newsletter....

Well worth the time... my scope cost me less than 75$ from the Wolf Camera store.....checkem out...

11/15/2010 12:31:10 PM

President - GPC

I cooked it all up in my Keep It Simple brewer....used pond water with a dash of dried molasses from "Soil Menders"

Tea Bags with "Ancient Forest Alaskan Compost" and my own fresh worm compost,

Also had a tea bag with the KIS fungal with a alfalfa kicker.....
. KIS has great stuff.

Brewed to perfection in 18 hours....had the best population countZ
Put your fish and seaweed and humic in after....then drop it in your soil..... Check it out youll be amaZed what you see........

11/15/2010 12:37:12 PM

President - GPC

Oh yeah...dont forget your fish tank submersible heater....they like it warm.....

11/15/2010 12:38:10 PM

Seattle, WA

Phil,

A couple of good sites for info.
www.microbeorganics.com
or my site
www.gardeningwithmicrobes.com

Hope that helps!

1/11/2011 8:29:46 PM

Williamsburg,KY

Not to hijack your thread, but what size of a microscope would be best?

1/12/2011 11:23:08 AM

Seattle, WA

That's a tough question, it's like saying what kind of car would be best....there's too many variables, such as cost, quality of objectives and other parts, lighting, what you're using it for (trinocular vs monocular vs binocular), etc....

Check out the microscope advisory on either of those sites or feel free to post a link if you had one you were considering purchasing.

1/12/2011 1:05:20 PM

Owensboro, Ky.

Mr. Wiz...what is it about the pond water that leads to superior brew? Any ideas? Lil goodies alwready in the pond water? Maybe? Peace, Wayne

1/12/2011 10:24:08 PM

Seattle, WA

Whether or not the microbes in the pond will be beneficial in your soil is something to consider...I've used stream water as well, though mostly to avoid any issues/time with dechlorination.

1/14/2011 2:05:10 PM