Tag Archives: texas hill country

The compost tea is brewing and I want to share the process I used.  I referenced both Bruce Deuley and Bob Webster for my tea bucket and the method.  Thanks to their generous spirits, the plants should be benefiting in about 24 hours

You'll need:

• 5 gallon bucket
• air pump for 50 gallon fish tank
• air stones
• plastic tubing
• T splitter or other splitter to get additional lines in bucket
• paint strainer bag
• water:  de-chlorinate your water or use rainwater (I used pond water)
• 1 quart of good organic compost

This is the splitter I used.  Also my pump has two lines so I can get even more air lines into the bucket

Air stones which create lots of bubbles in the bucket of water

Because the bacteria and fungi will need something to eat while they grow and multiply, I added 1T molasses and 1 T fish emulsion, and about 1/3 cup oatmeal to the water. 

Next -fill the paint strainer bag about 1/3 full of compost, tie the bag shut and add your bag of compost to the bucket of water..

Tie bag with a string and if you are using multiple lines & air stones, put one line down in the bag.  Here is my final set up:

Special thanks to Mr. Pippin for making sure I did everything correctly.

Now we wait 6-8 hours then remove the bag and let bubble for another 18-24 hours.

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Cynthia

Cynthia McKenna is a psychotherapist in private practice in the Texas Hill Country.  You can learn more about her at www.cynthiamckennacounseling.com