FREE Liquid Fertilizer for your Garden || Black Gumbo

In this video I will show you how I make liquid fertilizer from the weeds and refuse from my garden. I learned about this method from David the Good, his book, "Compost Everything," taught me about how to use even those noxious weeds from my garden to reclaim the minerals and nutrition that those weeds robbed from my soil. I'll show you how easy it is, even if it is a little bit stinky. this is an exceptional way to recycle the weeds in your garden to reclaim the nutrition that they have taken up and stored in their biomass.
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Black Gumbo shares our suburban, backyard, sustainable gardening efforts. We work a small-scale, typical Zone 9a garden and raised beds, the kind of gardening accessible to all. We tend to take the slice of life approach and hope you will enjoy our family, our dog, our cooking, our adventures, and occasionally some commentary and advice. We love family, joy and friendship, and we invite you to enjoy these things with us!
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[@johnmudd6453]

I put cow/ horse manure , nettles and any other weeds with seeds into a Hessian sack (which keeps all the material contained ) and then put it into a 50gallon drum ,I just take the water from the outside of the sack ,that way I don't have to filter all the debris out .

[@norikotakei9417]

Consuming produce grown with fertilizers with manures NOT AGED FOR AT LEAST THREE YEARS will prove VERY unhealthy and dangerous .

[@apteryx7080]

my folks did this for years, they had a huge stainless steel tub with a tap on the bottom . They would keep that thing chock full with weeds, prunings and seaweed. Honestly, their vegetable garden was the bomb. The soil was insanely rich, they could grow anything.

[@ralphmoore9422]

But did you wonder why all your neighbors fled the neighborhood?

[@clynthia0510]

Someone in your family already knew what we are just learning. Wow. Hopefully, you are now able to have your own gardening experience! These days, that knowledge and experience is priceless. 😊😇🙏🏾

[@brownfeather865]

​@@ralphmoore9422 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@carolburnett8372]

OH just think - there is a fish Resturant close to me that uses fresh fish and sells fish raw......I would ask them for fish scales......

[@jude7321]

Hi Scott I made this gnarly swamp water a while back and it really does smell gross🤪 When you take that lid off, it'll take the top of your head off! but I put Vicks vapor rub under my nose and I can't smell it anymore. They use that trick when they perform autopsies on badly decomposed bodies, so I thought it would probably work and it did. No more stinky swamp water. Yay!!! Thanks Scott

[@fldesigner5047]

Great video. I use a modified version your 5 gal bucket method. 1 use 2- 5 gal buckets. I put holes in the bottom of one bucket, then put it inside the other to use the bucket with holes as a strainer when I want to use the brew. Keeps the solids in the first bucket , so no straining required

[@carolyngreen5458]

Great idea!

[@angelatoplovich8998]

I'm new to this channel and idea of fertilizer.....excited to try it.....DOUBLE excited to try it now with your double bucket idea!!!! Thank you

[@annerico785]

I'm doing the same thing. Great idea isnt it?

[@jinimurray4090]

I like your idea. I could handle that better being in wheelchair. I am brand new to gardening. I have been saving my organic scraps & giving them away for years. Time to think again perhaps. Having fertilizer isn’t knowing how to grow - types of soil. PLUS I’m in arizona- dry rocky Not sure where to start. Think I’ll ask God - He’s the best gardener.

[@atiliamooring9421]

Awesome modification

[@KeikoMushi]

When I first saw David and his wife talk about this method years ago, I was fascinated and a little disturbed. Fascinated by how simple and logical it was and disturbed at why people are so freaked out over smelly things in the garden. To me, that seems odd especially given how many people use animal manures to amend their soil. In any case, it is refreshing discovering that you'd hung out with David and felt compelled to try this method as well.

[@brighterdaysplantnurseryan2629]

I've been doing this before I even knew it was a 'thing'. I just figured that if weeds are going to grow then they should pay the cost and contribute to their existence. After all, they are expendable!😂 A big THANK YOU, Scott for your very practical, unpretentious share. God bless you!

