JW Compost vs. Denali Gold
JW Compost vs. Denali Gold
CT
At Earth Fortification in Corvallis, Oregon they sell both the 'Denali Gold' Alaska humus product @ $25.00 per 1cf or 40 lbs.
In the past couple of months they've been carrying a compost product called 'JW Compost' which is out of Klamath Falls, Oregon.
When I asked about the compost vs. the humus product, the gentleman told me that the JW Compost was made primarily from waste products from the wood products industry. He went on to say that the JW Compost was (obviously) far more 'woody' and had higher fungus levels vs. Denali Gold.
Does that make sense to you? i.e. that a wood product waste could have very high levels of fungus as well as a very diverse colony?
One other question, when adding a fish enzyme product, what amount, per gallon, should one add to the tea batch?
And what about the soluble seaweed powder from Acadian Seaplants?
Thanks!
CC
JW Compost vs. Denali Gold
CT
At Earth Fortification in Corvallis, Oregon they sell both the 'Denali Gold' Alaska humus product @ $25.00 per 1cf or 40 lbs.
In the past couple of months they've been carrying a compost product called 'JW Compost' which is out of Klamath Falls, Oregon.
When I asked about the compost vs. the humus product, the gentleman told me that the JW Compost was made primarily from waste products from the wood products industry. He went on to say that the JW Compost was (obviously) far more 'woody' and had higher fungus levels vs. Denali Gold.
Does that make sense to you? i.e. that a wood product waste could have very high levels of fungus as well as a very diverse colony?
One other question, when adding a fish enzyme product, what amount, per gallon, should one add to the tea batch?
And what about the soluble seaweed powder from Acadian Seaplants?
Thanks!
CC
C
CT Guy
CC,
Denali gold actually has pretty good fungal levels, what I would consider acceptable for making teas. If the JW compost has higher levels, which makes sense if they are using woody materials, then it should work as well. I'd want to see some tests or microscope work that proves this and also that there is good fungal diversity.
Talk to Tim about fish products, I haven't really experimented with them in brewing like he has. We use a proprietary blend of organic materials as a food source, so I do almost all my testing with those ingredients. If you want to see the list, you can check it out on the website.
I haven't heard anything in regards to Acadian Seaplants. We use soluble extract powder from Organic Approach, but add it after the tea is done brewing. I know you can use it as part of the brewing recipe, but since we already have a proven food source, I haven't done the testing to know exact amounts.
Denali gold actually has pretty good fungal levels, what I would consider acceptable for making teas. If the JW compost has higher levels, which makes sense if they are using woody materials, then it should work as well. I'd want to see some tests or microscope work that proves this and also that there is good fungal diversity.
Talk to Tim about fish products, I haven't really experimented with them in brewing like he has. We use a proprietary blend of organic materials as a food source, so I do almost all my testing with those ingredients. If you want to see the list, you can check it out on the website.
I haven't heard anything in regards to Acadian Seaplants. We use soluble extract powder from Organic Approach, but add it after the tea is done brewing. I know you can use it as part of the brewing recipe, but since we already have a proven food source, I haven't done the testing to know exact amounts.
CannabisBlunt
Member
Hi I have a question about the first page of this thread. Notice how it says "@ 1-cup mix/5 gallons of water every 3rd watering." at the end of the veg mix. I dont understand this. Do you take one cup of this mix and dilute it for every 5 gallons of water used? Or do you use this mix to water the plants directly?
CT
Acadian Seaplants is the manufacturer of the product that is sold by Organic Approach and is widely used by many of the 'nutrient' manufacturers in their respective products generally sold in growstores.
It's sold in 20 kg. bags and larger totes. Fortunately an organic farm store in the area breaks it up into 3# bags for $31.00 and the usage rate is only 1/2 tbs. per gallon for foliar sprays.
A good product.
CC
C
CT Guy
I did not know that! I guess I have a bunch of there product already then, and yes I would agree that it is an excellent seaweed extract. We break it down into 1 lb. increments for homeowners, as you really don't need very much. Thanks for sharing!
CT Guy
China is the largest producer of 'soluble seaweed extract' and is sold under any number of names in North America.
Having said that, Acadian Seaplants is the largest producer of this product in this country (USA) as well as North America. They built a $50 million facility up in Eastern Canada, i.e. Nova Scotia to manufacture this product.
And there's the same type of product from Maxicrop, i.e. a dried soluble seaweed extract powder product.
For the hydroponic nutrient companies they generally move towards the products from Kelpac (cold-extraction) which is a clear liquid product which is perfect for hydroponic nutrient applications. Whether or not the 'cold extraction' products are better than the type of products the you and I use is open for discussion and investigation.
There is a company out of Japan and South Korea who produce the same type of product as Kelpak, i.e. cold-extraction seaweed products. Both the Japanese and Korean products are now produced in China.
I have a quart of Kelpak which I bought and investigated. I saw no difference between their product and the Acadian Seaplants product - but then again I don't have access to the scientific equipment that people like you use so my information is anecdotal at best.
There is a fertilizer company out of Canada called 'Lighthouse' and they have any number of products which are distributed by Wilbur-Ellis out of Yakima, Washington. The 'Lighthouse' brand/label of kelp meal is from Acadian Seaplants and they also pack under other names/brands.
HTH
CC
C
CT Guy
I was under the impression that the Organic Approach SEP was cold water extracted....
CT Guy
Acadian Seaplant's seaweed extract is a cold-water extraction product.
