Compost Teas by Eric Fisher

Q & A on this site on composting by yours truly from the 22nd July (2019) for seven days as part of the book Promo thing on here for 'Compost Teas'

I give this book 10 out of 10 acorns!

It does great job of accomplishing its mission to "bridge the gap" from "conventional agri-chemical style solution based practices... to the possibilities offered by compost teas." I think that Compost Teas is a great introductory manual, for the organic and beyond organic grower, to the creation and use of compost teas. This book gives a rock-solid foundation in environmental science, soil biology, and plant life in the beginning chapters, which creates the basis for the rest of the chapters. I believe Compost Teas provides organic and better recipes of compost teas that can be used as natural and cheaper alternative to industrial fertilizers and pesticides. This book is an exceptionally useful start for the beginning gardener or farmer that is trying to become more aligned with nature.

I found the organization of the contents of the book was logical and well done. It starts off with an overview of the history and science behind the organic and beyond organic movements, and it provides a guide on what to expect in the following chapters. There is a strong distinction on what is strictly supported by research papers and what is supported by anecdotal evidence, good observation, or beliefs. This makes it easier for the reader to decide how much of the information in a given chapter or section they wish to trust and apply for themselves. The next few chapters go into explaining the known nutrients that plants need to survive, the environmental cycles of the major nutrients, soil life, and the life interactions above-ground. There are plenty tables, charts, diagrams, and pictures throughout the book that help to more clearly convey the information being presented and make the book useful, later on, as a reference manual.The later chapters go into the practical do-it-yourself stuff of making compost teas to replace fertilizers and pesticides. It then goes on to explain how to make compost, aerated compost tea, and finally alternative practices with compost teas. I found the chapter on alternative practices to be rather interesting, even though I may be a little skeptical about them. I prefer the more ecology-based approaches in permaculture and agroecology. And lastly, there are two wonderful appendices- a glossary that defines a lot of terms that may be unfamiliar to the newly organic grower and another on Steiner's preparations.

I think the references section in the back makes it pretty clear just how much research and literature has been dug through to make sure that the information presented in the book is supported by modern scientific knowledge. Although I understand the frustration that the author seems to have with the reductionist attitudes and thinking of modern science, and the hassling encountered by the publisher, I find this level of dedication and cooperation to work with what knowledge is available and more easily accepted by the general public to be a great stepping stone towards getting the reader to think for themselves and make informed decisions based on their own observations.

I found that the no-nonsense technical writing style used in Compost Teas was effective in convincing a novice conventional gardener or farmer to move onto organic or better practices. Even though this style of writing did not, at least for me, make this book pleasurable to read, I think that it does hone into people at Level 0 or Level 1 of The Wheaton Eco Scale how much more can be done to grow better and healthier food.

Overall, Compost Teas is a good introductory book to organic growing and compost teas.

Dear Dave Burton,

Thanks so much for your dedication and critique. I am already thinking about how I can make future works flow better. Best E

Soil farmer Geoffrey here, in North Central Arkansas. My family introduced me to manure tea production decades ago. Available skat was mostly bovine. I have progressed to produce manure tea today from a local dna dedicated bison herd. Teachable to adding local flora in the near future. Overall soil improvement. Progress not perfection.
Hope to read your book after humbly winning one from the sponsored contest. Either way, the soil constantly improves.
Encouraging in Arkansas,
Geoffrey Nielson

I started using composting tea by accident many years ago.  I was using a 5 gallon bucket to transfer compost to my garden and got distracted.  It rained a couple days later and it was a few days after that I found it.  Stirred it up for a couple days to see what would happen, put it on some of my plants and they were the best plants in the garden that year!

Started doing it each year on purpose after that.  Then about 5 years later I saw online that people called it compost tea!!  Dang, didn't re-invent the wheel after all.  lol

Your book looks VERY interesting.  I am in the process of retiring and starting a new homestead and this looks like a book I will need on my reference shelf, dog eared when I am done with it.

I actually would buy this book if it had a preview available. I looked on amazon, and I do not buy books without a preview. At least the table of contents and a bit of a read!