Labels have power. It can be of a diminishing quality or uplifting, but either way it is limiting because in an attempt to explain the characteristics of a given thing, we are not truly understanding the scope of its nature.
Language is a limiting factor, and scripture is very clear about the power of words. After all if God "spoke" the universe into existence, and based upon my research and interest into both the physical sciences, but also into quantum mechanics, there is ample evidence to support this theory of our origins.
You can argue the existence of God but you cannot argue that we are at our very "chorus" a mass of varying frequencies comprising matter.
Even thinking about labeling oneself, gives that label power over the way a person thinks they should behave and or interact with their environment. In my own life I've felt the destructive nature of my own consuming thoughts wreak havoc on my mind and my self esteem. It is almost as though I have become my own worst enemy.
However, not being in the position to turn off or tune out, and not feeling thus inclined to exercise the various methodologies most people utilize to turn their minds off (i.e. booze, drugs, t.v. etc.) I've had to struggle with an onslaught of abuse from my self as the perpatrator for years and years.
It wasn't enough that I actually had to undergo physical, emotional, psychological and sexual abuse throughout my youth and developing years. It wasn't enough to put myself in extenuating circumstances time and again, as if I was sentencing myself to a life of constant struggle and disharmony. On some level, I think I've held an innate belief that I must endure a certain level suffering in order to deserve to be here.
And yet, even as I've mentioned time and again, if I had any choice in the matter, I would have never been born. I'm not ungrateful, I know there are those who have to face the most formidable existence each day they arise. They have no guarantee that there will be food to eat, their lives may be in danger and they may even be dying already from disease or starvation but still manage to somehow find joy.
I do find joy in the simple things God provides and I really am not trying to come off as a person who doesn't realize how lucky they are, because I know in my heart it could be so bad, and that my current standard of living is above and beyond what most people in the world even dare to dream about.
But I'm being honest in that, as much joy as I do take out of life, I know in my heart I'm a spiritual being. I'm not a woman, I'm not Polish, I'm not tall and blond haired, and I'm not my green eyes or my long legs. I'm not my emotions and I'm not an account manager and I'm not a resident of Denver and I'm not my parents child or my sisters sister and I'm not my white skin, or my thoughts and I'm not my reactions or my reflection.
What I am, I'm not exactly sure of, but this place is foreign to me and it isn't where I belong. I'm stuck in a body that operates in a biologically mechanical way that requires fuel in the form of dead animal carcasses (tasty ones nonetheless) and various plant matter, alongside a handfull of minerals and salts.
This machine occasionally breaks down, or isn't getting the right nutrients to do the right jobs.
(Such as methylate and replicate parts)
This causes my spirit to get confused and not act accordingly to that which I was designed to do or within the confines of a structural misunderstanding between my neurotransmitters, immune system, neural synapses and even on some level, from cell to cell.
Somewhere along the line, my ancestor long ago, sinned, and the life that was the spirit of God which resided in his machine, left, leaving his soul to manage on it's own. And that is when things started breaking down. A spiritual being became physical and began to operate according to the physical world as the spiritual one started to phase out of perceived existence. And then many many generations later, all these machines have passed on the sins of their fathers and forefathers, and genetic mutations became more prevalent with each subsequent progeny and here we are now, trapped in these bodies that don't work to their full potential wondering why we get sick and feel pain and our brains aren't operating correctly.
Some of us are more sensitive to this revelation than others. I believe along with the mutations, that an ability to experience and see outside of our physical realm, has been to some degree muted. The further away we grow from our origins, the less sensitive we are to them. it is not unlike for instance, the analogy of immigrants who have relocated to a new region.
I know many Americans for instance, who have no idea where they came from or who their ancestors were. That story has faded out over time, and their heritage has been muddled by years of people not caring to pass on the origin of their roots.
Being a first generation, I'm well aware of the challenges my parents faced to get to this country in order to start a new life. I'm not far removed from that reality. I would imagine perhaps, my spirit in a similar sense is a first generation to this world. For whatever reason, I am aware of the fact that this is a transient existence, one in which I suppose I am being tested or somehow programmed in some way to react to the physical matter in which I come into contact and other souls living temporarily in their own uncomfortable machines.
Either way, I suppose I will make the best of it and try to tread lightly until the day comes when I am able to go back to where I came from, in concert with my creator and all the souls who recognize they are part of something bigger than the nothingness of the universe.
I'm ok with that, in the meanwhile however, I do have a physical life, and physical body that is subject to these paramaters of existence and I will try to attain higher understanding but knowing that I won't really ever truly understand any of this until it ends. And maybe then, I won't care, because being blanketed by Gods light and love will be enough for me, that I will want for naught else.
Jun 15, 2013
Jan 12, 2009
Succesion by means of resonance
I believe that plants sing.
They, like us and everything that has been created, being composed of various frequencies while, they don't "communicate" per se, they are something akin to Gods instruments. It is almost as if they are notes, in a larger composition. They all have their role in this orchestra of which we are all comprised. Biology has taught me that there is an intricate relationship between, plants, microbes, fungi, atmosphere, light, organic materials and us, but it fails to consider how we are all related. It offers us ideas about molecular bonds, and chemical reactions, ion and cations, negative and positive charge, electron transport, but what about frequency and resonance? We get into quantum physics, and things that aren't measurable by instruments we've made, because we haven't got any idea of what we are trying to measure. It is like using a dog whistle, the dog can hear it, but we can't. If we can't hear it, how then are we able to measure it?
While I understand that plants attract to them microbes and fungi by exuding certain chemicals and nutrients, I also think they use frequency as well, to resonate, attract. As I mentioned before, in regards to resonance, one either conforms, or destructs. Destructs also refers to simply, transform, moving away from the situation, because of the inability to conform, things move towards or away from each other based upon the frequencies at which they resonate.
This is also why I think you have succession. The ability of an ecosystem to heal itself by means of attracting or perpetuating certain environments for large species of plants to inhabit, whose sole purpose is to prepare the soil for another series of plants. Certain shrubs like Junipers have an intricate relationship with nitrogen fixing bacteria. When they establish themselves in a given area, they are essentially amending the soil by adding nitrogen into it. Once they have contributed to the soil, it becomes rich in nitrogen, unsuitable for the Junipers, they eventually expire, their rich materials allow for another plant to gain a foothold where the Juniper once sat. Perhaps it is an Aspen, a cottonwood, or pinion pine, the type of tree that requires an abundance of nitrogen, where in the very same spot a couple generations back, there was none.
This process is constant, never ending and simultaneous, it is even occurring on a microscopic level as lichens and fungi and microbes are able to transform a barren landscape if given the opportunity and materials to do so.
This is why you have forests with many of the same trees in a given area. They are preparing the soil, so that over time, a new species comes in and is able to survive where before, they would not have been able to. There is a purpose for it, and the means by which this happens, well there are theories and some may be accurate, it is not to say that the plants don't use many methods by which to accomplish their means, however I ascertain to what I believe is an unknown variable, resonance.
