Bruce Deuley & Bob Webster - Compost Tea (1 of 9)

An entertaining and insightful tag team effort from gardener & radio host Bob Webster & organic specialist & radio host Bruce Deuley. The subject is compost tea and how you can make a brewer yourself for less than $35. It was a bit chilly, but got pretty warm once the pavilion was filled to capacity. I had a laugh out loud moment when Bruce walked in (before I started filming) and was offered a compost tea handout by a nice lady (who didn't know it was Bruce). Bruce was a sport and said it would help him sound like he knows what he's talking about. Good times!

Bruce's tea bucket design placed 2nd as judged by Dr. Elaine Ingham (http://www.soilfoodweb.com/). This is impressive considering other contenders tea makers range from $1000 and up!

Here is Bruce's guide for the DIY compost tea maker: http://dchall.home.texas.net/organic/teamaker/

Informative Shades of Green handout on compost tea: http://organic.meetup.com/86/files/

Bruce Deuley's website: http://www.natureapproved.net

Shades of Green: http://www.shadesofgreensa.com/

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• Bob
• Webster
• Bruce
• Deuley
• KTSA
• AM
• 550
• San
• Antonio
• Texas
• Shades
• Green
• Compost
• Tea
• Elaine
• Ingham

[drbron]

Can this tea be frozen into cubes and stored to use on indoor plants as needed. Otherwise does freezing it affect it's qualities

[OrganicTexas]

@drbron No, it can't be frozen since that would kill all the beneficial bacteria & fungi. It's recommended you use it within 4 hours after brewing.

[schechkin]

Is it safe to spray my plants with compost tea made from cow manure?

[OrganicTexas]

@schechkin Should be perfectly fine. If you're still not sure, use it on a plant you don't like... or your neighbor's vegetation. :-)

[OrganicTexas]

@MrArch21 I don't know why you hear aot of people saying that. Adding microbial activity to the soil isn't pointless & as Bob and Bruce explain, the results speak for themselves. Good luck!

[MrArch21]

@OrganicTexas why do i hear alot of review saying compost tea is pointless as when you pour the the tea into the soil they will die off and the same go be repeated if you were just to add food in the soil to increase population

[gryphonsss]

excellent video! So glad to see people moving forward with the information on microbe life ... the workers.

[qedlife]

Would it be advisable to use straight manure from feedlots? Is bagged organic compost OK to use? Do you put anything in the tea other than just compost? Would this work better or worse in combination with regular fertilizers / pesticides?

[bluefringes]

We have alot of iron bacteria in our well water. Is it ok to make compost tea with it? Should I boil it first?

[bluefringes]

We have alot of orion bacteria in our well water. Will it be ok to use this water to make compost tea? Should I boil it first?

[OrganicTexas]

Per Bruce Deuley: Yes as far as the plant goes but I would be careful with using compost tea made with uncomposted manure of any kind if it is a plant I am going to eat in the next 60 days just to be safe.