Fascinators and Flagella: How to Host a Tea Party for Soil Microbes

In the South, we drink sweet tea. In Japan, green tea is the beverage of choice. And in England, Brits favor Earl Grey or English Breakfast.

But did you know trees have their own favorite flavor of tea? That’s right, soil microbes kickstart their day or take a break in the afternoon with a nutritious, steaming hot cup of compost tea.

Compost tea is a liquid slurry teeming with fungi, bacteria, and other living microbes, but in order for those tiny critters to thrive, they need the right mix of rotting stuff.

Want more microbes to visit your garden? Simply steep a pot of compost tea.

List of Ingredients:

• 1 tbsp of biochar
• 1/2 cup of worm castings
• 1 cup of spoiled produce
• 1 cup of rotting leaves
• 3-5 strips of newspaper
• 1 teaspoon of dirt
• pinch of coffee grounds

Let ingredients rot for just over a year. This will create compost. Place compost in a large tea bag and steep for 2-3 hours. For the best taste and nutrition, pour immediately over the roots of your trees and shrubs. Your trees will thank you!

* Note: this is not a literal recipe for our compost tea; it’s just a fun way to think about improving soil health.