Worm Casting Tea Time
Mummm, Mummm GOOD for plants.
July 17, 2024
One of the axioms of regenerative ag is "feed the soil". A very direct means of accomplishing this is to apply a "tea" made using fresh compost or worm castings.
Using non chlorinated water, fill a 5 gallon bucket and add a soft ball sized clump of compost or worm castings. Stir it vigorously to break up any lumps. Aerate the mixture by continuing to stir, or employ an aquarium pump to oxygenate it overnight. The added oxygen will encourage the growth and reproduction of the beneficial microorganisms that foster soil health and plant growth.
To use your tea, thin the mixture with more water until it is the color of weak tea or straw, approximately 10 parts water to 1 part tea. Apply it directly to the soil around your plants with a watering can, or filter it first to remove large particles, then use a sprayer.
Other useful teas are made with plant materials such as comfrey, nettles, horsetail or seaweed. These will add potent amounts of minerals to your brew.
Compost tea is also used to "activate" biochar. The biochar provides habitat for those organisms you've been growing in your tea.
Happy Gardening!
Submitted by FairWinds Garden co-manager, Gayle Petrick
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