It isn't as if the plants themselves are intelligent beings themselves, rather they are an extension of the creator, and they are able to communicate with their surroundings through this phenomenon.
I suppose I'm being a bit redundant here, but it is hard to explain.. The fact that we can manipulate matter with sound waves, look at HAARP, they have the potential to shift entire portions of the earths crust simply by emulating the frequencies at which those strata layers are found.
The idea that aging and becoming hard of hearing, is the process by which little by little, the frequencies heard, begins to diminish because the cochlea in the ear begins to lose that specific frequency receptor. You know that ringing in your ears you get after a night out listening to loud music? The ringing is your cochlea breaking, it is the last time you will ever hear that exact frequency ever again. Once the ringing stops, it is gone, you can't perceive it anymore. Or consider the methods by which kidney stones are removed. A person is submerged in a vat of water and then barraged with sound waves, whose frequencies resonate with the frequencies of the kidney stones, eventually destroying them, so that they are small enough to expel through the urinary tract.
Therefore, it only makes sense to consider the option, that plants can use frequency to communicate with their surroundings. Both with inanimate and living objects, since when you break us down into the simplest form, you find we are all just a bunch of sound waves. There may be those who agree to disagree with me on this subject, to them I suggest learning about Super String Theory and studying some physics. It just makes sense. Sound is the one thing that is able to travel through all states of matter, solid, liquid and gas and I can't say whether or not they have tried to put it through plasma, but I'll bet it can travel through that too.
What are the implications of this phenomenon? Well, I suppose that there are a number of ways to look at it. The fact is that any alterations made to a landscape is going to change the harmonic resonance of that landscape. Adding structures, contamination, even bodies is going to change the interactions of the area. I suppose in an odd way, you can consider how your actions affect the greater picture. How what you do has a ripple effect upon the surrounding landscape of your life. The natural world is a great analogy for us, perhaps because at one point, we relied solely upon if for our sustenance. Now it seems, we abuse it and exploit it, tamper with it, even attempt to create what we think is a better working model.
Genetically modified organisms, monoculture farming, biologically engineering plants, hybridizing. These are all actions man has taken, for some reason or another, to alter the natural order of things. The implications are far reaching, as we begin to find more and more, that natural strains of plants are being contaminated by artificially manipulated GMO plants through pollination, some of which have had their reproduction genes terminated. What does this mean? Well, a famous book the Bible, speaks about a time in the future, when there will be famines, food shortages, starvation. It does not however, specify whether or not these phenomenon are man made or not. Something to consider in lieu of the circumstances we find ourselves being presented with.
What has this got to do with anything you wonder? Well, to be honest, I'm still trying to figure that out myself. I think the further away from creation we get, as it was originally designed, the harder it is going to become for us to survive. This is why I strive to keep alive the traditions of old, why I'm so inclined towards the agrarian lifestyle. The simple sort of life. If the kingdom of God is like a mustard seed, if it is like a blade of grass, what is the kingdom of God?
Jan 9, 2009
The future is in symbiotic relationships
What is symbiosis? What does it mean to you?
Symbiosis, as I understand it is the very act of mutual gratification. Forming a relationship with something on the basis that you are going to receive something in return.
The more I learn about the natural order of things, the natural world, the more I know I've got nothing on what is going on. There is a complicated and interrelated process going on, beneath our very noses. We haven't got a clue. I have always known about symbiotic relationships, but I suppose I never understood them as being glue that binds all things together.
Maybe if I can give you the context, of how I came to understand things, you will realize how I have been able to draw these conclusions. As a child, I was always drawn to plants, to insects, to the mystery that is nature, Gods true temple, the place we inhabit as his creation. I was very curious about the way things worked, more specifically in the natural world. I remember performing all these weird experiments, I would gather moss, and create a closed ecosystem out of soda bottles, miniature examples of the world around me, I would plant seeds into the dirt, water it and let it sit, self regulate, and then just observe it. This was in elementary school. If I by chance, would be eating some sort of fruit, I would save the seeds, and later plant them to see if they would grow into their adult equivalents. At the time, I suppose I didn't realize how the process worked, but I thought I would give it a try nonetheless.
The story of my life can be summed up in these two rules, trial and error, and learning by observation. I am a very hands on kinda gal, so when I read about something, or saw it done on T.V., I would go and experiment myself. My mom would describe me as incredibly curious. I was convinced that you could talk to animals and plants. So I would sit for hours, trying to communicate with a bird or squirrel on a telephone wire, or I would see how yelling or talking soothingly to my tomato plants would work out. When you break everything down, apart from molecular and atomic bonds, you find that every object, inanimate or living, is composed of a conglomeration of varying frequencies.
An example I will set forth here is that of resonance. When you have an Opera singer hit a high note, she has tapped into the frequency of which a glass is also comprised. There are rules about resonance, either frequencies conform, or they destruct. In the case of the Opera singer, by reaching the frequency at which glass is found, she can literally destroy the glass by resonating with it to the point that it simply cannot conform, but rather disassembles accordingly.
An example of resonance, is that of two flutes. Upon one, you have a note being played, the sound waves, will travel, and when they reach the untouched un-played flute, that flute begins to emulate the very same note. I've tried this on my own, where I've listened to a piece of music, and matched the note at a constant rate with my own voice, (perhaps someone is singing) and I have actually began to feel the vibrations, of the frequency of that note in my throat and there is this pulse, that occurs, as each wave is emitted, you can determine the point at which it begins and ends.. Very interesting to try at home!
My point being, that we are all made out of sound. And it all makes perfect sense to me, being that my beliefs teach me that God "spoke" the universe into existence. Now, the reason why I bring this up, is because when you consider this fact, you begin to take on a new appreciation for how things work in life. One of the most influential mediums is music. It has the power to change your mood, to infiltrate your mind and body with it's melody, depending upon the type of music, you can literally be formed by what you listen to.
An example of this in my life is how in high school, I hung out with some girls who were very fond of dark, sinister sounding music. Some of which may include bands like Slipknot, Rob Zombie A Perfect Circle, Metallica, System of a Down, etc... The underlying connotations of this sort of music are obvious, and some not so much, but their effects are clearly seen. I spent a great portion of my youth being self destructive, rebellious towards God and hateful towards family, depressed and filled with disdain for much of life on various levels.
I noticed that once I stopped exposing myself to the continuous drab of this sort of depressing music, my spirits lifted. I became something of a new person. And suffice it to say, while that was not the only negative influence in my life, it certainly contributed to the bulk of my demeanor on a day to day basis and my attitude in general. Looking back towards that time period in my life, I can't help but wonder who that person was, I don't even recognize her.
