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What is Compost Tea? By James Ellison

I've not tried this compost tea and I do hope it is better than the insipid pale brew the Americans call tea in a cafe!

It seems to be a pro-biotic for the soil and is the next big thing in the US organic movement.

Organic gardeners all know compost is fantastic stuff. But now, there's something even better and that's compost tea. If you start with a good compost you'll have a versatile elixir for all your garden needs.

Compost tea helps prevent foliage diseases and at the same time increase the nutrients to the plant and shutdown the toxins hurting the plants. It will improve the taste/flavor of your vegetables. So why not give this tea a try either by buying it or brewing it yourself. You won't believe the results!

Four ways that good bacteria work:

  • Help compete for the nutrients
  • Dine on the bad varmints
  • Help produce antibiotics to use against the varmints.
  • They shove the bad varmints out.

Compost tea that is correctly brewed has a wealth of microorganisms that will benefit your plants' growth and health as well as the soil that they live in. Compost tea can be considered yogurt for the soil. The microorganisms living there are both good and bad. What the tea does is make sure the good guys win by introducing helpful bacteria, fungi, protozoa and beneficial nematodes.

Harmful bacteria lives best in soil that does not have good air circulation. Good bacteria lives best and will thrive in soil that is well ventilated with oxygen. This is where a good compost tea, made the right way, comes in. When you have well oxygenated compost you automatically get rid of 3/4 of the bad varmints. Also by using harmful insecticides or chemical fertilizers we reduce the number of beneficial microorganisms in the soil.

Plants produce their own energy and food and half of that goes to the roots and some of that goes into the surrounding soil and guess who gets that? Correct, the good guys, and then it turns into a beneficial cycle.

The following is taken from the internet and shows compost tea is becoming a force in gardening.

National Organic Standards Board Compost Tea Task Force Report April 6, 2004 Introduction In 2003, the National Organic Standards Board convened a Compost Tea Task Force to review the relevant scientific data and report their recommendations on 'What constitutes a reasonable use of compost tea?' The Task Force was composed of 13 individuals with knowledge and expertise in organic farming practices, organic certification, EPA pathogen regulations, compost, compost tea production and analysis, plant pathology, food safety and environmental microbiology.

Throughout their discussions, members consistently acknowledged the growing interest among certified organic and conventional growers to use compost teas, and the need to develop effective biologically-based tools to manage plant fertility, pests, and diseases.

A primary reason for producing compost tea is to transfer microbial biomass, fine particulate organic matter, and soluble chemical components of compost into an aqueous phase that can be applied to plant surfaces and soils in ways not possible or economically feasible with solid compost.

You may find this article of interest as well: Growing Russian Comfrey and Making Comfrey Tea

This article is provided courtesy of http://www.basic-info-4-organic-fertilizers.com You may freely reprint this article on your website or in your newsletter provided this courtesy notice and the author name and URL remain intact.

Article Source: EzineArticles.com

Useful Websites

Garden Organic guide to making your own compost

Making compost from garden and household waste is one of the best things any gardener can do. It's easy and costs very little in time or effort. Making compost will help you reduce pollution - cut down that landfill!

Accelerated Compost - Rocket composter, from waste to compos

Accelerated Compost Ltd , manufacturers of the Rocket range of In Vessel Composting machines , designed to treat organic wastes.

Urbancomposting

A quality selection of compost bins, composting tumblers, worm bins and vermicompost composting systems information help FAQ's and accessories, applicable to composting in urban environments. Extensive links can be use as a central composting resource.

Fenland soils & composts

Topsoil, compost and mulches delivered to all London and Home Counties

RONS COMPOSTING WORMS

The first stop for Worms for Fishing, Composting and Live foods. Rons worms are now taking on-line orders for Dendrobaena and red worms, these are without doubt the best worms for composting in the UK .

The Compost Shop

Suppliers of quality organic compost, topsoil, bark and other useful garden supplies, all with free next day delivery. Also check out our Garden Tips section in our Garden Guru.

Compost Bin Supply

US Site - Compost Bin Supply, the composter store. Compost Bins for sale from the Composting Guide. You'll find a great variety of compost tumblers, and regular composters, as well as plenty of composting accessories. -US Site

Mr Muck's Organic Manure

Mr Muck supplies top quality organic manure & compost as well as mushroom compost, ericaceous compost and bark mulch. We offer a fast, friendly & reliable services with deliveries throughout the UK. Trade enquiries welcome.

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