Monday, April 30, 2012

"Compost Tea Anyone?"

    I have had a few emailed questions about, "What is compost tea?" and "How do you make it"? We all know that compost is a wonderful addition to soil and helps our gardens grow better. Your garden can benefit even more by using compost tea. Compost tea is easily made by soaking or steeping compost in water. I take a piece of cheese cloth, scoop a handful of compost into it, tie it up with a piece of twine and toss it the watering container just like you would a tea bag!
    By using compost tea to replace chemical-based fertilizers, pesticides, and fungicides, you can garden safer and be more protective of the environment. Compost tea also, Increases plant growth, Provides nutrients to plants and soil, Provides beneficial organisms, Helps to suppress diseases, Replaces toxic garden chemicals. So there are many benefits’ from using it!
    Also you can make tea out of other organic things as well such as: Crushed egg shells (for calcium), Grass clippings (for nitrogen), by placing Banana peels in a food processor (for potassium). I have even seen people take all different sorts of vegetable waste from the kitchen and process it that way, dig a hole in the garden and pour it straight in! 
    Funny story! I grossed my daughter and one of her friends out with it a few weeks back. They came carrying the water can to me and said, "There is something wrong with the water in your can"'. I stuck my hand in the water and pulled out the ball of cheese cloth with the compost/horse manure. They asked what it was, so I told them what it was. I just so happened to have a cup of fresh brewed ice tea sitting there with me. So I took a drink and said, "It taste pretty good, want some"? LOL! That really grossed them out! Yes, I did tell them a little later it was for the plants!

Here is a cheap way to make a compost bin, "Dirt Cheap"

Let me know what and how you make your garden tea!

Palms 126:2 "Then was our mouth filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing: then said they among the heathen, The LORD hath done great things for them."

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33 comments:

  1. I often take weeds and leave them steeping in water for a week, (always add a few comfrey leaves as well) then strain out the liquid and use it as a liquid foliar feed. It smells for a bit, but is better than throwing away the weeds along with all the goodness they have stolen from my soil!

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    1. Me too! The pee-uuu smell isn't so bad. I'm used to it! ;)

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  2. LOL....I sure would have liked to see the look on their faces when you took a sip of tea!

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  3. I've made Chicken Tea.... mmmm, mmmm, good! for the plants of all sorts, flowers, fruit trees and gardens. Makes everything so pretty, lush and healthy.

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    1. Would you call it chicken tea or chicken soup, lol!

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  4. Are you using fish tank air pump for brewing compost tea? 24 Hr? My hubby is an aquariumist and he told me it will be too expensive to use pump so much. So I am just stirring my bucket with compost tea. Have you even heard about banana peal tea?

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    1. No I just toss it in the bucket and let it sit, like a jug of sun brewed tea. I have heard of processing banana peals and pouring it around the plant!

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  5. hi friend...hope at this moment God is working things out in your life...im sure he does..im hosting today a bloghop on tuesday"s feel free to post something you want to share with others...will be a big blessing...praying for you all...blessings

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  6. That does sound kind of icky...but it's all for growing good plants and stuff...and the plants seem to like it ;) :) Greetings from the ocean shores of California, Heather :)

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  7. Thanks but no thanks, Clint. I will stick to good ole Lipton tea. Haha. That was a funny story. Sounds like something my Dad would pull on me. Thank you for sharing your tip for compost tea at Your Cozy Home Party. Have a great week!-------- Shannon

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  8. Compost tea is something I've never made. I really should try it though. You make it sound both easy and fun. :)

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  9. It does sound icky but I am going to try some myself..I already put out something we call Black Cow around here in SC I will be doing a post soon about someone who sells some of this stuff...Clint you are a mess! Enjoyed the post.
    Dolly

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  10. We've used compost tea in our garden and it really does work. Funny story about your daughter... :)

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  11. This is such a great idea! I have used compost tea from vermicomposting, but never taking regular compost and soaking it. I will definitely have to try this!

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  12. yes, please!

    happy thursday,
    blessing!

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  13. Ha ha ha! That is so funny the trick you played!

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  14. Love to compost, it is a awesome thing to do. Stopped over from Katherine's!

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  15. That is such a wonderful idea! I will share your post with friends who are into Natural Farming here in Panglao Island in Bohol, Philippines.

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  16. hugs and thank you for joining in the hop fun xo

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  17. I can just see the "ewww, gross" expressions!~

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  18. Hello, you've just expanded my knowledge on compost tea - I have enjoyed using it knowing it is beneficial but never thought to add grass clippings, banana peel etc.. sounds wonderful for the garden! I do appreciate you sharing with Home and Garden Thursday,
    Kathy

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  19. Hi Clint,
    I wrote a post on compost sandwiches for Farm Chick Chit Chat and you invited me for some compost tea. This is something I have always wanted to try , but never have done so. 2013 will be the year of compost tea for me!

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