Tea Article

[Dkgrower]

Hey guys i pretty new to making ACT and have only made a few bacterial tees.

This year i will add it to the feed-input program.

Alfalfa - Oatmeal - Barley - Green Compost and crushed wheat bran with molasses would be my base- i will mix it up in spring and use it thu summer to ease work load.

I plan on brewing 1 time pr week and giving it to the garden

It will be brewed in a homemade Vortex with heater-

What u guys think

Should i add more to the base mix - i dont have local supply of EWC that why i use greencompost-

but have Nettles, Comfey, fishmeal, Algeameal and basalt meal at hand but use that in my fermentations and all i want in my tee is benificial bacteria.

Also what temperatur is optimal fore a healty bacterial tee.

Thanks in advance.

 

[SeaMaiden]

ive only got the white sugar ya use for a cup of tea or coffee, this has lots of chemicals in it to make it white so probly not too good for them microbes, i'm glad you think I should be ok with my LAB I might just add couple of table spoons more in the morning just to make sure there is food I'm planning brewing for 36 hours, just mixed up some new soil so gonna give it a charge with the old ACT

I don't remember white cane sugar requiring lots of chemicals being put into it to make it white. To make the finished product flowable I believe some things might be used, but not a whole bunch of chemicals. You're mostly filtering and boiling off water and working repeatedly towards a pure crystal or towards molasses from the cane juice, IIRC. If my grandfather were alive I would question him (again) about the process, but that's what I recall. My grandfather used to run the family's sugar plantation in Puerto Rico.

As mexurander points out, palm sugar can also do well, and I have also used something found here in the US Latin markets called panela/panocha (yes, I know, this is how it's labeled where I find it), also date sugar, malted barley extract is something I've been using for years because my husband stopped homebrewing and we had all this extract leftover, and at $20+/qt I wasn't about to let him throw it out. It's helped me grow some of the best weed, I have no idea why but it seems to really help bring out the funk. What are some other sugars I've used...? Date, palm, raw cane cone sugars, molasses, malted barley extract, honey, agave..... Sucanat... haven't done table sugar yet, but I'm sure I will at some point. All are helpful in both teas and for direct feeding (pers. exp. soil, coir and perlite cultivation).

 

[W89]

I was on about the sugar you buy to make ya cup of teas the cheap common normal sugar.... I just used my LAB which was cut with 1:1 molasses so fingers crossed it will be OK and il go buy some more molasses tomorrow

 

[Sir D]

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[CT Guy]

I don't remember white cane sugar requiring lots of chemicals being put into it to make it white. To make the finished product flowable I believe some things might be used, but not a whole bunch of chemicals. You're mostly filtering and boiling off water and working repeatedly towards a pure crystal or towards molasses from the cane juice, IIRC. If my grandfather were alive I would question him (again) about the process, but that's what I recall. My grandfather used to run the family's sugar plantation in Puerto Rico.

As mexurander points out, palm sugar can also do well, and I have also used something found here in the US Latin markets called panela/panocha (yes, I know, this is how it's labeled where I find it), also date sugar, malted barley extract is something I've been using for years because my husband stopped homebrewing and we had all this extract leftover, and at $20+/qt I wasn't about to let him throw it out. It's helped me grow some of the best weed, I have no idea why but it seems to really help bring out the funk. What are some other sugars I've used...? Date, palm, raw cane cone sugars, molasses, malted barley extract, honey, agave..... Sucanat... haven't done table sugar yet, but I'm sure I will at some point. All are helpful in both teas and for direct feeding (pers. exp. soil, coir and perlite cultivation).

I haven't experimented with plain sugar but I'm guessing it's inferior to molasses because it will lack many of the impurities and minerals that are in molasses.

And from working with bees, I can tell you that refined sugar is superior to organic or any other form of sugar NOT because any chemicals are added, but because it's much more pure, hence less risk of contamination to your bee hive when feeding.

I'd recommend reading "What Einstein Told His Cook" if you're interested in the science. There's a whole section on sugar and salt that is very interesting.

 

[SeaMaiden]

I haven't experimented with plain sugar but I'm guessing it's inferior to molasses because it will lack many of the impurities and minerals that are in molasses.

And from working with bees, I can tell you that refined sugar is superior to organic or any other form of sugar NOT because any chemicals are added, but because it's much more pure, hence less risk of contamination to your bee hive when feeding.

I'd recommend reading "What Einstein Told His Cook" if you're interested in the science. There's a whole section on sugar and salt that is very interesting.

Really? I find that aspect most fascinating. If I can find that as an e-Book I'll order it this morning. The historical fiction isn't doing it for me lately, and the Schutzhund reading needs me paying close attention. Ayeee!! both books are in Kindle editions. Food science, from another angle? Mom's a dietitian, so the science of nutrition is something familiar.

