Really convenient bags can be bought online at: www.letgoletsgrow.com Those bags have drawstrings and are a good size for both small and large batches. also, sorry to get off topic, there are many different tApes of compost tea. It is important to know the difference between manure tea and actively aerated compost tea. Manure teas can have pathogens and are anaerobic while actively aerated compost tea is aerated and has enough dissolved oxygen to help the good guys and not allow such things as E. coli ...

thanks very much for all the replies everyone :) blutranes "Do you guys leave the bag in for the whole brew?" It all depends on what my goal is in regard to what I want to do with the tea. Is the compost tea going to be a soil drench or foliar spray? Am I looking to increase microorganism counts within the soil or on the plants? Am I looking to feed the plants/soil nutrients or humic acids? The answer to those questions will determine what kind of compost I will use, how long I will brew the tea, how I will apply the tea, or how long between applications of the compost tea will be decided. Compost tea, like any other organic gardening tool can be used (or misused) effectively by the owner of just about any garden. With good information on hand and a goal in mind, excellent results can be achieved right now, my main project is a new Tall Fescue lawn I seeded about 6 1/2 weeks ago (on April 15th). One application of tea I used liquid seaweed extract. I heard seaweed is good for seedlings? I also heard alfalfa is good for seedlings? The soil is white/light gray clay. There was an old Tall Fescue lawn there before. This past March/April I killed the old lawn with roundup. I lightly core aerated (maybe 6 - 8 holes/sq ft). I tilled in some topsoil and compost (about 1/4 inch) to the top 2 inches or so with a rake (I didn't rototill it). I topdressed the seeds with a 1/4 inch layer of compost. I used Scotts synthetic Starter Fertilizer with Siduron crabgrass preventer. I've mowed a few times. I'm keeping it between 3 - 4 inches tall. What would be some good compost tea recipes for my newly seeded Tall Fescue lawn? I live in San Diego, CA

Old socks, old kitchen tea towels, old t-shirts, old sheets/pillowcases, coffee filters make good small bags, old cotton shirts, etc. Cheese cloth is great and sold in the paint department. ;) Thin fabrics work better than thicker ones - anything that you can form into a bag shape. Dave

Compost Tea is a nutritionally rich, well-balanced, organic plant food made by steeping aged compost in water. The water is then diluted and used as a root and/or foliar feed. It is also noted for its ability to control various plant diseases (blights, molds, wilts, etc. when used as a foliar spray), to repel and control insect pests and their damage when used on a regular basis, and to encourage the growth of benefical soil bacteria which results in healthier, more stress-tolerant plants. There are several different recipes for compost tea but the basic one most often recommended here calls for the following: 1 large container with lid (plastic trash can works well) Enough aged, completed compost to fill an old pillow case 1/2-3/4 full Sufficient water to fill the container Fill the container with the water. Place the compost into an old pillowcase (cheese cloth bag or pantyhose also work well), tie off the top and submerge in the container of water. Cover (to prevent odor and insect problems) and let steep for a MINIMUM of 2 weeks. This steeping time is crucial to the formation of benefical bacteria and the required fermentation process. When finished, dip out the "tea" and dilute it to the color of weak iced tea (3 parts water to 1 part tea) and use as root food for any and all plants on a weekly or as-needed basis. To use as a foliar spray or on young seedlings, most recommend additional dilution. The remaining tea can continue to steep until needed. The following factors will determine the quality of the finished tea: Use well-aged, finished compost - Fresh compost can burn the plants or contain harmful pathogens and that which is too old is nutritionally deficient. The contents of the compost - It should be balanced and of good quality if using purchased compost. That which contains some portion of aged animal manure apparently remains active longer than that composed only of plant matter but it isn't required. (It is important to note that COMPOST TEA AND MANURE TEA ARE NOT THE SAME THING. Manure teas can be made in the same way but are not generally recommended as foliar sprays and are not as nutritionally well-balanced.) Method of application and weather - A pump sprayer or misting bottle works better than hose-end sprayers for large areas or for foliar feeding as they don't plug up as easily. Re-application after rain is necessary and one should avoid applying to the leaves during the heat of the day. Root feeding is not affected by the weather. Thanks to all who contributed to this piece.