WHAT IS COMPOST TEA?
Throughout history, farmers have utilized compost to enhance plant growth. For instance, every farmer knows the benefit of composted cow manure for a garden. For hundreds of years, farmers have figured out that adding water to compost provides a solution that can be spread in gardens and will get more coverage out of a pound of compost. This is affectionately referred to as “Compost Tea” because you “brew” the solution by adding water to compost and letting it sit.
Today, we have a great OMRI certified organic product that takes all the guesswork out of brewing your own compost tea for your garden. There are risks associated with some methods of brewing and using compost tea because the process of “brewing” actually breeds microorganisms that are beneficial to plants and soil. The internet is full of ideas and products available in this category. The risks with compost teas are primarily associated with purchasing pre-brewed compost tea or improper storage of tea that is brewed anaerobically (without air injected into the process.) In fact, even a simple open bottle of drinking water can breed deadly organisms if left in a warm environment for several days – so don’t drink half a bottle of water that’s left in your car in the summer!
Fortunately, Koopman Lumber has teamed up with Buxton Hollow from Rhode Island to bring you a system that’s simple and easy to use. The tea is a proprietary blend of naturally occurring microbes, bacteria, nematodes and fungi that devour biodegradables creating plant nutrients in the soil to promote rich, healthy plants. This system features a “brew pot” that includes an aerator and a bag of OMRI certified organic compost.
Here’s how to use it:
1. Drop the small burlap bag into the brew pot (a 5 gallon pail)
2. Plug in the aerator (similar to a fish tank pump) and let it brew for 24+ hours
3. Open the spigot located at the bottom of the pail to fill your spray bottle or watering can
4. Apply to the soil or plant
WHAT DOES COMPOST TEA DO?
Buxton Hollow Compost Tea is a soil inoculant and hydroponic nutrient. That means it makes the soil fight off bad stuff, while also providing nutrients that are beneficial to plant health. Recent research has proven that the aerobic microherd populations fight diseases, bad soil, and plant pathogens better and supply more power to your soil’s total health and texture. You can use your tea as a foliar feed or as a soil drench or both. Soil drenches are best for building up the soil microbial activities and supplying lots of beneficial soluble NPK to the plant’s root system and the topsoil texture. Foliar feeds are best for quick fixes of trace elements and small portions of other soluble nutrients into the plant through its leaves. Foliar feeds are also good for plant disease control. Foliar feeds work best when used with soil drenches or with lots of organic mulches around plants.
Check out this video from a Buxton Hollow representative for more info on how compost tea works:
Bottom line, Buxton Hollow Compost Tea will make gardening easier on you by reducing or eliminating many common gardening problems. Most gardeners know the best chance at a healthy plant starts with healthy soil. This is a great way to build healthy soil naturally. Regardless of whether you start with seed or plants, be sure to visit your local Koopman Lumber for a great assortment of all your gardening needs!
For more information about Compost Tea visit www.buxtonhollowfarm.com.
