Ways to use biologically-active compost

How to Use Biologically-Active Compost

Our compost is best used to introduce a diverse mix of beneficial and essential microbes into your growing environments.

You don’t use it like typical commercial compost, which can be a good source of organic matter for building or amending soils but most often lacks a rich and thriving soil microbial community. That’s because theirs tend to sit static for multiple years, dried out and compacted long after the microbial food sources are used up, which are poor conditions for any life. By the time you receive it, the microbes have died or taken off to somewhere else.

You use our compost as an inoculant to get the microbial life into soil. Here is how best to do that:

• Apply small amounts of the solid compost throughout your garden, lawn or landscape. Remember that each tablespoon contains billions of microbes. A little goes a long way. Applying before rain or watering will ensure the microbes make it into the soil. Sprinkle around the base of plants and water in for a more targeted application. A few repeated applications over the course of the season will establish a strong and resilient soil food web community.  
• Create a liquid amendment to spread the microbes even further. Our favorite method is to make a simple solution by manually extracting the microbes into water and using immediately. This is called an extract and is not a compost tea. Teas involve additional steps of adding microbial foods and aerating the solution for many hours. This is not necessary to effectively apply microbes, and there are risks involved with this method including unknowingly growing harmful microbes because the oxygen levels are too low.

How to Make Compost Extract in Small Batches

Compost extract is an easy-to-make liquid that delivers the microbial richness of compost directly to your soil or plants.

Materials You’ll Need:

• 5-gallon bucket
• Non-chlorinated water (rainwater or dechlorinated tap water)
• Compost tea bag or a paint filter bag (fine mesh, easily found at hardware stores)
• Biologically-active compost

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1. Prepare the Water

• Fill the 5-gallon bucket with non-chlorinated water. If you’re using tap water, let it sit uncovered for 24 hours to allow chlorine to dissipate, or use a water dechlorinator to neutralize it immediately. Chlorine can harm the beneficial microbes in your compost.

2. Load the compost tea of paint filter bag

• Add about 1 pound (2-3 cups) of biologically-active compost into the bag and secure it closed.

3. Submerge the Bag

• Place the filled bag into the bucket of water. Ensure the bag is fully submerged but has room to move around.

4. Agitate to Extract Microbes

• Use your hands to gently squeeze the material in the bag and dunk it in and out of the water for about 2 minutes. This process helps dislodge the beneficial microbes and nutrients from the compost into the water. Do not rub the material together or use too much pressure – this would result in killing the life.

5. Check the Water

• The water should turn a light brown or tea-like color. This indicates that the compost’s microbial life and soluble nutrients have been successfully extracted.

6. Apply the Extract Immediately

• Compost extract is most effective when used fresh, as the beneficial microorganisms are active and alive. Pour or spray it directly onto your soil or around plant roots. You can also use it as a foliar spray for plants, though you may need to strain the liquid further to prevent clogging your sprayer.

Tips for Success:

• Use the extract within a few hours of making it to maximize microbial activity.
• Avoid applying during the hottest part of the day, as direct sunlight can harm microbes.
• Best applied after a rain or watering so the pathways into the soil are more available for the microbes to move into.
• Rinse and clean your paint filter bag after each use to maintain its effectiveness.