What is so odd to me now, is how sensitive I've become to the effects of deleterious frequencies. There is a time and place for everything, the point I'm trying to illustrate is that, you are either conforming to the surrounding frequencies or you are being destroyed by them. Eventually something has got to give. You go one way or the other. Things are less apparent in today's world, where we are surrounded by electromagnetic radiation from all the appliances and equipment that surrounds us on a day to day basis. The fact that everyone is on overdrive, so fast paced, I-pod in hand, earphones on, divided in a common endeavor. We are all living in our own little worlds, separated from each other, by our interests, by the methodologies, and ideologies in which we live.
We are all operating on differing frequencies. You can feel it can't you? I know how I can get uncomfortable around people who are very high strung, no pun intended. They are too fast for me, their frequencies are not enjoyable for me, and so I avoid too much exposure to them, on the basis that I may begin to resonate with them, and I wouldn't want that, who would? I often find that I am able to recharge when I'm out in nature, perhaps this is the reason why I was so attuned to the outdoors as a child.
Often times, when I am experiencing distress in my life, I take a break and visit a very fast running creek in a town nearby. When I sit next to this creek, streaming by, I begin to calm down. Considering that our bodies are comprised up of over 80% water, I begin to feel myself resonate with the current of the creek. As the water flows past me, I almost feel like I am getting sucked along with it. Often times, this is when I feel closest to God, in a very weird way, it is as if the communication barrier is being overcome, I am more tuned into his language. Usually, not always, I end up shedding tears, letting myself emotionalize my frustrations and allowing the water to take them away. In a weird way, I feel as though it is the water meeting itself, that I am part of it, and it is part of me, and we have just become reacquainted again, old buddies.
This brings me back to the point of my post today, Symbiosis. The fact that we are more connected to that which surrounds us than we can even begin to imagine. On my quest for self sustainability, and the pursuit of the agrarian lifestyle, I began to learn about the relationships that are forged between plants, microbes and fungi. I have written extensively on this subject in an older post titled, What makes your garden go from this, to this to this? If you are so inclined to read it.
I began to learn, that often times, the success of a plant was dependent upon the ability of that plant to form a mutually gratifying relationship with other organisms. In the soil, in the air, along the surface of the leaves, at each point, the plant interacts with it's surroundings, to develop and nurture a love affair with whatever it can get. The plants will actually attract beneficial microbes to its roots and leaves by emitting exudate's, the human equivalent of Pheromones. In doing so, the microbes, the fungi, will travel through the soil until they meet, upon which, the exchange begins.
Fungi are drawn to the plants by way of exudate's, and in return, while the roots of the plant can only extend so far through the dirt to extract nutrients and water, the fungi will loan their hyphae, an adopted appendage in more words or less, that is capable of traveling not inches, but MILES below the surface of the ground in search for food and water, and the fact that it's cell walls consist of chitin, it has the ability to transport nutrients and water for long distances, underground, pressure withstanding. (Think plumbing system and pipes.) It creates a network, of transportation, working for the plants in exchange for the chemicals that the plants harbor. It isn't all that different from what we are attempting to do with our highways, our trains, ships and planes, except these fungi have been doing it for much longer than we have.
The microbes attracted to the plants, will consume nutrients in the soil and from it, in exchange, they will complete their life processes, and immobilize nutrients that upon their expiration, becomes available to the plant as nourishment. They will also create what is called a Biofilm. A matrix, a community of organisms that out competes pathogens for growth in the same vicinity, repelling dangerous organisms and protecting the exterior of the plants tissues.
This Biofiom, well the applications of this phenomenon, have yet to be fully understood, but I believe it can be a source of fuel, pesticides, fertilizers, and even food in some cases for humanity at some point in the near future. Consider the cow for instance. It is such a hearty animal, who appears to subsist on grass alone. To the layperson, this is the idea they get when thinking on Cows, they just eat grass all day long.
Well, aside from the fact that the cows do occasionally eat insects, their main source of amino acids come from the Biofilms located in their stomaches. You see, they have formed a symbiotic relationship with a valuable microorganism that digests the cellulose of the grass, otherwise, they wouldn't be able to eat the grass. Throughout the process, these beneficial bacteria live and die, and create byproducts which is essentially what the cow is eating, but along with Biofilm steaks if you will. Now, consider the cow, a vegetarian right? Well, if eating trillions of dead bodies of microscopic organisms qualifies, then sure, the cow is vegetarian, but it is essentially eating meat, billions of cellular organisms, how is that much different than eating a conglomeration of tissue cells, in the form of that hamburger?
What am I trying to say you ask??? It is much more complicated than you think it is. We are subject to the idiosyncrasies of tiny organisms, that we can't even see. And yet, we are dependent upon them, for our food, for our survival, they are what allow us to even live, by default, by way of their symbiotic relationship with plants. It is this interconnected, complicated display of actions and reactions upon which develop various processes leading to relationships that form amongst what appears to be seemingly, unrelated organisms.
It only goes to show, what little we really know about the methods by which the natural world works. Learning about it for me, is a confirmation of Gods majesty and the fact that there is no denying his intelligence by way of design. A person has got to be blind to not believe in God, when his work has been made so apparent to us, and we now have the means by which to understand it, at least to some extent. How does it relate to me, to you?
I will let you ponder that for a moment.
Symbiosis, as I understand it is the very act of mutual gratification. Forming a relationship with something on the basis that you are going to receive something in return.
The more I learn about the natural order of things, the natural world, the more I know I've got nothing on what is going on. There is a complicated and interrelated process going on, beneath our very noses. We haven't got a clue. I have always known about symbiotic relationships, but I suppose I never understood them as being glue that binds all things together.
Maybe if I can give you the context, of how I came to understand things, you will realize how I have been able to draw these conclusions. As a child, I was always drawn to plants, to insects, to the mystery that is nature, Gods true temple, the place we inhabit as his creation. I was very curious about the way things worked, more specifically in the natural world. I remember performing all these weird experiments, I would gather moss, and create a closed ecosystem out of soda bottles, miniature examples of the world around me, I would plant seeds into the dirt, water it and let it sit, self regulate, and then just observe it. This was in elementary school. If I by chance, would be eating some sort of fruit, I would save the seeds, and later plant them to see if they would grow into their adult equivalents. At the time, I suppose I didn't realize how the process worked, but I thought I would give it a try nonetheless.
The story of my life can be summed up in these two rules, trial and error, and learning by observation. I am a very hands on kinda gal, so when I read about something, or saw it done on T.V., I would go and experiment myself. My mom would describe me as incredibly curious. I was convinced that you could talk to animals and plants. So I would sit for hours, trying to communicate with a bird or squirrel on a telephone wire, or I would see how yelling or talking soothingly to my tomato plants would work out. When you break everything down, apart from molecular and atomic bonds, you find that every object, inanimate or living, is composed of a conglomeration of varying frequencies.
An example I will set forth here is that of resonance. When you have an Opera singer hit a high note, she has tapped into the frequency of which a glass is also comprised. There are rules about resonance, either frequencies conform, or they destruct. In the case of the Opera singer, by reaching the frequency at which glass is found, she can literally destroy the glass by resonating with it to the point that it simply cannot conform, but rather disassembles accordingly.
