Re: Jane & Allan - PLEASE START ANOTHER LIST FOR...
I say a hearty AMEN, yes to Doug. Too much bandwidth not BD related. Dan From: "Doug & Jay Stewart" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Cc: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Jane & Allan - PLEASE START ANOTHER LIST FOR... Date: Mon, 03 Feb 2003 10:56:45 -0600 Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> PLEASE start another list for BD + world events. Then invite all those on the current list to subscribe if they wish.
First Tea Analysis Results
Got the analysis from SFI on my first tea of the season. Total Bacteria 4314 ug/ul, total fungal 2.6 ug/ul Need to get bacteria down and fungi up but both are in desired range. Not bad for first run on low-cost homemade brewer. Will make some tweaks and run again. Compost was half thermal cow manure and half vermi brewed for 31 hours. Dan Lynch Long Mountain Vineyard
Winery Visits
Last month I had the opportunity to meet with 4 BD winemakers in Provence and the southern Rhone. Two I would classify as top tier wineries and the other two as a notch below that. One had been doing BD for over 30 years and the others 4 to 8 years. My questions focused on their practices, mainly fungal control. Of course they have less fungal problems than in the eastern US where I am located. Wine prices ranged from US$4.50 to $25+, about half the price of what it is sold at in the US. All of the wineries were vary gracious (as we have found all the French people) with their time and wine. I'll summarize my takeaways: Two used compost and two didn't siting the difficulty of spreading over many hectares. They used BC instead. Of the two that used compost one did 2 tons/hectare and the other 3 tons/hectare every 3 years. They used minimal to no additional fertilization and apparently only infrequent soil mineral analysis. All used copper, sulfur, nettles and horsetail in some fashion. One sprayed nettles and willow tea (green parts) when the moon was furthest from the earth and horsetail when the moon nearest the earth. Since this guy made VG wine I put a lot of credibility in his statements. This is first time I have heard of willow being used. Anybody have any more info on willow tea?? Another recommended Bordeaux mixture+501+horsetail together but didn't specify a time to spray. Only one was Demeter certified. All except one belonged to N. Joly biologic group http://perso.wanadoo.fr/jean-michel.parault/indexang.html It was a tough job but someone had to do it :). Dan Lynch Long Mountain Vineyard
Re:Testing preps?
My understanding is both Bonnie and Allan have volunteered to spearhead this. But who is? IMO the logical first candidate is Barrel Compound from JPI. This could be followed by BD 500 if the BC tests prove interesting. Don't think that most of other preps merit testing since they aren't organism rich. To save some money only tolal fungi and total bacteria could be measured. If enough funds then the active component could also be included. SFI offers a 5 & 10% discount for all and off the net per their recent flyer. Dan
Compost for Brewers
I saw a SFI analysis of compost from Freedom Organic and it sure contains a lot of organisms. For example, total fungal biomass of 1120 which SFI rated as excellent. I've had tea analyzed by SFI but not compost. Anybody had BD compost or BC analyzed by SFI?? Dan
Tea brewer Approach
Air diffusion with pump "squirter" approach. 23 gal muck bucket to brew 15 gal tea 12" plastic colander Tie two glass or ceramic airstones to inside bottom of colander and connect to dual outlet airpump Attach aquarium power head to side of bucket and connect ~2 ft of 1/2" hose to power head outlet Put 4-5 lbs compost in nylon paint strainer & put open end of 1/2" hose into compost in strainer. Tie open end of strainer with nylon cord and arrange on colander above airstones with hose coming from strainer to powerhead Turn on the devices and brew. Anybody else want to share their approach?? Dan Lynch Long Mountain Vineyard
Q for Elaine
Please compare and contrast the application of compost and compost tea to the soil. Like to understand the advantages and disadvantages of each more than just the obvious. Of course one disadvantage of compost tea compared to compost would appear to be the lack of organic matter. Thanks, Dan
Re: Grape Cuttings
Allan wrote: Just a related question, Monte (et al), the vineyards around here are all using grafted vines. What's the philosphy behind grafting or not grafting grapes? -Allan American grapes-self rooted FA hybrid grapes-self rooted or grafted depends on variety, etc. Vinifera grapes-grafted Issue is root susceptability to phyloxera & nematodes. Location also a variable. Dan
Question for Elaine
Kudos to Allan and Elaine for this opportunity. Question for Elaine: In the CTBM you talk about comfrey leaves/tea as an additive to compost tea. Horsetail (equisatum arvense) is reputed to strengthen a plant against fungal disease. Do you have any experience with horsetail tea as an additive to compost tea? Thanks,Dan
Question for Elaine
In an interview with an Aussie here http://www.nutri-tech.com.au/Interviews/Interviews10.htm Elaine is quoted below. I would like for her to elaborate from her experience and maybe provide more reference that could be researched. Dan Elaine: "The reason the pan is formed is because the soil got compacted, then went anaerobic. It always is the micro-organisms getting the life back into that hardpan that opens it up and prevents it from reforming as a compacted hardpan zone. Soil-life is the key. It needn’t take very long with biology. Work at Ohio State University shows that you can break up a hardpan at four inches in six weeks by just getting the right kinds of fungi into that soil. You can break up a hardpan at four feet in six months."
Re:Soilfoodweb Questions
Here is one for Elaine: In the CTBM you have a mychrozial tea recipe. Has this tea been used successfully for innoculating existing growing plants? Dan Lynch
Re:Growing Season
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Date: Sat, 5 Jan 2002 08:47:14 EST Subject: Re: Soil & Powdered Rock How was your growing season. What experiences can you share with us for 2001. I posted a report previously that I used foliar BD compost tea program on new area and had problems with black rot. Have you used Greg's new remedies??? No, it appears that Greg is now focused on using his remedies as a food additive per a previous e-mail from him. I have no current business association with Greg. Still plan on using compost tea in 2002 at least for soil innoculation & loosening. BTW Saponyn (yucca extract) looks to be a good food additive for compost tea, especially for a ground spray since it is also a good surfactant. Dan Lynch
Soil & Powdered Rock
A lot of good discussion on soil recently and powdered rock seems to be "in vogue" now. Some "rock dust" examples I've seen are Planters II, Volcanite, Azomite, glacial rock dust, Summa minerals, etc. I'd like to get some feedback from some who have used and the soil/plant responses. Did you put them in compost or use directly on the field? Did they have an analysis with them? Dan Lynch, Long Mountain Vineyard