 

[Dawn Patrol]

Another fascinating resource for kitchen science (and a pretty easy read) is Cookwise by Shirley O. Corriher. Not sure if it's still in print but it really helped me grasp the science of baking.

 

[think_fast]

Greetings,

I am new to the world of organic horticulture, and even newer to the world of tea brewing. I have many, many questions. But I will trouble you all with just one for the moment, as I dig through this thread from beginning to end.

When I brew my alfalfa tea, I find the smell to be quite disturbing. Not the smell of the tea per se, but moreso the actual remains of the alfalfa before I dump it into the compost bin. It smells of diarrhea it does. Is this normal? No other tea ingredients give off such an odor as does the alfalfa and I'm curious if something has gone terribly anaerobic. I would typically use 4-5 gallons water, 2 tbs alfalfa, 2 tbs kelp, 1/4 cup to 1/2 cup EWC. Mind you, I've been in the foolish habbit of allowing my tea to brew for up to 6 days (I now know better), and I've been using a nylon stocking (I know, for shame!).

Clearly, I am lost, but I am following a dim light at the end of this tunnel.

 

[BlueJayWay]

24 to 36 hr tops really, I can honestly say though - I've never smelt my tea leftovers - what kind of sick fetish do you have man?!?

6 days is a little much, otherwise your measurements are just fine

 

[DuckDuckGoose]

I just brewed a tea for 48 hours and fed it to some 14 day old seedlings that were showing some type of early deficiency from putting them in a store bought sack of shit. I used the recipe from MM's website with the castings, molasses, organic gem, and some kelp. Well less than 24 hours later and the little guys are looking better already. Simple enough and effective, I wonder what the guy at the hydro store would have tried to sell me?

 

[ClackamasCootz]

I wonder what the guy at the hydro store would have tried to sell me?

A nute program?

 

[Scrappy4]

A nute program?

And what's a nute program without meters, and ups and downs, cal mag, and avid for bugs and eagle 20 for pm.....I won't pile on, but I have heard about crop insuranc too, lol.....scrappy

 

[BlueJayWay]

Don't forget them organic bloom boosters!!!!

 

[unclefishstick]

And what's a nute program without meters, and ups and downs, cal mag, and avid for bugs and eagle 20 for pm.....I won't pile on, but I have heard about crop insuranc too, lol.....scrappy

a nute program without meters or need for pH up and down is called veganics,im surprised you guys havent heard about since it made of basically the same ingredients and methods of the fermented plant extract you guys go on about...

Don't forget them organic bloom boosters!!!!

you guys crack me up,i almost spilled some cal/mag on my hydrofarm tshirt!

 

[Microbeman]

a nute program without meters or need for pH up and down is called veganics,im surprised you guys havent heard about since it made of basically the same ingredients and methods of the fermented plant extract you guys go on about...


you guys crack me up,i almost spilled some cal/mag on my hydrofarm tshirt!

Uncle Fish; This thread is about compost tea (primarily) which is not even remotely related to the commercial veganics gunk scam.

 

[think_fast]

I can honestly say though - I've never smelt my tea leftovers - what kind of sick fetish do you have man?!?

Oh I've made a fetish of this whole enterprise my friend. I smell my teas before and after, my roots after chopping, my compost bin (gotta get real close to really take it in) and you know I'm sticking my face into jars every time I walk by them. Consider me a bonafide smellophile!

 

[DuckDuckGoose]

Microbe Man or CT Guy...
I've read on some articles that say 400x is enough magnification to view bacteria, and others say 1000x. Can the microbes in the teas be viewed at 400x? And if my microscope has a 5x eye piece, can I simply buy a 10x and swap them and then have increased magnification?
My microscope is a light microscope if that matters...

DDG

 

[Microbeman]

Microbe Man or CT Guy...
I've read on some articles that say 400x is enough magnification to view bacteria, and others say 1000x. Can the microbes in the teas be viewed at 400x? And if my microscope has a 5x eye piece, can I simply buy a 10x and swap them and then have increased magnification?
My microscope is a light microscope if that matters...

DDG

Yes to the 400x. Some are seen at even 100x. On the eyepiece, yes if your objectives are good quality.

 

[DuckDuckGoose]

thanks MM,
i think my microscope is decent and the objectives seem to be fine, it's what is being used in schools all around the country... i know this because my dad took it from work! as far as slides go do i need the ones with the depression?

 

[pokearound]

Just stopping in to say: Fantastic Thread!
Thanks to all folks sharing knowledge.
I'm only 11 pages in and loving this newly acquired knowledge that I will be putting to use immediately. Again, thanks to all for your time and input.
I hope to offer some insight and knowledge to this site in the future.
Big Ups!