I've got it in a 30 gal garbage container...I stirred it with a shovel and just remembered it's "gonna get stinkin" I guess my shovel will start stinkin' too if I continue to stir it with that, right?

What does everyone stir it with?

Jeanne: with all your plants, you must make more
than a 5-gal bucketful???? How much do you make?

p.s. I just noticed on the bag it has molasses in it? Did I get the right alfalfa "rabbit food"?

This message has been edited. Last edited by: nance425,

I make it in my 5 gallon buckets because it is easier to move for me...I have 5-5 gallon buckets...and yes Molasses is in the Alfalfa..Molasses is GOOD for the micro-organisms and the breakdown of stuff in the soil...bark etc...regardless what you use to stir..you can spray it down with your hose..the odor won't linger for long on it...Jeanne
ps..stink is an understatement..more like Gag-a-Magget type odor..LOL

There must be something wrong with me b/c I don't find the smell that bad. It definately stinks but I've smelled a lot worse things (like decomposing bodies-Yuk)

Forensicmom, i have always wondered where you got your name from..so you use to do forensics?? I hope you dont mind me asking...

Remind me of your "recipe" How much alfalfa pellets per water? Is that the only two ingredients? We have the pellets in the barn. DH won;t miss a few

I stir mine with a shovel too. Mine isn't stinky yet and I've stirred it every day for several days. It's started to get warmer so maybe it will soon.

daciab...here's the recipe

Tea:
Take a 5 gallon bucket
put 4 cups or 1/3 full of Alfalfa Pellets
Fill the bucket with water...STIR DAILY. Then in about 5-7 days it will start to stink. That means it is ready...put in 4 cups of Epsom salts and Stir well. Pour about 2 cups around each plant. Remember to always stir before usage. when done you can fill the bucket back up with water and start over...there will be Alfalfa Sludge in the bottom of the bucket to make more tea

Use 2 cups around rose bushes and 1cup around other plants once a month

I'm on day 11 and still waiting for the stink!
We're going to be getting some sun this week so maybe it will be ready. I hope so because we're having a party this Saturday and can't have that lingering around.

Oh-oh, I put the epsom salt in with the pellets and water when I first made it. Will that make a difference???

quote:

Oh-oh, I put the epsom salt in with the pellets and water when I first made it. Will that make a difference???

I am not sure since I've never added it first..but it might have some affect on why it hasn't started stinking yet..trust me it will stink from high heavens...it won't hurt your tea that you did add it from the start tho...I have mine in full sun..seems to hurry up the process..and of course warmer temps helps too..if yall are in colder climates ..it just might be taking longer???..I've never had one take 11 days to stink..are you stirring it really well?...Jeanne

This message has been edited. Last edited by: J.E.A.N.N.E,

I am stirring it really well, the last couple of days I've been stirring it twice a day. It could be because the weather's been lousy but we've had glorious sunshine for two days now. I haven't put a lid on it either,could that be the problem?

gonna go stir it right now before i go back to work

Gelato...the first time I made this we got a cold spell and if I remember correctly it did take about 2 full weeks.We didn't see much sun in those 2 weeks.
I started a batch this past Saturday, I hope it is done before Sunday when we are supposed to get cooler temps.

thanks, thebrownthumb, I'm thinking next year I may just make it later in the seaon, perhaps in June. If I remember correctly, I think Jeanne says she puts it on her plants 2x a season....have to go check my notes.

yep, the sunnier and warmer it is the faster it will reek to the point that the neighbors come by to check your welfare...

a lid isn't necessary, but does help prevent the foulness from wafting over the patio when you're out eating. Yeah, the voice of experience here...

forensic... I have smelled decomposing bodies too, and I have to say, I don't think this stuff is that far off. Good gawd, it reeks!

I started mine on Friday morning and I started noticing a slight odor by Sunday night/Monday morning. Guess it is that florida sunshine doing the trick. I am going to put it on tomorrow. Unfortunately, my open bucket caused the demise of a poor little lizard. (I have such a soft heart for all animals, even those lizards!)
I guess it is ok that my tea started stinking by the 2nd to 3rd day...it has definitely been warm and sunny since I started it.

Is it possible to have too much alfalfa? I started a batch on Saturday and it is thick when I get it all stirred up. If I do have too much can I just add more water after I use some out of it?

How much alfalfa did you use? I guess you could dilute it, but your epsom salts will be diluted at that time too. Can you put half into another bucket?

This message has been edited. Last edited by: thebrownthumb,

I compair the stench to an overflowing sepic system One of my neighbors complained to the town all summer about the stench until finally late in the fall I was asked by someone in authority with the town if I could please stop for a while Sure no problem (seeing as snow was about to start flying anytime). I had the best looking garden I've ever had last year and as you can see by the date that was only 1 month into my veggie season.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: kap1,

kap1 - that's pretty funny. The officials coming to "get you"... Was the stink from your brewing container or after you put it on your plants?

Man, people just can't appreciate a good thing for the earth when they smell it, eh????

Nance it was a little of both, when I'd take the cover off to stir it it would reak and for a lit