Comments on: Leachate, Right or Wrong? You Decide! http://vermicoast.com/2010/06/leachate-right-or-wrong-you-decide/ Redworms and Guidance from a Master Composter Tue, 29 Nov 2011 03:32:24 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: shel http://vermicoast.com/2010/06/leachate-right-or-wrong-you-decide/comment-page-1/#comment-1328 shel Tue, 21 Dec 2010 04:26:40 +0000 http://vermicoast.com/?p=264#comment-1328 Joe, I am doing a mass selection and deletion from the site and re-read this. It recalls to me that I have been watching a bin since the leachate issue arose. The tray under this bin is loaded with leachate. Not one fly, fruit fly or otherwise has landed on or in it. No ants are attracted to it. It is now a greenish slime. I shall not use this in the garden. I am not going to test it for it's properties either as it has now been very diluted by the recent rains. Joe,
I am doing a mass selection and deletion from the site and re-read this. It recalls to me that I have been watching a bin since the leachate issue arose. The tray under this bin is loaded with leachate. Not one fly, fruit fly or otherwise has landed on or in it. No ants are attracted to it. It is now a greenish slime. I shall not use this in the garden. I am not going to test it for it’s properties either as it has now been very diluted by the recent rains.

]]> By: shel http://vermicoast.com/2010/06/leachate-right-or-wrong-you-decide/comment-page-1/#comment-791 shel Mon, 20 Sep 2010 03:45:43 +0000 http://vermicoast.com/?p=264#comment-791 We all have our likes and dislikes. At this point in the ongoing issue of leachate: I say do what works for you. I do agree it should, if you are going to use it be well diluted. We all have our likes and dislikes. At this point in the ongoing issue of leachate: I say do what works for you. I do agree it should, if you are going to use it be well diluted.

]]> By: Ben http://vermicoast.com/2010/06/leachate-right-or-wrong-you-decide/comment-page-1/#comment-721 Ben Wed, 11 Aug 2010 13:03:40 +0000 http://vermicoast.com/?p=264#comment-721 Hi Shel (and Joe) I have to admit that I tend to agree with Joe. We use the leachate and then dilute it with water (roughly about 10 parts of water for every part of leachate). I have the impression that the leachate is a strong base and therefore needs to be attinuated in order to be beneficial to the plants. Cheers, Ben Hi Shel (and Joe)

I have to admit that I tend to agree with Joe. We use the leachate and then dilute it with water (roughly about 10 parts of water for every part of leachate). I have the impression that the leachate is a strong base and therefore needs to be attinuated in order to be beneficial to the plants.

Cheers,

Ben

]]> By: shel http://vermicoast.com/2010/06/leachate-right-or-wrong-you-decide/comment-page-1/#comment-669 shel Thu, 01 Jul 2010 04:10:30 +0000 http://vermicoast.com/?p=264#comment-669 Joe, I am pleased for you and your plants that the leachate is working out so well for you. I still need to get or find the evidence that told me not to use it here any longer. But, I will. When I do I shall let you know. Thanks for keeping me on track with this one. ~Shel Joe, I am pleased for you and your plants that the leachate is working out so well for you. I still need to get or find the evidence that told me not to use it here any longer. But, I will. When I do I shall let you know. Thanks for keeping me on track with this one.
~Shel

]]> By: Joe Weissman http://vermicoast.com/2010/06/leachate-right-or-wrong-you-decide/comment-page-1/#comment-604 Joe Weissman Tue, 22 Jun 2010 00:34:04 +0000 http://vermicoast.com/?p=264#comment-604 Shel, Again, back to this topic. The mineral and and nutrient content of leachate and "worm tea" has to be the same. If not, tell me how it differs. Agreed, leachate tends to be anaerobic, but so what. Once you get it into the ground the bacteria will take care of the conversion to aerobic, if needed. Again, so what. The plants love it, even with an odor. You mentioned "overwhelming evidence" told you that you should no longer use leachate, especially on edible foods. With due respect, I would like to know the evidence. Hearing from various people around the world is not evidence, it is opinion. Not good enough as evidence as far as I'm concerned as a scientist. I would not complain about the issue, except that you are considered a maven and are publishing a book on worms; I would expect true scientific evidence, like testing both the leachate and tea under blinded tests to see if there is a defference. Maybe not important. But I hate to discard 10 gallons of leachate because of an erroneous opinion. Sorry for the ranting. Joe W Shel,

