Manure Tea or Compost Tea

In a nutshell, don't drink the tea! After sharing this gardening tip with friend who I would have expected knew this secret, I thought I would share. It's rather simple, and a variety of manures or composts can be used. This tea can be made in a variety of "flavors" and amounts, but the concept is still the same. Manure or Compost tea can be used on a variety of plants a fertilizer, but can also be used in conjunction with irrigation.

For what I have done in this Instructable, I have chosen to use the following list of items, but you can use variations.

1. 5 Gallon Bucket (or: milk jug, 55 gallon drum with tap attachment, etc.)
2. Chicken Compost (or: Steer Compost, Horse Manure, Alpaca Manure, etc.)
3. Water (this can be tap water, rain runoff, or from a hose)

** DO NOT USE POTTING SOIL - potting soil and compost (or manure) are different. Compost and Manure have added nutrients that potting soil doesn't have, that's why this is an additive to the soil. It helps your plants grow.

Taking your compost or manure of choice, fill the container of choice one third full of compost.

**At this point, compost or manure doesn't matter which you add. But realize that composted manure in the tea will take less time to perk and use than raw manure. Yet, what you use may be determined by the price you are willing or able to pay. Many times I've used manure because I couldn't afford to purchase already composted manures.

Using water from a hose or rain run off, fill your container full up, allowing the addition of water to help mix the compost. If you have clumps, or fresh manure, take the time to "mash" up the clumps or manure with a rake or shovel to help break down the organic matter.

**Depending on the size of the container you use, you may be able to just shake the container in the case of something like a milk jug. On the other hand, if you choose something like a 55 gallon drum, you may want to install something that can help you mix as you use it so there isn't an over concentration of "tea" on the bottom, and less concentrated on the top.

Once you have mixed your "tea", cover it and let it sit for 24 - 48 hours if compost.

**If using fresh manure, with very few exceptions, most raw manures are too hot to use unless broken down several months. In the case of manure tea, it is similar to compost, so the longer you let it perk, the "finer" it gets. You can wait a week to 10 days to use at the soonest.

Once perked, the Manure Tea can be used on both indoor and outdoor plants. You can even set up a watering system that allows you to send the tea through the lines as you would water.