An example of resonance, is that of two flutes. Upon one, you have a note being played, the sound waves, will travel, and when they reach the untouched un-played flute, that flute begins to emulate the very same note. I've tried this on my own, where I've listened to a piece of music, and matched the note at a constant rate with my own voice, (perhaps someone is singing) and I have actually began to feel the vibrations, of the frequency of that note in my throat and there is this pulse, that occurs, as each wave is emitted, you can determine the point at which it begins and ends.. Very interesting to try at home!
My point being, that we are all made out of sound. And it all makes perfect sense to me, being that my beliefs teach me that God "spoke" the universe into existence. Now, the reason why I bring this up, is because when you consider this fact, you begin to take on a new appreciation for how things work in life. One of the most influential mediums is music. It has the power to change your mood, to infiltrate your mind and body with it's melody, depending upon the type of music, you can literally be formed by what you listen to.
An example of this in my life is how in high school, I hung out with some girls who were very fond of dark, sinister sounding music. Some of which may include bands like Slipknot, Rob Zombie A Perfect Circle, Metallica, System of a Down, etc... The underlying connotations of this sort of music are obvious, and some not so much, but their effects are clearly seen. I spent a great portion of my youth being self destructive, rebellious towards God and hateful towards family, depressed and filled with disdain for much of life on various levels.
I noticed that once I stopped exposing myself to the continuous drab of this sort of depressing music, my spirits lifted. I became something of a new person. And suffice it to say, while that was not the only negative influence in my life, it certainly contributed to the bulk of my demeanor on a day to day basis and my attitude in general. Looking back towards that time period in my life, I can't help but wonder who that person was, I don't even recognize her.
What is so odd to me now, is how sensitive I've become to the effects of deleterious frequencies. There is a time and place for everything, the point I'm trying to illustrate is that, you are either conforming to the surrounding frequencies or you are being destroyed by them. Eventually something has got to give. You go one way or the other. Things are less apparent in today's world, where we are surrounded by electromagnetic radiation from all the appliances and equipment that surrounds us on a day to day basis. The fact that everyone is on overdrive, so fast paced, I-pod in hand, earphones on, divided in a common endeavor. We are all living in our own little worlds, separated from each other, by our interests, by the methodologies, and ideologies in which we live.
We are all operating on differing frequencies. You can feel it can't you? I know how I can get uncomfortable around people who are very high strung, no pun intended. They are too fast for me, their frequencies are not enjoyable for me, and so I avoid too much exposure to them, on the basis that I may begin to resonate with them, and I wouldn't want that, who would? I often find that I am able to recharge when I'm out in nature, perhaps this is the reason why I was so attuned to the outdoors as a child.
Often times, when I am experiencing distress in my life, I take a break and visit a very fast running creek in a town nearby. When I sit next to this creek, streaming by, I begin to calm down. Considering that our bodies are comprised up of over 80% water, I begin to feel myself resonate with the current of the creek. As the water flows past me, I almost feel like I am getting sucked along with it. Often times, this is when I feel closest to God, in a very weird way, it is as if the communication barrier is being overcome, I am more tuned into his language. Usually, not always, I end up shedding tears, letting myself emotionalize my frustrations and allowing the water to take them away. In a weird way, I feel as though it is the water meeting itself, that I am part of it, and it is part of me, and we have just become reacquainted again, old buddies.
This brings me back to the point of my post today, Symbiosis. The fact that we are more connected to that which surrounds us than we can even begin to imagine. On my quest for self sustainability, and the pursuit of the agrarian lifestyle, I began to learn about the relationships that are forged between plants, microbes and fungi. I have written extensively on this subject in an older post titled, What makes your garden go from this, to this to this? If you are so inclined to read it.
I began to learn, that often times, the success of a plant was dependent upon the ability of that plant to form a mutually gratifying relationship with other organisms. In the soil, in the air, along the surface of the leaves, at each point, the plant interacts with it's surroundings, to develop and nurture a love affair with whatever it can get. The plants will actually attract beneficial microbes to its roots and leaves by emitting exudate's, the human equivalent of Pheromones. In doing so, the microbes, the fungi, will travel through the soil until they meet, upon which, the exchange begins.
Fungi are drawn to the plants by way of exudate's, and in return, while the roots of the plant can only extend so far through the dirt to extract nutrients and water, the fungi will loan their hyphae, an adopted appendage in more words or less, that is capable of traveling not inches, but MILES below the surface of the ground in search for food and water, and the fact that it's cell walls consist of chitin, it has the ability to transport nutrients and water for long distances, underground, pressure withstanding. (Think plumbing system and pipes.) It creates a network, of transportation, working for the plants in exchange for the chemicals that the plants harbor. It isn't all that different from what we are attempting to do with our highways, our trains, ships and planes, except these fungi have been doing it for much longer than we have.
The microbes attracted to the plants, will consume nutrients in the soil and from it, in exchange, they will complete their life processes, and immobilize nutrients that upon their expiration, becomes available to the plant as nourishment. They will also create what is called a Biofilm. A matrix, a community of organisms that out competes pathogens for growth in the same vicinity, repelling dangerous organisms and protecting the exterior of the plants tissues.
This Biofiom, well the applications of this phenomenon, have yet to be fully understood, but I believe it can be a source of fuel, pesticides, fertilizers, and even food in some cases for humanity at some point in the near future. Consider the cow for instance. It is such a hearty animal, who appears to subsist on grass alone. To the layperson, this is the idea they get when thinking on Cows, they just eat grass all day long.
Well, aside from the fact that the cows do occasionally eat insects, their main source of amino acids come from the Biofilms located in their stomaches. You see, they have formed a symbiotic relationship with a valuable microorganism that digests the cellulose of the grass, otherwise, they wouldn't be able to eat the grass. Throughout the process, these beneficial bacteria live and die, and create byproducts which is essentially what the cow is eating, but along with Biofilm steaks if you will. Now, consider the cow, a vegetarian right? Well, if eating trillions of dead bodies of microscopic organisms qualifies, then sure, the cow is vegetarian, but it is essentially eating meat, billions of cellular organisms, how is that much different than eating a conglomeration of tissue cells, in the form of that hamburger?
What am I trying to say you ask??? It is much more complicated than you think it is. We are subject to the idiosyncrasies of tiny organisms, that we can't even see. And yet, we are dependent upon them, for our food, for our survival, they are what allow us to even live, by default, by way of their symbiotic relationship with plants. It is this interconnected, complicated display of actions and reactions upon which develop various processes leading to relationships that form amongst what appears to be seemingly, unrelated organisms.
It only goes to show, what little we really know about the methods by which the natural world works. Learning about it for me, is a confirmation of Gods majesty and the fact that there is no denying his intelligence by way of design. A person has got to be blind to not believe in God, when his work has been made so apparent to us, and we now have the means by which to understand it, at least to some extent. How does it relate to me, to you?
I will let you ponder that for a moment.
