Daniel Wilson

I have not but i will now! Thank you so much. I have plenty of wire grass to convert to tea if that's possible. In that case I'll have 100 gallons this summer.

Hello everyone! I need help strategizing my soil fertility. Researching on my own is not fast enough for my eager brain, so please humor me. I'm trying to absorb as much of Dr Elaine Ingham's teachings as possible, so i believe I'm in the right direction.

So, i want to get started on compost tea. I have quail poop, although we are just starting out with them so they are getting layer feed from tractor supply. I'm not sure if that's the best product to start with to get a good, clean end product. We are going to start black soldier fly harvesting with our biopod and are going to keep a consistent supply of azolla from our pond to supplement their protein needs. Amaranth and millet are on the cover crop rotation starting this year, along with the five cousins for even more soil health boosts.
How do i incorporate the quail poop and cover crop leavings into compost tea? Or is it enough to mix the poo into a cold pile for a year, then top dress?  Cover cropping instead of compost tea? We've got a lot of arthropods, earthworms, spiders, and ants visible anytime we move the soil, which is very infrequent. Do i need to be overly concerned with soil health with all these factors playing together on my tiny 1/4 acre?  I guess this is a "how do i manage all of this the most efficiently?" Post. I'm in zone 7a Virginia if that matters.

Thanks everyone for the responses so far! I’m realizing some things:
The two blueberries (Oneal and legacy) were  planted in a 5x5x12 raised bed with peat, pine fines and top soil and are only a year or two old.  The raspberries are in a 4x8x10 bed with 50/50 compost and topsoil. The blackberry is in mostly clay soil.

Here’s where I’m going:
I’m complaining about the dry, windy, full sun conditions without mentioning they are in 1.a raised bed that dries out quicker than the ground and 2. Soil isn’t amended for the blackberry.

I have spots in mind to keep them from the afternoon sun and heavy winds. I think I’ll move them all in the fall so i can prep the soil and conditions for them better.

Hello everyone!
 I am having trouble with some of my plantings. I’ve always read that blackberries, blueberries, and raspberries love full sun. The blackberries are getting white drupe/sun scald. The raspberry plants are getting shriveled dried leaves at the tips. The blueberries seem to be heading down that path. All three are growing fast and vigorous, but they just seem like they are uncomfortable with our weather here on the hill. Do i need to use shade cloth, plant where they escape afternoon sun, water more often or add more organic soil. We are in zone 6b in Virginia on top of a windy, dry, sunny hill. Thanks to anyone for taking the time to respond!