Posts Tagged ‘Compost Extrations’

Preparing Soil Samples

Preparing Soil Samples

Preparing soil samples for microscope analysis is easy.  The actual analysis has a steep learning curve.  It takes a bit of practice.  Preparing soil samples is different than preparing compost tea and compost extract samples.  In preparing soil samples we are going to be measuring the amounts of micro-0rganisms contained in the soil.  That means [...]


Soil Test Equipment

Soil Test Equipment

 Testing your won soil with a microscope is fun, but there is a large learning curve.  It is simple to make the samples, but identifying the animals on the slides takes a lot of practice.  Here is a list of items you need for basic microscope soil analysis.  These items can be used for analyzing compost, [...]


Using Compost Tea for Pest and Disease Suppression Control

Using Compost Tea for Pest and Disease Suppression Control

 Compost Tea is the easiest and safest way to control blight, leave curl and most fungi problems in trees.  The process is very simple.  Spray compost tea on the leaves and tree branches.  Yes, this does not go into the ground, but on the upper canopy of the tree.  About 4 weeks before buds open [...]


Florakill Miticide (bifenazate)

Florakill Miticide (bifenazate)

  Usefull for controlling Spider Mites – Two Spotted, Pacific, Strawberry, European Red, Citrus Red, Clover, Southern Red, Spruce and Bamboo – Use as directed: Spider Mites  on all types of ornamental plants 4 oz – 8 oz per 100 gallons of water. Bifenazate has a solubility in water of 3.8 mg/L at 20°C, and [...]


Colorado Potato Beetle

Colorado Potato Beetle

What to use to Control: Beauveria bassiana Strain GHA and/or Bacillus thuringiensis and/or San diego/tenebrionis   For more Information on Beauveria bassiana Strain GHA and how to use it, Click Here


Aphids

Aphids

What to use to Control: Beauveria bassiana Strain GHA For more Information on Beauveria bassiana Strain GHA and how to use it, Click Here


Snails

Snails

  Snails are a wet weather pest for most vegetable gardens.  They can destroy your whole garden in a few nights.  If you do not look to eat Escargot, then here are a couple of methods to control this pest. What to use to Control: Diatomaceous Earth, Copper Strips, Chickens For more information on use, [...]


Making Compost Teas – Video

Making Compost Teas - Video

Here are some simple How To Vidoes to Make Compost Teas.  For more information on Compost Tea Application schedules  for preventing diseases see, For more Information on applications schedules for Tea Applications, Click Here For more Information on Disease and Pest Suppression using Compost Teas, Click Here Compost Teas/Extracts Foods, Click Here Making Compost Teas [...]


The Nitrogen Cycles – Videos

The Nitrogen Cycles - Videos

In this episode we looking at two Nitrogen Cycles. This is a replacement for chemical pesticides and fungicides. Applications are done as compost teas. And applications are done with Azos bacteria.   Nitrogen Cycle part1 from Paul Holowko on Vimeo. For More Information on Nitrogen Cycles, click here. Nitrogen Fixing Cycle Part 2 from Paul [...]


Xylella fastidiosa Bacterium

Xylella fastidiosa Bacterium

Also called Pierce’s disease, California vine disease, Anaheim disease (grapevine), leaf scorch (almond), dwarf (lucerne), phony disease (peach), leaf scald (plum), leaf scorch (elm, oak, plane, mulberry, maple), variegated chlorosis (citrus)  Xylella fastidiosa Bacterium is carried by the Glassy-winged Sharpshooter. For More Information on the Glassy-winged Sharpshooter, click here. Xylella fastidiosa Bacterium proliferates only in [...]


Azotobacteraceae Nitrogen Cycle (Nitrogen Fixing Plants)

Azotobacteraceae Nitrogen Cycle (Nitrogen Fixing Plants)

 Azotobacteraceae’s purpose is to take food from the plant through the roots, eat it, change it to a protein.  Once the protean is released, nitrifying  bacteria covert it to a Nitrate.  Nitrate is fixed nitrogen.  It is the same thing as chemical fertilizer but made by the soil ecosystem.  You can buy  Azotobacter from any [...]


