What is Aerobically brewed Compost Tea?
Compost tea is a liquid produced by leaching soluble nutrients and extracting bacteria, fungi, protozoa and nematodes from good quality tested compost. Tea production is a brewing process that under proper conditions can be relatively easy. However, for the inexperienced, brewing compost tea can be fraught with problems. You must have the correct compost mixture and tea-making machine which brews tea aerobically. Compost tea must also be tested at least three times a year to ensure a quality product. If you buy compost tea from someone who is not getting their tea tested you have no way of knowing whether you are buying beneficial aerobically brewed compost tea or ineffective brown water. In order to make Actively Aerated Compost Tea you need to assure your base compost has a highly beneficial group of soil microorganisms such as bacteria and fungi, protozoa and possibly nematodes present. You must make certain it is tested using microscopy, NOT plate counts. Then you apply the tea to