Again, back to this topic. The mineral and and nutrient content of leachate and “worm tea” has to be the same. If not, tell me how it differs. Agreed, leachate tends to be anaerobic, but so what. Once you get it into the ground the bacteria will take care of the conversion to aerobic, if needed. Again, so what. The plants love it, even with an odor.

You mentioned “overwhelming evidence” told you that you should no longer use leachate, especially on edible foods. With due respect, I would like to know the evidence. Hearing from various people around the world is not evidence, it is opinion. Not good enough as evidence as far as I’m concerned as a scientist.

I would not complain about the issue, except that you are considered a maven and are publishing a book on worms; I would expect true scientific evidence, like testing both the leachate and tea under blinded tests to see if there is a defference. Maybe not important. But I hate to discard 10 gallons of leachate because of an erroneous opinion.

Sorry for the ranting.

Joe W

]]> By: shel http://vermicoast.com/2010/06/leachate-right-or-wrong-you-decide/comment-page-1/#comment-544 shel Thu, 17 Jun 2010 04:00:57 +0000 http://vermicoast.com/?p=264#comment-544 Joe, I did a great deal of research into this, as I had heard from various people around the world on the topic. I know that using it is working for you and that is OK. But the overwhelming evidence told me that I will no longer use it here especially on edible plants. I have 2 Can O' Worms, the three tiered bins with the spigot at the bottom and I used that leachate here for many years. I won't any longer. I knew this would be a hot topic and that is one reason I addressed it. You are lucky that your system doesn't have an odor to the leachate. I have noted, when I have used it here, that mine didn't either. So, the jury is still out on this one for me. Not for you though it seems. Thanks for your comments. Always appreciated. ~Shel Joe,
I did a great deal of research into this, as I had heard from various people around the world on the topic.
I know that using it is working for you and that is OK. But the overwhelming evidence told me that I will no longer use it here especially on edible plants.
I have 2 Can O’ Worms, the three tiered bins with the spigot at the bottom and I used that leachate here for many years. I won’t any longer.
I knew this would be a hot topic and that is one reason I addressed it.
You are lucky that your system doesn’t have an odor to the leachate. I have noted, when I have used it here, that mine didn’t either.
So, the jury is still out on this one for me. Not for you though it seems. Thanks for your comments. Always appreciated.
~Shel

]]> By: Joe Weissman http://vermicoast.com/2010/06/leachate-right-or-wrong-you-decide/comment-page-1/#comment-540 Joe Weissman Thu, 17 Jun 2010 01:52:03 +0000 http://vermicoast.com/?p=264#comment-540 Shelley, I have used the diluted leachate, one gallon diluted by 1/2 or 1/3, on my house plants, roses, and garden shrubs. Contrary to your comment, and others that I have read, the diluted leachate seems to be great for my plants. The plants are thriving. Toxic? Hardly if the plants are doing so well. I also have a Worm Factory bin which is always draining leachate though the odor from the bin is the earthy smell, not the typical anaerobic stench from an overfed, overwatered system. Though I respect your expertise the fact that my plants are doing so well makes me wonder whether I am missing something. Any comment? Shelley,

I have used the diluted leachate, one gallon diluted by 1/2 or 1/3, on my house plants, roses, and garden shrubs. Contrary to your comment, and others that I have read, the diluted leachate seems to be great for my plants. The plants are thriving. Toxic? Hardly if the plants are doing so well.

I also have a Worm Factory bin which is always draining leachate though the odor from the bin is the earthy smell, not the typical anaerobic stench from an overfed, overwatered system. Though I respect your expertise the fact that my plants are doing so well makes me wonder whether I am missing something. Any comment?

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