Well, it's mid-September and we've already gotten hit with snow twice. Luckily it's still a balmy 28 degrees in my girls' room! I was just brewing up a fresh batch of compost tea and thought I may as well share this very basic and kick-ass recipe with you all.

What Is Compost Tea?

Compost tea is just what it sounds like! You basically make a "tea-bag" with cheese cloth, or some other breathable cloth, and steep it in some water for about 24-48 hours. The goal of a compost tea is not as much to provide plant soluble nutrients, but rather to boost microbial life at the Rhizosphere and throughout your soil. Plant soluble amendments may be added, but keep in mind that your main purpose with a compost tea is to increase the number of workers in your soil that make nutrients available to your plant.

Here are the measurements for a 5 Gallon batch. Just multiply or divide to get your desired amount. I like to give 1-2 liters to each plant or pot. Let's get to the recipe!

Tools For The Job

• Cheese cloth or an old t-shirt (panty hose is too fine)
• 5 gallon bucket(s)
• Air pump

Ingredients

• 2 Cups compost from 1 to 3 different sources
  ^{(The more diversity in your compost, the more diversity in your microbial life!)}
• 1 Cup worm castings
• 4 Oz Organic molasses
• 5 Gallons Clean water
  ^{(Tap water will not work for this. The chemicals, including chlorine and chloramines, are specifically in the tap water to kill microbial life. This is literally a microbial life breeding project. Tap water = counter-productive.)}

What To Do

• Step 1 Measure your compost and place into a 2 layer square of cheesecloth or whatever fabric you are using.
• Step 2 Fill 5 gallon bucket with clean water and place in warm area.
• Step 3 Place your air supply into water, turn on pump. Place your compost tea-bag into the water. Leave in for 24 hours. Remove tea-bag.
• Step 4 Mix 4 oz of organic molasses with 4 oz clean water, pour into water. Leave for 12-24 hours.
• Step 5 Feed to soil!

It doesn't get any simpler than this folks! The time difference for brewing is based on the temperature of the water. If you are 18 - 23 degrees Celsius you will want to leave your tea for longer to allow the microbial life time to breed in the cooler temperature. If you are above 23 you will be good with 12 hours after adding the molasses. Again, the molasses is actually added to feed the microbes, not the plants!

Amendments

Here are some amendments to consider working with at different stages in development;

• Soluble kelp (Great for veg!)
• Bloom focused compost or guano
• Rock dusts
• Grass clippings
• Water from soaking dry legumes
  ^{(We eat a lot of chickpeas and beans. We buy them dry and soak them overnight before cooking. This tea is a great addition to compost tea or even just to feed to a living soil!)}

Have some fun with it and try different amounts and combos to achieve specific results. Always keep in mind that microbes need 3 things to breed quickly;

• Warmth
• Air
• Food

Don't add chemical nutrients to live soil or compost tea.

I hope you have found this tutorial informative. This compost tea is cannabis specific but it may be used for any organic crop, indoor or out. I look forward to hearing recipe variations from the community.

Peace Everyone

^{Photos By: Jay Anarchon}