Kelpak is manufactured by pressing out the seaweed plant's 'juice' (for lack of a better word) by use of pressure, i.e. there is no 'processing' as such.
Hope that makes sense. The reason that products like 'Kelpak' are used in the hydroponic nutrient industry is that it's clear (like water) and doesn't affect the 'color paradigm' with those products where 'color' is an issue.
Other than that, based on my personal experience, there is little difference, if any, between a product like Acadian Seaplant's seaweed extract and the 'clear products' from Kelpak et al.
HTH
CC
Acadian Seaplant's seaweed extract is a cold-water extraction product.
Kelpak is manufactured by pressing out the seaweed plant's 'juice' (for lack of a better word) by use of pressure, i.e. there is no 'processing' as such.
Hope that makes sense. The reason that products like 'Kelpak' are used in the hydroponic nutrient industry is that it's clear (like water) and doesn't affect the 'color paradigm' with those products where 'color' is an issue.
Other than that, based on my personal experience, there is little difference, if any, between a product like Acadian Seaplant's seaweed extract and the 'clear products' from Kelpak et al.
HTH
CC
L8 Bloomer
New member
Yes cannabisblunt "@ 1-cup mix/5 gallons of water every 3rd watering." means you put 1 cup of compost tea mix into 5 gallons then feed with that.
Could someone hypothetically cover their compost tea bucket and let it bubble for weeks? Would it go bad? If they could, then you could put the mixture in one of those big cooler jugs with the spout at the bottom and run the tap whenever you needed some tea. Would this work?
Doc Leaf If your not using your urine fresh your probably getting no Nitrogen from it [All fermented for between 7 - 30 days using a double set of air-stones.
Adding fresh base ingredients and warm water to top up as required. ]
Unless your adding the urine just before you fertilize most of the uria will have evaporated. Now I could be dead wrong on this, but I'v used urine as a base in organic hand watered soiless for years, and my understanding is that it should not be used after twentyfour hours. [ I flood leach my soiless every three days with clear water, it keeps the smell down.]
But on the other hand if your using your urine for trace minerals then it dosnt matter if the N is evaporated. I do that as well, by eating a couple huge hits of brewers yeast and eating a crap load of bannanas the night before I collect the urine.
Adding fresh base ingredients and warm water to top up as required. ]
Unless your adding the urine just before you fertilize most of the uria will have evaporated. Now I could be dead wrong on this, but I'v used urine as a base in organic hand watered soiless for years, and my understanding is that it should not be used after twentyfour hours. [ I flood leach my soiless every three days with clear water, it keeps the smell down.]
But on the other hand if your using your urine for trace minerals then it dosnt matter if the N is evaporated. I do that as well, by eating a couple huge hits of brewers yeast and eating a crap load of bannanas the night before I collect the urine.
hdn155
Member
i think i finally am brewing for the aerobic fungi!! but i still have many questions, my very basic recipe is 2 cups ewc, 2 tablespoons molasses, 3 tablespoon kelp extract all put into a sock with an air stone inside as well. the tea starts to foam up a few minutes after i brew but after about 24 hour it starts the foam is not as intense. are the little guys running out of food? that what i think and if so, how do i give them more.. add more molasses??
Also, every time i brew a new batch it comes out a little different.. mostly in the look of the crazy slimy stuff (fungi/bacteria?) that attaches to the side of the bucket and the sock.. some looks like brown cottage cheese while others are just like a brown film.. i wish i had a microscope.
Also, every time i brew a new batch it comes out a little different.. mostly in the look of the crazy slimy stuff (fungi/bacteria?) that attaches to the side of the bucket and the sock.. some looks like brown cottage cheese while others are just like a brown film.. i wish i had a microscope.
I also am making my first tea and can't get all the ingredients I want to get so I will work with what I have.. Will a mix of Worm Castings,FoxFarm Big Bloom,Moleasses, and not sure if it's any good but I have seaweed sheets for sushi can I crush it up and use it or leave it out of the mix?
thats a great question HDN!
i'm in the same boat as you and so far so good-I have just topped off the tea as needed adding more molasses/EWC/dolomite/fulvics/maxicrop as needed-as long as the air stone is kicking-no funky smells/anaerobics seem to surface and the ladies are loving it-i'm a still using the same intial batch as a month ago and no worries
i'm in the same boat as you and so far so good-I have just topped off the tea as needed adding more molasses/EWC/dolomite/fulvics/maxicrop as needed-as long as the air stone is kicking-no funky smells/anaerobics seem to surface and the ladies are loving it-i'm a still using the same intial batch as a month ago and no worries
C
CT Guy
Burt,
Just FYI, no one in the compost tea industry extends their brews past 48 hours that I know of. The reason behind this is because some organisms will be more efficient at consuming the food substrates that you're adding to the tea (molasses, kelp, etc...). Over time, these particular species will begin to dominate the tea and you'll see monocultures in the tea. I realize you are adding more earthworm castings as well. This would re-introduce new biology and diversity, but I'm not convinced this is the best method. I have seen good results when you take a small amount of finished tea (brewed 24 hours) and used it as a catalyst in your next brew (maybe 1/2 gal. in a 5 gal. brew).
thanks for the reply-i'm not convinced this is the best method either-i was merely trying to get it as lazy as possible-you know, being a stoner and all-anyway, the tea seems to be just fine-wonderful aromas and even my pets drink it down (fulvics?) i may just make another batch soon-although if it ain't broke why fix it? i do know your correct about the monoculture environment but so far so good!
Green-ninja
New member
How many gallons of water should i use when making the tea?
