How to Compost Tea

Here at The Tea Cartel, we specialise in organically grown tea, using traditional methods, without fertilisers or harmful chemicals. What we put into our soil matters just as much, if not more than what we take out when we harvest. We wanted to share our knowledge to help you compost tea leaves after you've finished using the tea.

In this article we're going to cover:

1. How to compost tea
2. Benefits of composting
3. 3 Different ways to compost at home
4. How to Vermi-compost in your garden
5. Popular ways to compost at home in the garden

By composting your fruit, vegetable scraps and tea leaves you can add vital nutrients back into the soil, without the need for chemicals.

When you finish making your tea, you can compost the ingredients directly into your garden. By composting you're doing two really good things.

1) Avoiding landfill, tea leaves are 100% compostable2) Adding nutrients back to the soil

Composting is the process of breaking down organic matter into nutrient-rich soil that can be used to improve the health of your garden or plants. Composting is really easy and if you have kids, a fun thing to do so they can learn about how the environment underground works.

Benefits of Composting

Composting has numerous benefits for both the environment and your garden. Here are some benefits of composting:

1. Reduces waste: Composting helps to divert organic waste from landfills, where it would produce methane gas, a potent greenhouse gas.

2. Improves soil health: Compost is a nutrient-rich soil amendment that improves soil health by adding essential nutrients, improving soil structure, and promoting healthy soil microorganisms.

3. Saves money: Composting reduces the need for chemical fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides, which can save money on gardening expenses.

4. Reduces water usage: Compost helps to retain moisture in the soil, reducing the need for frequent watering.

5. Reduces erosion: Compost helps to prevent erosion by improving soil structure and holding soil in place.

6. Promotes plant growth: Compost provides a slow-release source of nutrients that promote plant growth and increase plant resilience to pests and diseases.

7. Reduces carbon footprint: Composting reduces greenhouse gas emissions by reducing the need for chemical fertilizers, transportation of waste to landfills, and landfill emissions.

8. Encourages sustainable practices: Composting is an environmentally friendly and sustainable practice that encourages individuals and communities to live more sustainably.

3 Different Ways to Compost at Home

There are various ways to compost, but here are three common methods:

1. Bin composting: Bin composting is the most common method of composting. It involves using a compost bin or container to hold the organic material. This method is ideal for small yards or gardens and is easy to maintain. The bin can be made of various materials like wood, plastic or metal, and can be easily purchased or built at home.

2. Trench composting: Trench composting involves digging a trench in the soil and adding organic material directly into the ground. This method is ideal for those who have a large garden or yard and can be done in areas where the soil is poor or depleted of nutrients.

3. Vermicomposting: Vermicomposting involves using worms to break down organic material into nutrient-rich compost. This method is ideal for those who live in apartments or have limited outdoor space. Vermicomposting can be done indoors, and the worm castings produced can be used as an organic fertilizer for indoor or outdoor plants.

How to Vermi-Compost in Your Garden (using worms)

Vermicomposting is the process of using worms to break down organic waste into nutrient-rich compost. Here are the steps to vermicomposting:

1. Choose a bin: Select a bin that is suitable for vermicomposting. You can purchase a worm bin or make one at home using a plastic or wooden container. The bin should have drainage holes and a tight-fitting lid.

2. Add bedding: Add bedding material to the bin. Bedding material can include shredded newspaper, cardboard, or leaves. The bedding should be moist but not soaking wet.

3. Add worms: Add composting worms to the bin. Red wigglers are the most commonly used worms for vermicomposting. Add about 1 pound of worms for every square foot of surface area of the bin.

4. Add organic material: Start adding organic material like fruit and vegetable scraps, coffee grounds, and tea leaves to the bin. Avoid adding meat, dairy, oily foods, and citrus fruits as they can attract pests and slow down the composting process.

5. Cover with bedding: Cover the organic material with a layer of bedding material. The bedding helps to maintain moisture and provide air circulation.

