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Tea Sprayers

LindsaytheBouqworm
Sat, 04 May 2019 15:04:07 GMT

Okay, I really wasn't sure which channel to list this under, maybe under composting. Anyways! Does anyone have recommendations on equipment for spraying compost teas? I think Elaine Ingham mentioned in a few of her webinars that you can hurt the population of microbes in the tea while you're making and applying it. I just made my first couple of batches in a really... simple pot I rigged up with plastic tubing and an aquarium air pump. I would love to apply it in a spray, but I'm particularly worried about hurting the fungi count. But even without taking the microbes casualties into account, I don't have any equipment besides a watering can, so any suggestions would be amazing!

elizamae
Sun, 30 Jun 2019 01:33:17 GMT

I've also been experimenting with making compost teas! I've been brewing in a 5 gallon bucket with a BubbleSnake and an aerator for 24 hours. I then dilute it to a 4:1 ratio and water plants with a watering can. I've used a pump sprayer but it was going to take too long to broadcast...I had not yet thought of it disrupting the microbes though.

farmerjesse
Sun, 30 Jun 2019 09:24:46 GMT

Do you know what she specifically said was the issue? Was it the sprayer itself (pressure, or something)? I think as long as you get the spray onto the fields (in the evening or early morning) as quickly as possible then you’re not likely to damage too much of the life. We usually dilute 10 to 1, non-chlorinated water to tea. In my apprenticeship, we used to spread the microbes with a bucket and straw, literally dipping and hdanful of straw (no weed seed) into the mixture then flinging it into the air in the late evening (they were biodynamic so this was called “impregnating the dew” and looked a little crazy, but was rather enjoyable work).

elizamae
Tue, 02 Jul 2019 04:01:06 GMT

wow, that sounds absolutely delightful! I have wondered how long I can keep the tea around once it's brewed- I try to use it that evening or next morning. A friend told me she'd seen it for sale in stores though- they keep it in the cooler...maybe that sort of hibernates them?

farmerjesse
Tue, 02 Jul 2019 07:44:09 GMT

I honestly can’t speak to storage. I personally like to use it fresh, dipping it out while it’s still bubbling. Any extra I have I usually just spray on the pasture.

sonorapermaculture
Tue, 02 Jul 2019 18:38:55 GMT

I put my compost tea and microbial preparations through a venturi siphon into our wobblers. it works real well and i have checked with a microscope to see if it damages fungal hyphae. other than that i use a large watering can for specific applications to a bed here or there.

elizamae
Wed, 10 Jul 2019 05:08:03 GMT

Sounds like you might be making large batches? How big of batches are yall making? 50 gal drums?!

sonorapermaculture
Wed, 10 Jul 2019 13:53:13 GMT

my vortex brewer makes anywhere from 5-100 gallons at a time. custom built.

seansutton
Wed, 21 Aug 2019 02:01:55 GMT

I am in the same boat. I would love to use a backpack sprayer to apply my compost tea, but I read that it is really bad for the bacteria. I do not have enough to root drench 1/2 an acre.