Jan 4, 2009
Invest in your #1 Asset, YOURSELF!!
Part one of my video about health information you should consider for the new year.
Oct 17, 2008
How to save tomato seeds and other less mentionables
They are fairly gooey, slimy little rascals, you ever thought about how anyone can get a grip on those slick suckers, let alone have the dexterity to plant them?
Well, it is because they don't. What I mean, is that you don't plant tomato seeds directly into the ground after you've manhandled your tomato. There is a process you have to go through in order to prepare them for either planting or storage. The same goes for other fruiting plants like cucumber, melons and squash.
Hmm, why go to all the trouble when you can just buy seeds?
Good point, and I don't know if I can answer that question. But for me, there is something satisfying about being able to take your food, and be resourceful with it, efficient in more words or less. Not to mention, if you buy seeds, the plant that results has probably not been grown in your current environment before. With each generation of planting, you can develop favorable characteristics in plants, one being that it is acclimated to your area, which could mean in the long run, it is a hardier plant. (That summer drought might not mean the death of your crop.)
You can also pick and choose based upon what you find attractive in a plant like size, or color, or shape, or ability to hold it's form without cracking. When you do this, you are essentially going to ensure that you get the best plants for your purposes. So you are in control of what you plant and with that comes the intention that is not as profound when you buy some seeds elsewhere.
Another reason to save your own seeds, is to ensure that the food that results from you efforts, is not genetically modified or engineered. Some people don't think this food is problematic, but I beg to differ. When you tamper with the genetic material of a plant, you sabotage it's ability to interact with nature in such a way as to have a contribution to the natural order of things.
What I mean by that, is we are finding that many crops which are genetically modified are contaminating non-GMO crops, which has severe implications. Some strains are self terminating varieties, where the genes for reproduction have been turned off, and this leaves you with sterile plants whose sole focus is to be mass produced. If those same genes find themselves into the main supply, then you are no longer able to save seeds at all.
Just an aside, there are also ethical implications for not consuming GMO foods. Several multinational corporations, (Monsanto etc.) are genetically engineering the crops with the ability to tolerate large amounts of specific pesticides (products of Monstanto like roundup), and also to require certain fertilizers to enact germination (again, Monsanto products), I'm sure you can see where this is going. And you begin to wonder why said companies (Monsanto) are investing in a huge seed vault in Norway, buried under the ice. (I'm beginning to think they know something we don't.)
If this isn't enough to convince you to save your own seeds, I don't know what will.
For those of you who do plan to strictly buy seeds, I recommend you buy organic and heirloom seeds, which have no ties to our good friends at, you guessed it! MONSANTO
Lets get down to business!
You will want to pick out some good fruits, ones that you percieve of as being ideal for duplication. Dont be afraid to take a small chunk out for a taste test either, like physical attributes, this is something that is also passed down from generation to generation.
Once you've found the good ones, (try to pick several fruits from different plants rather than many fruits from the same plant, you want to sustain the genetic diversity.) you will slice them open and scoop out the seeds onto a dish. Don't worry about getting a little bit of the meat of the fruit mixed in.
Once you've removed the seeds, you can eat the shell of your yummy tomato friend. You will then proceed to pour the seeds, (it is good to use a funnel here) into a jar or cup.
Then you fill the jar with filtered water. (You can use cholorinated water, but it's better to limit exposure to harmful chemicals that have the ability to tamper with the genes of the seed.) I fill it up about 2/3rds of the way. Then you will want to cover the jar with a loose fitting lid, or cheese cloth. If you use a lid, don't screw it on the entire way, leave it loose, you don't want it going completely anaerobic. Set in a dark spot and forget about it for 1-2 weeks.
When you come back to the seeds, you will have found a layer of white stuff on top of the mass in your jar. (Or in this case, green stuff?!) The seeds should be at the bottom of the jar with the flesh of the tomato. What is happening is that you are growing a fungus that is digesting the sticky gooey film that covers each tomato seed. This is really the only way to get them ready for planting, if you did just plant the seeds in the ground without going through this process, it would most likely rot.
You can tell that the seeds are ready when you shake the jar and they start floating to the bottom of the jar.
Now for the stinky part. Open the jar and take a nice good long whiff of the contents. JUST KIDDING! If you do that you might gag. I've smelled some gross stuff in my life, but this is probably in the top 10 of gross smelling things. You will want to quickly pour the contents of the jar into a very fine strainer while simultaneously rinsing the seeds under water. (Well, you don't have to, but it cuts down on the stink.)
Rinse the seeds well so that there are no longer any pieces of flesh attached to any of the seeds, you want them spotless. If they get stuck to flesh, they will likely rot. Then what I do is use my little kitchen sink sprayer to spread the seeds out thin along the interior of the strainer, so that the seeds aren't touching each other. Once I've finished doing that, I will take a paper towel and wipe the exterior of the strainer so as to soak up any excess water. I take the strainer, seeds and all, and stick them next to a sunny window to dry.
They should dry in a couple of days, you don't want them sitting in the sun too long, because that will decrease their shelf life. At this point, you can collect the seeds, if any are black or brown, throw 'em out. Seperate any that stuck together and put into a little paper envelope. Don't put them in a plastic bag and seal it, the possibility that there might be moisture left in the seeds is too great left to chance and will result in all your hard work going to waste. If you put them in a paper envelope, what moisture may be left, will eventually leave the seed.
Label the seeds and date it, seeds can stay good for 2-4 years, sometimes longer, but it is best if used next season. Whatever you have left over you can save for proceeding seasons, or you can be a good pal and plant a couple extras to share with friends and family!
This is my first season saving seeds, so I have yet to determine, whether my efforts were fruitful. If not, I also have a personal supply of organic heirloom seeds which I can fall back on if need be.
Happy Seed Saving!
Actively Aerated Compost Tea, Say What?!
What Makes your Garden go from this
To this
And This?!!
MAGIC!
If there was one thing I wish I'd known about when I first got on the gardening train it is this.
One of the most economical methods of supplementing all your garden needs. It has been pioneered by Elaine Ingham, owner of Soil Foodweb, Inc. I found out about it on Youtube and consequentially I read a book called Teeming with Microbes; A Gardeners Guide to the Soil Foodweb by Jeff Lowenfels and Wayne Lewis.
I'm going to attempt to summarize the book in laymens terms, not that the book doesn't do that, but if you aren't biologically oriented, it could prove to be a difficult read. (I personally couldn't put the book down!)
There is basically a huge variety of life in our soils. Much of what occurs in the ground is the result of adaptation amongst organisms to ensure the perpetuation of all parties involved. So basically, everyone wins in the situation that has arisen throughout the years. Fungi, Protozoa, Bacteria, Algae, Slime Mold, Arthropods (microscopic insects like spring tails), Nematodes (microscopic predatory worms), Earthworms and Gastropods (Visible insects like Rolly Polly's and centipedes). All of these guys contribute to the makeup of the soil in many ways. They work the soil by traveling through it, they are always adding to the nutritional value of the soil by what they dispel and consume and eventually leave upon expiring.