Water Catchment Sizes and Shapes

Water Catchment Sizes and Shapes

It is not the size that matters but the shape. It is important to have the highest capacity for water to be absorbed by the soil to prevent flooding up the drain pipe or house. In this case we bury a catchment system about 18 to 20 inches below the surface. It is important to [...]


Microbiology For Leaves -Video

Microbiology For Leaves -Video

 How disease suppression on leaves works is no secret.  On the leave surface, each leave cell has many ports where fungi and bacteria can connect to.  This is a normal process for plants.  Good and bad fungi can connect.  Good and bad bacteria can connect.  Each micro organism takes up a connecting  ”portal” on the leave [...]


Creating Soil with Mulches and Composts

Creating Soil with Mulches and Composts

 This is a semi-cost method to create soil from really neglected  soil or soil that had been buried for years and is used a planting bed.  Advantages:  totally organic  (remember chemicals and fertilizers cost money), This gets things up and running in a short time.  It is great for the first time gardener. Disadvantages: Costs [...]


Compost Extractor Attachements

Compost Extractor Attachements

I found a need to have three attachments to apply Teas and Extractions to everywhere.  In the picture below, there is a normal chemical sprayer tip.  Very thin Compost Tea will pass through it, but it normally gets plugged up with something.  The center of the nozzle had to be clipped off with a pair [...]


Setting up the Right Hose

Setting up the Right Hose

 The hose and nozzle cannot destroy the micro-biology as it passes through.  In this case, I have used a typical  chemical pump up sprayer nozzle.  This can be bought in any hardware store.   You can buy the parts separate from the whole applicator.  A 3/8 inch clear hose is used between the pump [...]


Choosing the Right Pumps

Choosing the Right Pumps

The best and cheapest pump for this application is a diaphragm pump. This is a positive displacement pump with a chamber that does not grind up the micro-organisms. A positive displacement pump causes a fluid to move by trapping a fixed amount of it then forcing (displacing) that trapped volume into the discharge pipe. Here [...]


Cavitaion Solutions

Cavitaion Solutions

Cavitation is the formation of gas bubbles of a flowing liquid in a region where the pressure of the liquid falls below its vapor pressure or in this case (0 psi). When a pump creates cavitation, it destroys the micro-organism by allowing the internal pressure of single cell organism to explode the through the cell [...]


Building your own Applicator

Building your own Applicator

The 5 gallon bucket sits on top of the applicator. Use the compost bag to wash the organisms off the compost. Add the appropriate foods and you are off to the races. The pump is located under the bucket. It is self contained. The pump is connected to the bucket by a hose at the [...]


Cleaning Equipment

Cleaning Equipment

Hydrogen Peroxide. This is used for killing everything. It is very important not to let any compost, extract or tea go anaerobic. This means equipment has to be very clean. If I feel I can eat off it, it is clean enough. If the equipment is not cleaned right after use, it starts to grow [...]


Food for Protists for Compost Extractions

Food for Protists for Compost Extractions

This is ground up kelp.  It is used for feeding protists.  This means it feeds amebas and all sort of single cell organisms.  For a 5 gallon extraction, you only need about 1/2 cup.  This product is good because it does not plug up your application equipment.    This product can be found in any general [...]


Bacteria Food for Compost Extractions

Bacteria Food for Compost Extractions

Ground up fish bone meal is not really meant to put into a compost  extraction, but to place a cup or so in your compost a week or so before extracting. This bone meal is good for growing bacteria because all of the oils have been removed.  This product can be found in any general [...]


Native Plant Compost Extractions/Teas, Schedules & Recipes

When first establishing a plant border for the first time, you need to know the requirements of the plant you are using. You also need to know the soil F:B (Fungi to Bacteria. General rule of thumb, keep the F:B ration to 1:1) ratio for the plant and the existing soil. The type of foods [...]


Grape Compost Extractions/Teas, Schedules & Recipes

When first establishing a vineyard for the first time, vines are generally require fungal dominated soil. This is expressed as soil F:B (Fungi to Bacteria. General rule of thumb, keep the F:B ration to 10:1) ratio for the plant and the existing soil. The type of foods added to the Extract depends if you need [...]