The bigger one (senior) comes w/o a Compost Tea collecting base. How necessary is it? Really helpful. To be honest I do not know what it does. Thx...
1406784
I like the tea collecting base because it is a place for the water that collects to be drained off. Food waste has quite a bit of water in it. I take the 'tea' that collects, mix it about half and half with water and use it water my plants. It's a potent non-chemical fertilizer boost. If you're doing food waste, the collector is great.
1406785
Hi there. The collection base is a great feature. As you are composting you need to keep your material damp, so when your apply water it passes through the decomposing material and collects in the base. This becomes compost tea which is high in nutrients and should be used occasionally when watering your plants. Great stuff compost tea. However from our experience you need to elevate the whole unit to get at the spout, so we have our unit on an out door table. So if the unit is not elevated you need to remove the barrel and have a second pair of hands to help you drain the base. In closing we are happy with the product.
1406786
Hi there. The collection base is a great feature. As you are composting you need to keep your material damp, so when your apply water it passes through the decomposing material and collects in the base. This becomes compost tea which is high in nutrients and should be used occasionally when watering your plants. Great stuff compost tea. However from our experience you need to elevate the whole unit to get at the spout, so we have our unit on an out door table. So if the unit is not elevated you need to remove the barrel and have a second pair of hands to help you drain the base. In closing we are happy with the product. Hi there. The collection base is a great feature. As you are composting you need to keep your material damp, so when your apply water it passes through the decomposing material and collects in the base. This becomes compost tea which is high in nutrients and should be used occasionally when watering your plants. Great stuff compost tea. However from our experience you need to elevate the whole unit to get at the spout, so we have our unit on an out door table. So if the unit is not elevated you need to remove the barrel and have a second pair of hands to help you drain the base. In closing... » Read More Hi there. The collection base is a great feature. As you are composting you need to keep your material damp, so when your apply water it passes through the decomposing material and collects in the base. This becomes compost tea which is high in nutrients and should be used occasionally when watering your plants. Great stuff compost tea. However from our experience you need to elevate the whole unit to get at the spout, so we have our unit on an out door table. So if the unit is not elevated you need to remove the barrel and have a second pair of hands to help you drain the base. In closing we are happy with the product. « Show Less
1823342
I live in an area with a lot of wildlife - squirrels, chipmunks, snakes, stray dogs, foxes, even bears, and I've never had them bother the compost pile yet. It might be because I'm careful to not compost any meat, grain or dairy, and maybe because I use a lot of coffee grounds and tea leaves. I also put it in the back of the yard, far away from the house, so it's a less likely target for house pests. If you have an existing problem with rats or mice, you might want to consider a closed compost tumbler. If you get this bin, I'd recommend leaving it open to catch rainfall and for airflow.
1306961
Are you serious? It's for plants. Hole in the bottom of cup for water overflow and is the size of a small mixing bowl, so that would be one ginormous cup of tea!
420323
You will need a strainer. There are several very nice ones for sale on Amazon. I personally bought the Empress Tea Strainer.
1009817
they most definitely will not compost in this. unless you create the worlds smallest compost bin with this :) this is meant for keeping them in your kitchen/house until you can transfer them to something bigger.
1292714
Aloha, here in Hawai'i I keep the can outside. As food turns to the "tea" it smells like poop. I wouldn't keep it indoors.
1058304
I have a 20gallon plastic tote that I use for my composting. I added in a little dirt to start it, added in worms and now add paper and old fruits/veggies as the worms eat it. I have had it going for a year now and it has been great for my plants!
989754
The directions that come with the composter I think said a 3 parts water to one part tea... Not 100% confident.
1698244
Not sure about composting but it is a great leaf and garden trash collector. Gave it to my son-in-law and now everyone in his neighborhood has one.
2078917
I did, but cut back on other organic "additives". Not counting compost in there, just ANY thing that came out of a container. And of course you always have to watch your NPK.
109957
The one we received was very heavy and the base was much larger than it looked in the picture. I even wondered if they substituted another model when I received it . It was too cumbersome and heavy for my 80 yeast old mom and we couldn't mail it back even as box was destroyed in shipping . So donated it to convalescent hospital instead an bought ond local for her . Hope the information helps In your decision
1165834
The "tube" in the middle serves a purpose. Example, when doing zucchini (one of my favorites to run thru here), the packed rod that emerges from the bottom of the spiralizer is mostly the seeds from the middle. I just compost that. With carrots or potatoes, it is not waste, so what I do is chop it up and add it to the mix.
1531233
No. I use a sieve when removing the compost and then can make the tea in a bucket.
1787531
There are plenty of books on this topic - you need a mixture of things like kitchen scraps, yard waste like grass clippings or shredded leaves, and "brown" material like coffee chaff...and other things I can't remember right now. These are two books that I like: Easy Compost (Brooklyn Botanic Garden All-Region Guide)The Complete Compost Gardening Guide: Banner batches, grow heaps, comforter compost, and other amazing techniques for saving time and money, and ... most flavorful, nutritous vegetables ever. But I know some peoplw swear by the Rodale book. I found that one too dense. There are plenty of books on this topic - you need a mixture of things like kitchen scraps, yard waste like grass clippings or shredded leaves, and "brown" material like coffee chaff...and other things I can't remember right now. These are two books that I like: Easy Compost (Brooklyn Botanic Garden All-Region Guide)The Complete Compost Gardening Guide: Banner batches, grow heaps, comforter compost, and other amazing techniques for saving time and... » Read More There are plenty of books on this topic - you need a mixture of things like kitchen scraps, yard waste like grass clippings or shredded leaves, and "brown" material like coffee chaff...and other things I can't remember right now. These are two books that I like: Easy Compost (Brooklyn Botanic Garden All-Region Guide)The Complete Compost Gardening Guide: Banner batches, grow heaps, comforter compost, and other amazing techniques for saving time and money, and ... most flavorful, nutritous vegetables ever. But I know some peoplw swear by the Rodale book. I found that one too dense. « Show Less
1297373
The infuser basket is removable. I find that the basket is fine for bulky teas, just let the tea steep for longer and save on herbs in the long run! I do think that the basket could be replaced with a longer one but find it unnecessary do to the reason mentioned above. Less is more. : )
88963
Well, Jim -- I haven't the slightest, not being a tea drinker. But -- and just a surmise -- a vacuum container should help the "life" of tea leaves just as well as coffee beans, wouldn't you think? (I really don't have any real proof re the vacuum/coffee bean theory either) But, if this is any help: I do have a jewish friend who'd say, "Try it; it could help......" BJ
1649260
Basically you add your tea leaves into the strainer. With the filled strainer in the teapot, add the heated water. Let it steep for a few minutes, or as desired. At this point you can empty the teapot into a mug or mugs and start drinking tea. I place the strainer in the sink to let it drain a bit before adding the used leaves to the compost. Hope this helps.