The weird thing about this situation is that upon having read the book, I began to view microbes in a new light. They are essentially a living fertilizer waiting to happen. Nutrients are locked or "immobilized" as the book puts it, in the organism until death, in which case it is either transferred to another organism through consumption, or made available in the simplest form for plant and fungi absorption. What was so cool to me to learn about, was that plants will actually exude or breath out certain chemicals, whose sole purpose is to attract specific microorganisms to inhabit the perimeters of that plant. The plant feeds the organisms, and in turn the organisms feed the plant through their life processes. They also "till" the earth, allowing the roots to grow larger.
Fungi also has a special relationship to roots. Fungi has the amazing ability to promote itself through vast expanses of terrain. Fungi is commonly known as a mushroom, but what a lot of people don't know, is that it is actually a matrix of hyphea ( limbs) which typically allow the fungus to search out food and transport it back to the main body. The mushroom itself, is just a fruiting body that the fungus uses to reproduce.
This is important because plants, often only being able to grow as well as the medium in which they find themselves, will use the same method of attracting microbes, to attract fungi. What then occurs is a strange and wonderful phenomenon. The fungi become extensions of the plants roots, searching out food and seeking water to bring back for both itself and it's host plant. The symbiosis never ends and neither do it's astonishing attributes!
See, the more I learn about Biology and life, the more I realize that it isn't really about survival of the fittest, because throughout much of the natural world, we are finding that everything has a specific relationship with other things, and it most often results in mutually beneficial interactions. Darwin was slightly off. (My opinion of course, I am sure we can agree to disagree, and you don't even want to get me started on Darwin and his obvious bias, Google Zoonomia for said implications.)
So enough of all this soil biology speak, even though it is one of the most riveting subjects. (Still, one can't help themselves from going off on tangents!)
How does this apply to the topic at hand?
Well, other than the obvious reasons, since if you are reading this blog, you are a garden enthusiast and always like to know about soil biology. Well, essentially what occurs with plants is not only do the roots create an exudate to attract beneficial microbes, but so do the leaves of plants. As a matter of fact, we find in nature, that bacteria, don't just live in random arrangements, but rather in something of a colony.
I learned about this when I took a Microbiology class in College. They form a bio film, which is something like a matrix. They create a structure which is impermeable and impenetrable to outside forces and favors their perpetuation and growth. By the mere act of consuming and excreting, they are capable of housing themselves in a mass of sorts, which could be considered for the most part, a second skin to whatever houses the bio film. An extra layer of protection. When said organisms form a bio film, they are by default, out competing other organisms for the same surface space on a leaf or vegetable skin.
What Actively Aerated Compost Tea seeks to do, is build a population of microbes so as to inoculate the soil, roots and plants with these beneficial bacteria and other good predatory organisms so that the chances that they establish themselves in and around your garden are increased several times over. We make sure this happens by using oxygenation and food. By doing this, you ensure that nature takes it's course and you don't have to use toxic chemicals or pesticides to work against it, simply adding just a little bit of human intervention to the mix,
you are able to exploit the natural rhythm of things.
What Do I Need to Get Started?
First off you will need patience. Since this is a learning experience, don't expect you can get it right the first time, it will take practice and getting used to.
Secondly, you need compost, this takes time to make, if you don't have compost, you may want to become real friendly with someone who does!
Thirdly there are a number of supplies you will need.
Lets Go Shopping!!
Equipment
-You will want a 5-gallon Bucket with handle (I've got 3 because I'm excessive.)
-rubber band
-stick longer than the width of the bucket
-Aquarium supplies which would include;
-Bubblers, or air stones, most likely 4 of these. Two 4-6 inch and two 1-inch or circle/square bubblers made to hang freely.
-Tubing through which the air must pass to the stones
- A few T-Valves which will connect the tubing to the stones to the pump
- Obviously you will need the Air Pump. Get one that is used for 20 gallons but don't go all out. If it has two air outlets that is also a plus, if it doesn't, you can just get creative with the T-Valves.
-Nylon bag used to strain paint, or paint strainer, you can get these at HomeDepot, everything else you can find at Walmart or Petsmart
-Large mixing stick
-Watering Can
Ingredients
-Compost (Ideally vermicompost, or worm castings otherwise known as "black gold"
-Some nitrogen source to feed the protozoa (Seaweed extract or dry seaweed, fertilizer, Alfalfa pellets, dried hay or grass clippings.)
-Unsulfphured Molasses to feed the bacteria.
-Oat bran to feed the fungi
-optional is volcanic rock that has been ground up or broken and will provide a place for the bacteria to attach so they start to colonize and will ensure propagation of bacteria in the soil.
-You can also add other soil amendments, fish emulsion (a rather stinky option) guano from bats or birds or other farm animals, as long as it's been aged sufficiently.
-I add yucca powder and some polysaccharides rich substances like wild yam powder or AloeVera juice. (Beware preservatives, as the name implies, it contains chemicals that are intended to keep bacterial populations in check and will negate your efforts at growing bacteria, which is also why we do un-sulphured molasses, best found at an organic store.)
- I also add some crushed up Yarrow and Comfrey leaves, because they stimulate the decomposition process and as such, are good sources of food for all decomposing microbes.
Lets Begin!
Before you start the process, you will want to de-chlorinate the water, as this will kill the bacteria. So hook everything up and aerate the water for 6 hours, the chlorine should evaporate.
Place the compost in the nylon bag, about a cup should do. You can mix it with some of your powdered ingredients. Don't worry if there are bugs or worms in it, leave them in, they are a small sacrifice for an excellent brew, they provide protein and free up nutrients at their death that the other microbes will ingest and transfer to your garden.
Attach your bubblers to the tubing using the T-Valve. (The tubing should have been cut to your preference, basically, so that it extends from the pump to the interior of the bucket. Remember, you can always cut off, but you cant add on, so be liberal at first!)
You will want to put the two 1-inch bubblers into the sack of compost to mix it up and keep it from settling and going anaerobic, and the other 4-6 inch bubblers at the bottom of the bucket. The idea is to keep oxygen flowing through the tea.
Tie the nylon bag, tubing coming out of the sack with a rubber band and attach the bag to the stick which you will place over the bucket. The bag must be submerged beneath the water and you should be able to see bubbles coming out. If you want to get creative, add the oat bran to the mixture and put a couple sticks in the water to make it easier for the fungus to grow in the compost. Fungus will take longer than bacteria, so do it before adding any food (Molasses) for about a day.
Add about 1 ounce of Molasses to the mixture and other liquid items, (Seaweed extract, although you should be warned, seaweed anything has a tendency to bubble into a non-manageable frothy monster, so you may want to wait until the last day to introduce that to your brew.)
Now Wait. Yes, that is what I mean, wait.
You will allow the compost bag to stay in the mix for a day. Then you will take it out and dump it by some special plants or back into the compost.