[@carolinnewell4686]

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[@sebastianlobo5455]

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[@sebastianlobo5455]

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[@MrWarmer]

M?mm

[@theknifeman7097]

Same here man I am a poor gardener gotta learn lots of tricks

[@gh_007]

When I freaked out over mold growing on the soil from kitchen scraps my parents advised I could add directly to the garden, my dad pointed out there’s mold already in soil. That a soil that is free of mold and other microbial life is dead. Also, Scott is 100% right about anerobic breakdown. It’s how stuff under the dirt breaks down? It still feeds roots and past generations have been using these methods for thousands of years!

[@carolburnett8372]

Thanks Grace, I save all my scraps and sit them outside until I can pitch onto the garden......it looks so moldy until I wonder if I am adding unhealthy bacteria.........are there any videos on this.......your dad is right.....

[@robertaw3559]

@@carolburnett8372 In FL, I have a parade of coons, possoms, stray cats [according to my cameras] even a deer or 2 at night along with squirrels and rats at other times that would certainly invade whatever I leave outside or pitch into the garden. This swamp water idea is covered and seems like something I'm gon'a try.

[@carolburnett8372]

@@robertaw3559 I have looked at so many videos and pictures, that I forgot about the swamp water........is this where you place the scraps under water and make a kind of scrap tea???

[@jthepickle7]

As it doesn't rain inside my 50' x 20' hoop house, when prepping the soil/beds for the growing season I use 12 cups of molasses in 12, 2 1/2 gallon watering cans - to feed the sleepy microbes & fungi - then water well. ( I'm pretty sure a couple cups of molasses, in the large barrel, would supercharge the Black Gumbo)

[@tobiasheemels6552]

Hahaha love this! I did exact the same cutting with exact the same blue barel for exact the same proces anaerobic composting having exact the same dog Corgi. The universe showing me and us some awesome synchronicity when following our passion in the garden with nature. Much love from the Southern Netherlands!

[@sandytucker7387]

I've been doing something similar with my leftover grass cuttings,fall leaves, kitchen scraps etc but I didn't know I could make a tea like liquid for fertilizer. Great idea thank you so much!!

[@clynthia0510]

Great Job! 👍Robbie and Gary from S. California is a container gardener. She uses the same theory. She has a compost-in-place system that uses the dead and yellowed plant leaves and kitchen scraps to fertilize her container garden. I started putting those yellowed and dead leaves in a bucket of water. I also started catching the runoff from my containers when I water. I feed all of these waters back to the plants. It makes a big difference to the garden. I will be starting a fetid water system in a 30-gallon garbage can since I watched your video! Thanks 😊

[@tennesseenana4838]

With all of the 'can't do this or that' going around, it's a wonder any of us have survived this long. We really need to take a serious look back into the commonsense ways of gardening! Thanks, Scott for showing us one of them. I've been doing that in an 18-gallon tote and will continue with this newly added 'how to' information. I was still thinking I needed to keep the browns and greens equal. LOVE your channel!!!

[@ausfoodgarden]

I've basically been doing this for years except I use 2 buckets, odd and even months. I use the liquid as you show but add the rotted weeds to the compost pile. I only use invasive grasses and weeds as material for the buckets. And to all those who say it's the wrong way to do it - well, it works for me! Great video Scott

[@WatchTLCCRMOFFICIAL]

So you mean you don't buy fertilizers? Is it only weeds? What else do you include, please can you break it down?

[@ausfoodgarden]

@@WatchTLCCRMOFFICIAL For the "weed tea" yes, just weeds and maybe some comfrey leaves. I add compost every season to my beds and the only bought-in fertilizers I use are blood and bone and fish emulsion.

[@crystalmyrick9429]

Me too 😁Natures way!!!

[@WatchTLCCRMOFFICIAL]

@@ausfoodgarden Thanks for your input.👍

[@bobb.6393]

Stinging nettle even better

[@daledurbin2354]

Late winter, early spring I have a large amount of stinging nettle (Padre Island) I did this last year after Dave's vid, Used just the stinging nettle, Works! Water is important, I used untreated well water, Rain is good, City water, needs to stand a few days. Works! had bumper crops, couldn't give away my surplus fast enough. Thanks goes to David the Good. And thank you for redoing.

[@garyfrye485]

I've been gardening for 30 plus years. I'm just starting to use compost this year. I have a 5 gallon bucket to put scraps in with a lid. I also fish. After I fillet my fish, I put the carcass in a five gallon bucket, fill it up with water, and put a air tight lid on it. Thanks you for your video.

