Hey Rrog. A couple guys over in the organic forum recommended i ask you this. Have you any experience using insect frass; perhaps in a AACT? Your knowledge is appreciated. Thanks.
frass is relatively new on the scene.....
-people i know tried it said it was 'overrated' ......???
....they said they did not see that much of a big difference but they had only tried it the first time
they did not make teas w it....
the attached tea info breaks it down a bit--
the more diverse the ingredients the more diverse bio activity your gonna get...
....i have a big bag to try but am waiting till spring
These are the guys--
http://www.gardenteacompany.com/insect-frass-2-lb/
Tea for Plants / Tea for the Planet
nourishing earth, plant and people
Compost Tea is a cold processed water extraction of compost. Compost Teas are typically fed specific ingredients and steeped for a set period of time to cultivate high populations of select organisms present in mature compost.
Actively Aerated Compost Tea is an extraction using high volumes of oxygen to maintain aerobic conditions and a more precise cultivation and extraction of beneficial organisms. The increased oxygen levels and complex foods added to compost teas act as a catalyst feeding both active organisms and dormant spores into an accelerated growth while suspending the multitudes of organisms into the liquid solution.
"The point of applying compost tea is to return the biology that should be present, to grow the desired plants with as little effort as possible. There can be no question that presence of beneficial organisms improves plant growth" -Dr. Elaine Ingham et al, 1985, USDA Soil Biology Primer, 1995.
Digestive health is the key to the proper absorption of nutrients from our diet. Much like within our digestive tract, it is a diversity of key organisms that helps in building a productive and healthy soil ecosystem. The proper biology present in soil is responsible for building humus and soil structure, assisting with water and nutrient retention, and the recycling of nutrients and minerals. Active aerobic organisms are essential in the decomposition of organic matter and the conversion of nutrients into forms readily available for plants. The diversity of microbes present in mature aerobic compost can be considered probiotics for your soil. Actively aerated compost teas can improve the digestive health of your soils by inoculating your soils with billions of beneficial microbes. These organisms are also known to form a protective barrier from disease and pests throughout a plants root and leaf zones outcompeting pathogens and parasitic organisms for food resources. Building a diverse soil ecosystem teeming with life will help to improve the health and productivity of your gardens.
"The problem in agriculture has not been a lack of nutrients, but a lack of the proper biology to make those nutrients available to plants." -Dr. Elaine Ingham, Soil Foodweb, Inc.
The home brewing of actively aerated compost teas (AACT) and mineral extracts provide an affordable healthy alternative to toxic chemical fertilizers, herbicides, and pesticides. Home brewed teas along with applications of mature compost work extremely well in building a productive and healthy soil ecosystem.
Actively Aerated Compost Teas can be used on lawns, vegetable gardens, annuals, perennials, houseplants, shrubs, trees, orchards, forests, and vineyards.
For further reading on brewing and working with compost tea we suggest the following books:
The Soil Biology Primer - by: Dr. Elaine R. Ingham of Oregon State University, Dr. Andrew R. Moldenke of Oregon State University and Dr. Clive A. Edwards of Ohio State University
The Compost Tea Brewing Manual - by: Dr. Elaine Ingham
Teaming with Microbes - by: Jeff Lowenfels & Wayne Lewis
Secrets of the Soil - by: Peter Tompkins & Christopher Bird
Hello , a valuble concept ?
there is a small craft brewery close to me, they have spent grain that comes out of the door after it has been boiled and mashed,
i think that the spent grain is sold to pig farmers for feed. Anyway can anyone see value of taking a couple of pails of the spent grain when it comes out fresh, adding distilled water and making a tea of this ?
Have a good 1, Bulldog
"...boiled......mashed"........"spent grain"........u answered your own question but-
doesnt sound like it would have the same or as much benefit as the fresh....?
.......but sounds like it would be good for compost!