You will let the remainder of the mixture sit for an additional 1-2 days.
Initially, 24 hours should be enough, 36 hours is ideal, anything more than that will ruin your brew because the food will have run out and the bacteria will start dying off. Adding food may extend your time frame, but I don't recommend it.
You will also want to check it each day a couple times a day and give it a little turn to unsettle any dirt that has accumulated at the bottom of the bucket and to ensure it doesn't go anaerobic.
You will be able to determine whether the mixture has gone anaerobic or not by using your greatest tool, the nose. Just give it a little sniffle and it should smell slightly sweet and earthy. If it smells like something is rotting in there, just throw it out.
I've actually been able to revive a mixture that went anaerobic by adding a little bit of food, and giving it a mix about with a large stick.
So once everything is said and done, or just done for that matter, you will want to pour a couple cups of the mixture into a watering can, diluting it with water. There are a TON of microbes in the tea, so you can mix it with a gallon of water and know that it is going to inoculate your garden and take off from there.
If you want to take it a step further, to ensure that the microbes thrive in their new environment, you can get some molasses fill a spray attachment and put it on the end of your hose (not one that had pesticides or fertilizers) and give your garden a good watering with it. You will also want to mulch, This is a pretty crucial step. These decomposition organisms don't have an affinity for light or heat, so you need to provide them with shelter from the elements. Cover your soil with dry leaves, straw or grass clippings making sure to not touch the stems of your plants, as that may extend the decomposition process to your plants, which is a no no.
You may also want to reserve a small amount of the compost tea to mist onto the leaves of your plants and vegetables. This will ensure that a bio film forms on the surface. Again, do this in the evening or early morning, to ensure the bacteria attach to the leaf rather than die from heat exhaustion.
You cannot over do it with compost tea. There is nothing in the tea that could harm your plants. Use it once a month, or once a week! Being that it can be time consuming, depending on the size of your garden, you may want to only do it once a month. However, at the first sign of disease on any of your plants, you will want to make some of this stuff and apply it asap.
Once you are finished with the entire procedure, you will want to clean everything up. I spray out the buckets using the hose and I try to spray off the tubes, then I will fill the buckets up partially, and stick everything in side, hose and bubblers, and then I will put in some hydrogen peroxide and let it soak for a few. This will kill the remaining bacteria. Sometimes as an extra precaution, I also add some baking soda and scrub things out. You don't want any bio films remaining on your materials, bacteria have the oddest ability to go into a sort of hibernation mode from which they can awake when conditions are favorable. There is a name for it, but I can't think of it right now. One thing to note is that the bubblers will typically break down over time, and that will be your main replacement item. tubes last indefinitely and everything else is a sure thing.
Once you've done it, you should see the results. If you want to be scientific about it, make it an experiment. Apply the tea to one portion of your garden, and omit another. See how the two separate portions make out at the end of the season and throughout. This would be your best bet at making sure the stuff works. Good luck! Hopefully you'll get something looking like THIS!
To this
And This?!!
MAGIC!
If there was one thing I wish I'd known about when I first got on the gardening train it is this.
One of the most economical methods of supplementing all your garden needs. It has been pioneered by Elaine Ingham, owner of Soil Foodweb, Inc. I found out about it on Youtube and consequentially I read a book called Teeming with Microbes; A Gardeners Guide to the Soil Foodweb by Jeff Lowenfels and Wayne Lewis.
I'm going to attempt to summarize the book in laymens terms, not that the book doesn't do that, but if you aren't biologically oriented, it could prove to be a difficult read. (I personally couldn't put the book down!)
There is basically a huge variety of life in our soils. Much of what occurs in the ground is the result of adaptation amongst organisms to ensure the perpetuation of all parties involved. So basically, everyone wins in the situation that has arisen throughout the years. Fungi, Protozoa, Bacteria, Algae, Slime Mold, Arthropods (microscopic insects like spring tails), Nematodes (microscopic predatory worms), Earthworms and Gastropods (Visible insects like Rolly Polly's and centipedes). All of these guys contribute to the makeup of the soil in many ways. They work the soil by traveling through it, they are always adding to the nutritional value of the soil by what they dispel and consume and eventually leave upon expiring.
The weird thing about this situation is that upon having read the book, I began to view microbes in a new light. They are essentially a living fertilizer waiting to happen. Nutrients are locked or "immobilized" as the book puts it, in the organism until death, in which case it is either transferred to another organism through consumption, or made available in the simplest form for plant and fungi absorption. What was so cool to me to learn about, was that plants will actually exude or breath out certain chemicals, whose sole purpose is to attract specific microorganisms to inhabit the perimeters of that plant. The plant feeds the organisms, and in turn the organisms feed the plant through their life processes. They also "till" the earth, allowing the roots to grow larger.
Fungi also has a special relationship to roots. Fungi has the amazing ability to promote itself through vast expanses of terrain. Fungi is commonly known as a mushroom, but what a lot of people don't know, is that it is actually a matrix of hyphea ( limbs) which typically allow the fungus to search out food and transport it back to the main body. The mushroom itself, is just a fruiting body that the fungus uses to reproduce.
This is important because plants, often only being able to grow as well as the medium in which they find themselves, will use the same method of attracting microbes, to attract fungi. What then occurs is a strange and wonderful phenomenon. The fungi become extensions of the plants roots, searching out food and seeking water to bring back for both itself and it's host plant. The symbiosis never ends and neither do it's astonishing attributes!
See, the more I learn about Biology and life, the more I realize that it isn't really about survival of the fittest, because throughout much of the natural world, we are finding that everything has a specific relationship with other things, and it most often results in mutually beneficial interactions. Darwin was slightly off. (My opinion of course, I am sure we can agree to disagree, and you don't even want to get me started on Darwin and his obvious bias, Google Zoonomia for said implications.)
So enough of all this soil biology speak, even though it is one of the most riveting subjects. (Still, one can't help themselves from going off on tangents!)
How does this apply to the topic at hand?
Well, other than the obvious reasons, since if you are reading this blog, you are a garden enthusiast and always like to know about soil biology. Well, essentially what occurs with plants is not only do the roots create an exudate to attract beneficial microbes, but so do the leaves of plants. As a matter of fact, we find in nature, that bacteria, don't just live in random arrangements, but rather in something of a colony.
I learned about this when I took a Microbiology class in College. They form a bio film, which is something like a matrix. They create a structure which is impermeable and impenetrable to outside forces and favors their perpetuation and growth. By the mere act of consuming and excreting, they are capable of housing themselves in a mass of sorts, which could be considered for the most part, a second skin to whatever houses the bio film. An extra layer of protection. When said organisms form a bio film, they are by default, out competing other organisms for the same surface space on a leaf or vegetable skin.
What Actively Aerated Compost Tea seeks to do, is build a population of microbes so as to inoculate the soil, roots and plants with these beneficial bacteria and other good predatory organisms so that the chances that they establish themselves in and around your garden are increased several times over. We make sure this happens by using oxygenation and food. By doing this, you ensure that nature takes it's course and you don't have to use toxic chemicals or pesticides to work against it, simply adding just a little bit of human intervention to the mix,
you are able to exploit the natural rhythm of things.