[@rnkim2564]

I love this idea... I surf fish and keep wanting to use the heads and anything else if i do filet... with the fertilizer shortage looming, I kept thinking about this as I already buy fish emulsion... I'm like why cant I make my own? I already have several inside and outside worms bin systems and lately ive even been trying my own dilute urine (10-15 to 1) which I discovered works great for nitrogen and all the damn vitamin leftovers I take that I mix with worm tea... wow! everything is doing great and I surmise I'm a rather unusual girl when I have to go on YT to share enthusiasm for rotting fish parts 🤣

[@julialaw6471]

Fish guts and carcasses are the best! I just bury them around my veggies, roses, everything and they love it ❤️ Didn't know about seaweed, glad I know now as I have unlimited access to it!😎

[@garyfrye485]

I keep the fish carcass about two weeks. Like I said, I fill the bucket up with water. I don't use any part of the fish. I use the water. Once the bucket is empty I fill it back up again and let it sit again. If you bury any parts of a fish. It attracts scavengers. They will dig it up. And the plant with it. Just use the water.

[@freezo244]

Whew! I bet that stinks to high heaven!

[@storkdeliverysstorkdeliver2846]

You should bury those fish carcasses. It's better than miracle grow !

[@purnp5897]

Thankyou for sharing your wisdom, you have reduced the suffering of plants worldwide as we watch and learn from your videos. Once again, thankyou!

[@MolloRelax]

The first barrel you cut already gives you the lid you need for itself. Just flip the top part over the remaining body of the barrel, and you have a 3 inch thick lid , easy to remove. I used my barrels to collect rain water , and I use the lid to keep leaves from entering the barrel. Obviously I cut out the existing cap from the lid to accommodate the downspout from the roof

[@ontherocksinthesoilmichael6739]

I do a version of this especially with deep tap rooted plants like horse radish, comfrey leaves, dandilion. Because of the minerals that are brought up from the depths of the soil. There are also deep tap rooted weeds that can be used as well that can be added as well. Free food for worms (I raise them for castings) and fetid swamp water grin.

[@bencordle4276]

You put your dandelions into your tea mix or just the roots? I have used the leaves and flowers either in my salads or make a hot tea for relaxing in the evening

[@mike1968442]

I think that was awesome tips! I would build a stand and add an off/on nozzle along with a screen filter. That way I can just turn the knob and fluid goes into my watering can.

[@Scott_Free]

If you cut the barrel just like you did on the first one, you can flip the lid upside down and it fits perfectly. That's how we do it.

[@loycemarch8409]

I agree.

[@mamagrotgrows]

Yep, that’s what we do. It’s a great fit.

[@rhondabrethorst8135]

Great tip guys...I'd like to add this to a platform and put a drain valve in and making sure a bucket or tub can fit under the drain plug.

[@charlesroberts3910]

Do you need drain holes or do you need a lot of water

[@charlesroberts3910]

Dog poop should be good too and your urine

[@loycemarch8409]

I have a rolling patio ice box. It has a faucet drain. I use that.

[@anitamurphy2454]

I've used Dave's method. Works wonders and this is a timely reminder with the cost of fertilizer maybe increasing. It did seem to work as well as fish emulsion or a fresh compost layer to me.

[@anthonyshirah3331]

I need to get my compost going next, and learn more on this swamp water, knowledge is a very valuable. Thanks for sharing this and keeping his knowledge alive

[@carolinegilbert8945]

Thankyou for sharing this great gardening tip, "you are so right" this method is exactually what my Dad did for his garden, and his garden over the years has always looked full of lushy leafy rich green healthy trees, shrubs and smaller potted plants that always gave out beautiful big blossoms. I am a keen gardener myself , but I have all my plants growing in extra large pots, shrubs, palm trees, succulents and my herbs. I will start doing this, but I will have to do it in small volume as I already "must frustrate" my close neighbours when I put out dynamic lifter soaking in water brew fertilizer, that also smells bad. KEEP UP YOUR GREAT GARDENING, YOU HAVE A GARDEN TO BE PROUD OF.

[@davidthegood]

Nice work!

[@earlineholland6877]

I use an old chest deep freezer filled with this, I am so glad to have seen this because I was afraid to put on my plants!! It had set for over a year! Thank so much for all the info!!

