Articles

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Greenhouse trials confirm that the sooner a tea is used after it is brewed, the more effective it is in influencing plant growth and suppressing diseases. Read entire article

Ohio State research finds that aerating vermicompost tea during brewing results in significant growth responses, even at the lowest concentration tested. Read entire article

In the greenhouse, there is debate about whether sterile potting media and sterilization of propagation trays and equipment with dilute bleach solution is necessary to prevent or minimize the occurrence of damping-off. In the Seeds of Change greenhouse, the approach is to create a microbially-diverse community through the use of vermicompost in potting mixes and compost tea as a transplant drench, based on the body of scientific evidence which suggests that beneficial microorganisms help keep damping-off pathogens in check. Read entire article

Compost and compost tea are used throughout the growing season at the Seeds of Change Research Farm. Previously, all compost used on the Farm was purchased from outside sources. In keeping with its goal of sustainability, the Farm has pursued the development of its own compost operation that transforms farm-generated plant residues into high-quality compost for use as a soil amendment on the Farm, thereby reducing dependency on external sources. The Farm's new on-site composting operation is expected to provide most, if not all, of its compost needs.
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"In preliminary research, we have demonstrated clearly that 'teas' produced with aeration are much more stable and effective than those produced without aeration."
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Hualalai Resort, an 865-acre residential community on the north Kona-Kohala Coast, just celebrated its ninth anniversary in September. In addition to its residential communities, Hualalai Resort features two golf courses, a sports club and spa, cultural center, and hotel (Four Seasons Resort Hualalai). Roughly two-thirds of the resort's 865 acres has been developed, with the remainder expected to be complete in the next five to six years.
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As plant diseases continue to build resistance to chemical sprays, commercial growers and landscapers are looking for new, cost-effective ways to keep their plants healthy. A growing number have discovered that nutrient-rich compost tea, once a solution for backyard gardeners, can be a valuable component of plant management programs.
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Picture billions of microscopic, hungry Pac-Men suspended in water, and you'll begin to understand how compost tea works.
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Pest management on golf courses has traditionally included regular pesticide applications, particularly on greens. Golf courses are under increased pressure to minimize the use of chemicals and golf course managers are looking for alternatives. Compost tea is emerging as an effective tool for suppression of turf diseases and reduction of synthetic fertilizers. Read entire article

Compost is nothing new to Lane County residents, many of whom routinely separate their yard trimmings for curbside collection or to compost in their own backyard. They are aware of the many benefits of compost, and how best to incorporate it into their gardens and landscapes.

Something that is fairly new on the scene for Lane County residents is compost tea—essentially a liquid version of compost with comparable benefits.
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From China to New York City to Everett, Hendrikus Schraven has spread the gospel of good dirt, urging people to give up chemicals, allow proper drainage and place plants properly to create healthy landscapes.
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Late spring last year I was shopping at the Farmers Market at the Depot and noticed that my friend was selling a new item at her produce stand. Several gallon jugs of a dark liquid labeled "compost tea" were for sale along with her usual display of fabulous organic produce. Read entire article

Several readers recently requested assistance in locating a lawn service that provides natural care. Seattle-area dwellers are lucky to have an excellent resource available—In Harmony Organic Based Landscape Services. Read entire article

Vermicompost is going to revolutionize agriculture. The power to heal ourselves is within nature. The worms have a wonderful ability to make plants grow very well, "says Jack Chambers of Sonoma Valley Worm Farm. On this hot morning, several million worms have retreated deep underground to escape the high temperatures. Read entire article

Does any superintendent's New Year's resolutions include any of the following: irrigate less, use fewer fertilizers, use fewer chemicals, stay under budget, or spend more time with the family? Including high quality compost into your maintenance program may help you achieve one or even all of these goals.
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Idaho's Ada County Highway District was searching for a compromise with local Boise hikers, bikers, and foothills enthusiasts over how to control the fugitive-dust problem on the unpaved, washed-out North 8th Street extension.
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The agricultural and landscaping community has a new organic weapon to add to its arsenal for their war on plant disease: COMPOST TEA! Read entire article

TRUCKEE, Calif.—The interest in organics has increased this year on many fronts other than in the golf industry. The Food and Drug Administration recently announced new guidelines for the labeling of organic products for the marketplace after years of discussion. Read entire article

Compost tea is gaining popularity with composters and growers in the U.S. and other parts of the world. Hawaii growers are particularly enthusiastic about using compost tea. In fact, Growing Solutions, Inc., a manufacturer of compost tea systems, has placed more of its systems in Hawaii than in any other state.
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An increasing body of experimental evidence indicates that plant disease can be suppressed by treating plant surfaces with a variety of water-based compost preparations, referred to in the literature as watery fermented compost extracts or compost teas. Read entire article

San Francisco has some of the greenest parks in the nation. And in our fair city, "green" means organic. Back in 1996, the Board of Supervisors passed a demanding ordinance requiring all of our municipal properties, from S.F. General Hospital to the Lincoln Park Golf Course, to implement an aggressive integrated pest-management (IPM) program.
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Golf has become a target for efforts to reduce toxins in our environment due to its substantial and highly visible use of pesticides. The public is becoming increasingly unwilling to accept the use of substances that are possible carcinogens over drinking water supplies, alongside streams and wildlife habitats, or near homes. Read entire article

Much of our society believes golf course maintenance is inherently bad for the environment. They see golf courses as artificial surfaces that are only possible through rampant and negligent use of fertilizers, pesticides and water. The perceived end result is the degradation of water resources and wildlife habitat and exposure risks to humans and animals. Read entire article

This article summarizes an ongoing collaborative effort between Bejo Seeds, Inc., Growing Solutions, Inc., and BBC Laboratories, Inc. to evaluate the ability of compost tea to inhibit infection of carrot by Xanthomonas campestris pv. carotae. Read entire article

In an attempt to reduce the need for pesticides and improve the overall health of turf and soil, the Presidio Golf Course conducted a field trial to evaluate the effects of compost tea applications on golf course greens under real-world conditions. Read entire article

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MARTINS CREEK, Del. - Sensing opportunity, many compost tea and brewer suppliers are now targeting the golf course industry. Read entire article

With mounting environmental pressures and increasing chemical costs, some superintendents are turning toward sustainable agricultural techniques.

On the forefront of this trend is compost tea, a higher-tech version of a centuries' old technology that "brews" compost to create a concentrated liquid "tea" that delivers beneficial microbes and low levels of nutrients to turfgrass. Read entire article

All last year, while controversy over GM foods grabbed headlines, news items popping up in the gardening media suggested that another, more heartening revolution was quietly taking place in commercial agriculture: the benefits of compost.
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THERE is a rising interest among growers in compost tea as a natural disease inhibitor due to its concentration of beneficial microbial organisms. Read entire article

Gardeners know the value of adding composted materials to build soil, helping the soil to support healthy plants. Whether compost is made from fallen leaves and lawn clippings, or purchased from a commercial source, it's a great garden amendment.
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DURING last year’s damp, cool summer, farmers on Bainbridge Island (west of Seattle, Washington) battled gray mold on bean crops. Several lost their entire crop. But Art Biggert, who operates a community supported agriculture farm that serves 55 families with a season’s share of his crop, was an exception. Biggert’s beans — treated with tea spray from vermicomposted cow manure — survived and thrived, allowing him to provide all his customers with beans and still have 60 pounds a week left for market. Read entire article

Cascade Cuts recently bought a machine to make compost tea to use in their greenhouse operation. Although they were not doing scientifically controlled field studies, Alison Kutz-Troutman has found some very interesting results in plants where they used compost tea on some, and did not on others.
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