What Do I Need to Get Started?
First off you will need patience. Since this is a learning experience, don't expect you can get it right the first time, it will take practice and getting used to.
Secondly, you need compost, this takes time to make, if you don't have compost, you may want to become real friendly with someone who does!
Thirdly there are a number of supplies you will need.
Lets Go Shopping!!
Equipment
-You will want a 5-gallon Bucket with handle (I've got 3 because I'm excessive.)
-rubber band
-stick longer than the width of the bucket
-Aquarium supplies which would include;
-Bubblers, or air stones, most likely 4 of these. Two 4-6 inch and two 1-inch or circle/square bubblers made to hang freely.
-Tubing through which the air must pass to the stones
- A few T-Valves which will connect the tubing to the stones to the pump
- Obviously you will need the Air Pump. Get one that is used for 20 gallons but don't go all out. If it has two air outlets that is also a plus, if it doesn't, you can just get creative with the T-Valves.
-Nylon bag used to strain paint, or paint strainer, you can get these at HomeDepot, everything else you can find at Walmart or Petsmart
-Large mixing stick
-Watering Can
Ingredients
-Compost (Ideally vermicompost, or worm castings otherwise known as "black gold"
-Some nitrogen source to feed the protozoa (Seaweed extract or dry seaweed, fertilizer, Alfalfa pellets, dried hay or grass clippings.)
-Unsulfphured Molasses to feed the bacteria.
-Oat bran to feed the fungi
-optional is volcanic rock that has been ground up or broken and will provide a place for the bacteria to attach so they start to colonize and will ensure propagation of bacteria in the soil.
-You can also add other soil amendments, fish emulsion (a rather stinky option) guano from bats or birds or other farm animals, as long as it's been aged sufficiently.
-I add yucca powder and some polysaccharides rich substances like wild yam powder or AloeVera juice. (Beware preservatives, as the name implies, it contains chemicals that are intended to keep bacterial populations in check and will negate your efforts at growing bacteria, which is also why we do un-sulphured molasses, best found at an organic store.)
- I also add some crushed up Yarrow and Comfrey leaves, because they stimulate the decomposition process and as such, are good sources of food for all decomposing microbes.
Lets Begin!
Before you start the process, you will want to de-chlorinate the water, as this will kill the bacteria. So hook everything up and aerate the water for 6 hours, the chlorine should evaporate.
Place the compost in the nylon bag, about a cup should do. You can mix it with some of your powdered ingredients. Don't worry if there are bugs or worms in it, leave them in, they are a small sacrifice for an excellent brew, they provide protein and free up nutrients at their death that the other microbes will ingest and transfer to your garden.
Attach your bubblers to the tubing using the T-Valve. (The tubing should have been cut to your preference, basically, so that it extends from the pump to the interior of the bucket. Remember, you can always cut off, but you cant add on, so be liberal at first!)
You will want to put the two 1-inch bubblers into the sack of compost to mix it up and keep it from settling and going anaerobic, and the other 4-6 inch bubblers at the bottom of the bucket. The idea is to keep oxygen flowing through the tea.
Tie the nylon bag, tubing coming out of the sack with a rubber band and attach the bag to the stick which you will place over the bucket. The bag must be submerged beneath the water and you should be able to see bubbles coming out. If you want to get creative, add the oat bran to the mixture and put a couple sticks in the water to make it easier for the fungus to grow in the compost. Fungus will take longer than bacteria, so do it before adding any food (Molasses) for about a day.
Add about 1 ounce of Molasses to the mixture and other liquid items, (Seaweed extract, although you should be warned, seaweed anything has a tendency to bubble into a non-manageable frothy monster, so you may want to wait until the last day to introduce that to your brew.)
Now Wait. Yes, that is what I mean, wait.
You will allow the compost bag to stay in the mix for a day. Then you will take it out and dump it by some special plants or back into the compost.
You will let the remainder of the mixture sit for an additional 1-2 days.
Initially, 24 hours should be enough, 36 hours is ideal, anything more than that will ruin your brew because the food will have run out and the bacteria will start dying off. Adding food may extend your time frame, but I don't recommend it.
You will also want to check it each day a couple times a day and give it a little turn to unsettle any dirt that has accumulated at the bottom of the bucket and to ensure it doesn't go anaerobic.
You will be able to determine whether the mixture has gone anaerobic or not by using your greatest tool, the nose. Just give it a little sniffle and it should smell slightly sweet and earthy. If it smells like something is rotting in there, just throw it out.
I've actually been able to revive a mixture that went anaerobic by adding a little bit of food, and giving it a mix about with a large stick.
So once everything is said and done, or just done for that matter, you will want to pour a couple cups of the mixture into a watering can, diluting it with water. There are a TON of microbes in the tea, so you can mix it with a gallon of water and know that it is going to inoculate your garden and take off from there.
If you want to take it a step further, to ensure that the microbes thrive in their new environment, you can get some molasses fill a spray attachment and put it on the end of your hose (not one that had pesticides or fertilizers) and give your garden a good watering with it. You will also want to mulch, This is a pretty crucial step. These decomposition organisms don't have an affinity for light or heat, so you need to provide them with shelter from the elements. Cover your soil with dry leaves, straw or grass clippings making sure to not touch the stems of your plants, as that may extend the decomposition process to your plants, which is a no no.
You may also want to reserve a small amount of the compost tea to mist onto the leaves of your plants and vegetables. This will ensure that a bio film forms on the surface. Again, do this in the evening or early morning, to ensure the bacteria attach to the leaf rather than die from heat exhaustion.
You cannot over do it with compost tea. There is nothing in the tea that could harm your plants. Use it once a month, or once a week! Being that it can be time consuming, depending on the size of your garden, you may want to only do it once a month. However, at the first sign of disease on any of your plants, you will want to make some of this stuff and apply it asap.
Once you are finished with the entire procedure, you will want to clean everything up. I spray out the buckets using the hose and I try to spray off the tubes, then I will fill the buckets up partially, and stick everything in side, hose and bubblers, and then I will put in some hydrogen peroxide and let it soak for a few. This will kill the remaining bacteria. Sometimes as an extra precaution, I also add some baking soda and scrub things out. You don't want any bio films remaining on your materials, bacteria have the oddest ability to go into a sort of hibernation mode from which they can awake when conditions are favorable. There is a name for it, but I can't think of it right now. One thing to note is that the bubblers will typically break down over time, and that will be your main replacement item. tubes last indefinitely and everything else is a sure thing.
Once you've done it, you should see the results. If you want to be scientific about it, make it an experiment. Apply the tea to one portion of your garden, and omit another. See how the two separate portions make out at the end of the season and throughout. This would be your best bet at making sure the stuff works. Good luck! Hopefully you'll get something looking like THIS!
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