Can I use unfinished compost to make compost tea with? Ditto Black Hen chicken manure?

TIA, OB

In my experience, yes you can, as long as there is some form of compost being used. That said, you will get totally different results, however, if you use un-composted plant material, so be sure it's at least partly done.

Be careful with un-composted manure of any kind. It can carry nasty things that would infect your tea and then your plants with human pathogens.

Once it's been composted it's fine, but if it's fresh, you need to allow 90 days between application and eating anything it touched.

I treat my garden with fresh manure in the fall so that it can weather in over the winter. But in the spring, I only use fresh manure on crops that develop well above the soil, specifically corn.

Thanks, DD. Boy, I really shouldn't post questions on-the-fly! Hell's bells, in rereading it I reminded myself of someone else, lol!

The reason I was asking is DH and I are entering into a gardening venture with our neighbors...about a 40' x 80' area. I compost like a mad woman and really don't even have enough for my little garden (4 4'x8' beds, 1 4'x16' bed). I doubt I've ever had "finished" compost in the truest sense. Although it is mostly dark, crumbly and sweetly smelling of earth there are always identifiable pieces/parts such as a leaf or two, pinestraw (not added on purpose, I can tell you ) and twigs. I just wondered if compost in this state was finished 'enough'.

We intend on ammending the beds in the new garden with leaf mold and scoops of compost in the planting holes. But I was wondering if making a compost tea would enable me to get more bang for my buck, so to speak.

And I have that bag of Black Hen composted chicken manure (about a half bag now). Has anyone used this or something similar to it to make manure tea?

Hey there, ctdahle! I was typin' while you were postin' No, this is "Black Hen" composted chicken manure sold in a bag. Made by the same company that sells "Black Cow" composted cow manure.

I've never heard of this Black Hen stuff. I don't know if it's an advantage or disadvantage, but I am so far away from everything, including large commercial nurseries and garden centers, that I am largely ignorant of the organic things that are sold in bottles and bags.

The advantage is that I have become my own little ag research station. On the other hand, I don't have a lot of people, 'ceptin' all y'all to talk to about organic techniques and ideas.

For Compost tea, you should trying compost and areating the mixture for several hours to let the microbes grow to a very high level. Since the microbes that feed the soil are aerobic, your are weeding out the anerobic material in the tea and allowing the benficial organism to grow.

Here is a great link for you:
http://faq.gardenweb.com/faq/lists/organic/2002082739009975.html

I make a vermi-compost aereated tea and have had awesome results.

Good luck!

According to Dr. Elaine Ingham you must use finished compost to make compost tea.
http://www.taunton.com/finegardening/how-to/articles/brewing-compost-tea.aspx

You could also start some Bokashi to help your compost break down faster.

http://shopping.netsuite.com/s.nl/c.471963/sc.2/category.5/.f

The microbes in the culture are normally present in the soil, but may be missing or in small number because of poor soil maintenance practices, use of chemical fertilizers etc.

Bokashi is the garbage method. Using the EM1 and activating it with molasses is a stronger version. I am very pleased with the results of using this product. We have good soil and have added compost for years, but this kicks it up a notch and you can see the results. It helps the plants to better utilize the available nutrients present in the soil making for a stronger healthier plants.

Thanks, y'all, for the info. Gotta do something...planting time is approaching (faster then my compost is maturing, lol)