make the nutrients and micro-organisms more easily available to be released into the water . If you have a worm box , worm castings also make excellent compost tea . If you ' re using tap water that contains chlorine , let it sit overnight for the chlorine to dissipate . Put two shovelfuls of compost into a coarsely woven sack , old pillow case , or old pair of pantyhose , tie the top shut , and place the bag in the bottom of a bucket or barrel . Dilute by adding five parts water to one part compost . Let it “ brew ” for seven to ten days . Dilute the resulting “ tea ” with water until it is light brown or the colour of weak black tea and use . Keep in mind that E coli can be present in the raw ingredients of a compost pile , so do not apply compost tea to any vegetable within three weeks of its planned harvest date . Compost tea can be applied to any plants , either in the ground or in containers . Use it freely on your vegetables , flowering plants , trees , shrubs or lawn . You can use compost tea as a drench by simply watering your plants with it or the tea canalsobeappliedasafoliar spray . Foliar feeding with compost tea is shown to boost a plant ' s immediate uptake of nutrients . You might need to sieve the tea more carefully if you are using a spray , to prevent it from clogging the spray nozzle .
Adding a couple drops of mild dishwashing liquid or proprietary wetting agent will help the tea adhere to leaves . The spent compost material
33 www . sasmallholder . co . za
can be used as mulch or can be put back on your compost heap for further decomposition . If you have any tea left over ,
SNAKES
An unwelcome snuggle-partner
One day a pig farmer and a paramedic were enjoying a cup ofteaandasnackduringa quietmomentatthe Donkerhoek Veterinary
From page 31
Consulting rooms , next to Alzu Feeds near Rayton . Suddenly the pig farmer said softly “ keep very still . There is a snake ”. The paramedic thought he was joking , but the pig farmer moved quickly through to the back of the practice to get a broom . As the paramedic glanced down , the snake moved rapidly into view , making a strange grumbling sound as it slid over the dark red concrete floor . “ EEK ” said the paramedic and leaped on to the chair as the
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IN THE GARDEN
consider putting it on your compost pile . This can help accelerate the microbial activity of your compost pile .