6. Keep the bin moist: The bin should be kept moist, but not soaking wet. Add water as needed to maintain the moisture level.

7. Mix the contents: Use a pitchfork or shovel to mix the contents of the bin once a week. This helps to aerate the compost and distribute the worms evenly.

8. Wait for the compost to be ready: The composting process can take anywhere from a few weeks to several months. You will know the compost is ready when it looks like dark, crumbly soil and has no visible bits of organic material.

9. Harvest the compost: Once the compost is ready, move the contents of the bin to one side and add fresh bedding and organic material to the other side. The worms will migrate to the fresh bedding, allowing you to harvest the finished compost. Use the compost as a nutrient-rich fertilizer for your plants.

How to Compost in Your Garden with a Hole (no bin or tumbler)

Composting by digging a hole is also known as trench composting. It is a simple and efficient way to compost kitchen and garden waste directly in the soil. Here are the steps to trench composting:

1. Choose a location: Select a location in your garden where you want to create the compost trench. The ideal location is a spot that gets plenty of sunlight and is easy to access.

2. Dig a trench: Dig a trench in the soil that is about 12 to 18 inches deep and wide. The length of the trench can vary depending on how much waste you want to compost.

3. Add organic material: Start by adding organic material such as kitchen scraps, vegetable and fruit peelings, eggshells, and yard waste to the trench. You can also add dry leaves or straw to the trench to balance the nitrogen and carbon levels.

4. Cover with soil: Cover the organic material with a layer of soil. This will help to prevent pests from getting into the trench and also keep the odour under control.

5. Repeat the process: Continue to add organic material to the trench and cover it with soil until the trench is full.

6. Wait for the compost to be ready: The composting process will take several months, depending on the temperature and moisture levels. You can check the progress by digging a small hole in the trench to see if the material has turned into dark, crumbly soil.

7. Plant on top of the compost: Once the compost is ready, you can plant directly on top of it or use it as a nutrient-rich top dressing for your garden.

How to Compost in Your Garden with a Bin or Tumbler

Here are the steps to compost:

1. Choose a compost bin: You can purchase a compost bin or build one using materials like wood, wire mesh, or plastic.

2. Select the location: Choose a location for your compost bin that is convenient for you to add material and monitor the compost pile. A shady area with good drainage is ideal.

3. Add organic material: Start by adding organic material such as leaves, grass clippings, fruit and vegetable scraps, eggshells, coffee grounds, and tea leaves to your compost bin. Avoid adding meat, dairy, or oily foods as they can attract pests and slow down the composting process.

4. Mix the materials: Use a pitchfork or a shovel to mix the materials together, which helps to speed up the composting process and ensure that the compost is evenly distributed.

5. Water the compost: Your compost pile should be kept moist, but not soaking wet. Add water as needed, but avoid over-watering as this can slow down the composting process.

6. Turn the compost: Turn the compost pile every few weeks to aerate it, which helps to speed up the composting process.

7. Wait for the compost to be ready: The time it takes for the compost to be ready can vary depending on factors like the temperature and moisture level. You will know the compost is ready when it looks like dark, crumbly soil with no visible bits of organic material. This can take anywhere from a few weeks to several months.

8. Use the compost: Use the compost to enrich your garden soil, potted plants, or lawn.

How We Compost at Home with a Tiny Bucket, 1 Shovel and 30 Seconds

1. We have a small 1 litre small bucket with lid on the kitchen sink (purchased from Bunnings hardware). Each meal time we put any vegetable/fruit scraps including tea leaves into the bin.
2. At the end of each day we go into our front yard garden, dig a little hole with a hand shovel and bury the food scraps about 30cm deep.
3. Daily we alternate different places in the garden, with at least 1/2 metre between each spot, we won't return to the same spot for 2 weeks (to allow enough time for the food to decompose and be eaten by the worms).
4. We have noticed in a short amount of time (30 days) worms have multiplied, the quality of our soil has improved and our vegetables, fruits and edible plants are healthier and growing faster.