DIY Easy Compost Tea

I'm a true believer that there is a tea that is appropriate for every occasion.  I think Great Big Sea says it perfectly in their song, "Have a Cuppa Tea."

Whatever the situation, whatever the race of creed,

Tea knows no segregation, no class nor pedigree,

It knows no motivations, no sect or organization,

It knows no one religion,

No political belief!

Have a cuppa tea….

Hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah Rosie Lea…

Hallelujah, hallelujah, O for Christ sake, have a cup tea!

What you may not realize is that your garden loves a well-brewed cuppa, too.  The garden plants don't want Earl Grey or Oolong. Instead, they'd like you to serve up a giant serving of compost tea.

Properly made compost tea will nourish your plants and soil, help your garden resist disease and act as a pest repellant.  You can buy it in most garden centers or use some fairly complex methods involving special ingredients and air pumps or you can follow these simple steps to get a great, basic fertilizer that is virtually free.

What you need:

• a sturdy bucket
• a half a bucket of mature compost - your compost should smell rich and earthy. If it stinks or smells rotten it's not ready yet and it is much more likely to harbor nasty bacteria.
• water (Well, water and rain water are great) "City water" is treated with bleach, which will kill the good bacteria and enzymes you are trying to foster as well as the bad stuff. TIP: If tap water is your only choice, no worries!  Fill your your bucket and let it sit, uncovered in a sunny spot for 2 or 3 days and the chlorine will evaporate out of it. 
• a strong stick
• a piece of burlap, screen or mesh you can strain your tea through

How to do it:

1. Fill your bucket about halfway with compost.
2. Top it off with water.
3. Let it sit for a few days, stirring it a few times each day.  Stirring is very important as it lets air into the mixture and the good stuff you're trying to grow needs air to thrive.  Your tea will steep faster in warm weather than in cool.  I wouldn't recommend letting it go much longer than a week or 10 days and if, at any point, it starts to smell truly punky you need to dump it and start over.  A little musty odor is fine but it should never truly stink.
4.  When your tea is ready, strain the liquid through burlap or mesh and use a watering can or sprayer to add it to your garden.  It is best to apply it early in the morning when the weather is not too hot and be sure to get it on the leaves of the plants - they will love it!  This mix is safe for both well established and new or transplanted plants.
5.  To make more, add a scoop of fresh compost on top of the used and add more water.  When the compost is filling 2/3 of the bucket, dump it all and start over with a new batch.

A few tips to keep in mind:

• Wear gloves when working with your compost and compost tea and wash your hands very well when you are done. Hopefully all you'll get are good microbes but there is always a chance that a few 'bad guys" will sneak in there. Do not apply the tea to foods that will be harvested within the next 2 or 3 weeks.
• This is a very general "recipe" and the tea can vary widely based on what you have in your compost pile and other factors.  If your soil lacks a very specific nutrient you are better off purchasing a commercial version that is rich in exactly what you need.
• Storing leftover tea in an air-tight container will keep it for a short time. With each passing day, though, the beneficial qualities will weaken so try hard to brew up only as much as you need for a single good soaking.

Check out more of Elizabeth's articles: 

DIY 3 Every-Day Products from Ingredients You Already Own!

DIY Laundry Care Products

Life Lessons I Learned in the Garden

Elizabeth Comiskey has a true passion to care for the planet, promote world peace and raise her children to be productive citizens. She's also a normal working mom - exhausted and constantly pressed for time - so she seeks out the most efficient possible ways to do these things.  Her blog, Lazy Hippie Mama, was born of her certainty that she couldn't possibly be the only one who cares a great deal about improving the world around her and connecting with others in meaningful, inspiring ways but lacking in time and energy. Visit her blog, Lazy Hippie Mama or join her on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest.

Elizabeth is also a Sverve Influencer - connect with her here.