BREWING TEAS FOR BENEFICIAL MICRO-ORGANISMS, NUTRIENTS &

SECONDARY METABOLITES

Enhancing Biological Vigor, Disease and Pest Resistance for Small-scale Organic Agriculture

Benefits of Improving Biological Diversity

Plant health and immunological defense can be drastically improved through the manipulation of naturally occurring symbiotic relationships between nutrients, bacteria, archaea, fungi and protozoa in the rhizosphere.

Manipulation of these variables can be achieved via the brewing of compost teas, botanical teas and fermented plant extracts.

The Three Teas

Actively Aerated Compost Tea Improves biological diversity for proper nutrient cycling

within the rhizosphere

Botanical Tea Promotes immunological defense systems within the

plant by enzymatic response and introduction of foreign secondary metabolites

Fermented Plant Extracts Allows specific nutrient additions from locally sourced

“weeds”

Actively Aerated Compost Tea (AACT)

Improves biological diversity for proper nutrient cycling within the rhizosphere

Bacteria/Archaea dominant Divide every 20 minutes approximately Found in sufficient populations within 18-24 hours Can be sufficient for foliar applications or applied during

watering for enriching the diversity of bacteria/archaea

Protozoa inclusion Populations begin to increase about 24 hours into brewing A sufficient diversity can be found at about 36 hours into

the brew This tea is ideal for vegetables and other annual plants

Actively Aerated Compost Tea (AACT)

Fungi Dominant Tea May be applied as a tea after a 36-48 hour brew but is more

effective as top-dressed compost mixed in with upper layer of soil.

Generally ideal for perennial and fruit bearing trees or vines, but also useful for planting beds top-dressed in twice a year between plantings.

Quick boiled rice or oat flour can be mixed in 1:20 with compost and kept slightly damp for 8-10 days before use. (lightly dampen mixture of compost and flour, cover with a damp rag or towel, turn visible surface mold into compost)

Fish hydrolysate diluted with water (2oz/gallon) can be added to compost and covered for 5 days.

Actively Aerated Compost Tea (AACT)

Ingredients for 50 gallons 50 gallons water at 65 -75 degrees. 1 gallon fresh vermicompost 1 quart (4 cups) unsulphured black strap molasses. Additions ½ cup Fish Hydrolysate 2 cups Kelp meal ½ cup Soft Rock Phosphate

Extra additions ½ cup Pyrophyllite clay (promotes bacteria/archaea diversity) 2 cups Alfalfa Meal/Ground or Blended Alfalfa (promotes protozoa and

fungal growth) Handful of Peatmoss (promotes protozoa and fungal growth)

Botanical Teas

Promotes immunological defense systems within the plant via enzymatic response and addition of secondary metabolites.

Short brew allows for enzymes and secondary metabolites to be extracted and applied before they are broken down into their base nutrient forms.

Ingredients 50 gallons water ½ gallon plant matter Brew for 4-5 days.

Botanical Teas

Suggested Plant Matter Yarrow Comfrey Horsetail Fern Sprouts Stinging Nettles Kelp Meal Alfalfa Meal or fresh Alfalfa

Fermented Plant Extracts

Allows plant specific nutrient additions from locally sourced “weeds”

Recipe Mix about 1:1 blended or ground plant matter and water Allow to sit until sufficiently broken down, filter and bottle. Use finished extract 1:100 with water Water diluted extract into nutrient deficient areas

Flower extracts are ideal to use in the fruiting phase of plant growth.

Foliage extracts are best used during stages of vegetative growth. Exception

CalPhos extract – Mix oyster shell flour or baked egg shell with sufficient white vinegar to dissolve.

Use 1:100 with water

Fermented Plant Extracts

Suggested Plant Matter Yarrow flower or leaf Comfrey Camelia Horsetail Fern Dandelion flower or leaf Stinging Nettle Alfalfa Meal or fresh Alfalfa Kelp Meal

http://www.ars-grin.gov/duke/

Additional Tools for Improved Effectiveness of Foliar Sprays and Increased Pest/Disease

Resistance

These items can be added to your foliar sprays given in per gallon amounts: 1 oz Neem Oil

Will keep most vegetable eating insects from producing viable eggs as well as providing powdery mildew inhibition

0.7 grams of granular Potassium Silicate or 1 tsp liquid Potassium Silicate Improves structural integrity of the stems and leaves. Inhibits the growth of powdery mildew before it starts Reverses present powdery mildew infections if caught early enough Acts to emulsify neem oil

2 oz Aloe Improves a plants immune system

Humic and Fulvic Acids

Ingredient Sources

www.concentratesnw.com (SE Portland, Bulk Feed store with almost anything)

www.horizonherbs.com (Southern Oregon, Great source for seed and root starts)

www.groworganic.com (Bulk seed for vegetables, herbs, companion plants etc.)

www.northwestredworms.com (Camas Washington, Quality worm castings until you get your worm farm established)

www.neemresource.com (Bulk organic source for U.S. produced high quality Neem and Karanja Oils and

Meals) www.customhydronutrients.com

(Affordable source for AgSil16H, the granular form of Potassium Silicate. Customary control of powdery mildew in commercial greenhouses growing squash, melon and cucumbers.)

www.aloeveraaustralia.com.au/aloe-vera-powder.html (Bulk source for freeze-dried aloe extract)

Informational Sources

www.microbeorganics.com (Recipes and experimental evidence for microbial

populations in compost teas)http://www.ars-grin.gov/duke/

(Chemical and activity data for just about any plant you’d like to investigate)