T – Page 232 – Crazy About Compost

Compost Tea demonstration by Praxxus (video)

My favorite dude Ray just posted a video on how he makes his compost tea (starting at 4 mins). What's awesome about Ray, other than everything, is that he shows a technique that doesn't involve any real "technology" to make it happen. Quite often compost tea is made using an air pump to keep the batch from going anaerobic (no oxygen), which ultimately smells bad and will really harm your plants. Note his tip about chlorine as well...I use a rain barrel for collecting water for most things, which doesn't have chlorine in it. As Ray says, if you're using water out of the tap, let it sit for a day before starting your batch. Anyway, check out his video for a super easy and free way to make a…

New DuPont Herbicide Will Contaminate Compost (article)

By Ken McEntee June 17, 2011 In reply to the U.S. Composting Council’s (USCC) request for a special review of the registration for the new herbicide Imprelis, the U.S. EPA Office of Pesticide Programs said it is seeking the advice of legal council about the matter. Imprelis, made by DuPont, can survive the composting process and remain active in a finished compost product. The product label specifies that clippings from lawns treated with Imprelis should not be used as a mulch or placed in a compost pile. Imprelis has been registered in every state except California and New York for use by licensed applicators on lawns and other turf areas for control of broadleaf weeds like dandelion, clover and plantain. The Composting Council of Canada said it doesn’t appear that…

The Clash of the Composts! (youtube)

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=avwvJ1NOKcE Here's the results after three weeks of anxiously watching basil grow. In order from awesome to least awesome: Tea leaf compost, tumbler compost, commercial compost, worm castings, no compost. The obvious conclusion is that compost is better than no compost. Not only is it a fertilizer and soil conditioner, but it allows soil to maintain its nutrients and while supporting essential bacteria. Are you surprised by the results? I thought that the worm castings would come out on top. I think I could have waited longer on my worm castings, though...same with my tumbler material. I'm going to try the experiment again in a few weeks with all fresh batches of material, and maybe I'll add some other soil types while I'm at it (know anyone with grub compost?).…