[@GeemailMailboxx]

Why are you yelling!? 😬

[@peachieledbetter4550]

Good idea,I have a old fridge with too freezer so we may try that, probably to late to use this yr,but should be great for next yr! Thanks

[@smas3256]

I've been making compost tea for a couple years now. No cover. Less than 5 gallons. Today we cooked shrimp. When finished cooling, ice bath, I put that water in the tea I was brewing. A little smelly when stirring the mix. I'll put a little olive olive oil on top to drown mosquito eggs. Next. I saved the cooking water and shells separately to use for pepper plants we bought today. SO MUCH TO LEARN. Thanks you.

[@lorrainerhoades881]

I've been doing this for years. Best fertilizer you will ever have for your garden

[@annlyder8657]

Hi Scott, I do the same and then add 10 parts water to 1 part nettle tea. I am also doing rhubarb leaves as a pesticide this year. It's great sharing tips to help gardeners thank you x.

[@brianfitch5469]

Make a tobacco tea and spray it as pesticide if needed. Nicotine is a organic insecticide.

[@prioritymaleman]

Scott, so happy for you and the way your channel has grown. I subbed when you were well under 50k and look at ya now! I echo what you say about this method of fertilizing; nasty but great! And I love the way you debunk all the fancy techniques that may sound good but are a ton of trouble, and maybe not even necessary. Great stuff! Jim in FL

[@kath-phlox]

Lol, I was here well before ya. We spotted a good guy immediately didn't we ;)

[@LiliansGardens]

Oh yes great advise. Thanks so much. All the critical gardeners who have staff to do everything for them. We are hands on gardeners here.. Compliments of the season. Lilian

[@lauramccament1381]

This is great! I love the end when you say to put anything you hate in there. I'm looking at a lot of spring grass/weed that is coming up. I was trying to decided how to get rid of it. Looks like I'll be pulling it up (we've just had a lot of rain, yay) and stuffing it into a barrel. THANKS!!!

[@iamorganicgardening]

Hello Sir, Love your channel and Dave's too. To get nutrients of any kind to your living plant nature and only nature can create organic plant food. You need first bacteria and fungi to eat the organic material, store it in their bodies and then nematode's and protozoa mush eat those two types and when they poop it out then and only then it is plant nutrients are available. There is a lot of thing that can go wrong it this method. I would be glad to have a phone conversation with you on this matter. Life needs air. Have a very Merry Christmas and to all your loved ones.

[@kellyesselmont2478]

Suggestion if it tapers cut it a few inches down and then cut another cut about an inch and slide the top inside instead of over then you’re only using 1 barrel 😁 the rim should prevent it from slipping in

[@pamelabrooker2106]

I made a tea bag for mine .I use a pump. Move bag to side and pump doesn't get glogged up.When liquid gone you can pull bag out and empty dregs to dry for ground cover

[@melaniewilliams6499]

You could keep it open with a fish pump keeping it bubbling and put a old sheet over tied off, it reduces the stench and keeps it activated

[@jean-pierreposman7282]

Hello Scott ! I had in mind to do that exact the same in my garden . I was a little affraid to acciding my soil. Vut now i see you do it . I gonna do it top . Thanks for the advice . Jp

[@j.reneewhite915]

Yeah that stuff is really good for your garden and it's free but the smell is so bad it's hard to get out there and face the chore down. So glad you pointed out that you need to block the mosquitoes from laying larva in the liquid. I make it a practice to remove weeds before it goes to seed. This has cut down my need to weed over the years. If I think I have weed seed in my tea I will only use the liquid after straining it. The rest goes off the property. I avoid replanting weed seed onto my property. Both my neighbors generously share their many weeds with me. I try to water it in very early in the morning in hopes that it'll have settled by the heat of the day so my neighbors don't have to smell it. I focus my watering in of the tea at soil level near the base of the plants. I use worm castings to make tea as well and will put that on the entire plant especially if I see some insect activity that I want to stop. I wait a couple of days and follow up with a lot of fresh water and then continue to harvest from the garden.

[@legalyzeit]

i have a huge barrell. so far this year it has been mostly the marigolds from our garden. i have been putting it on the tropical plants in the green house and they are all pushing new growth. Also applying to our onions and other veggies in the garden is helping

[@oakcliffpride]

Burning my garden before spring has made a huge difference I'll have to try this in addition. Thank you 😊

[@AK-ru3sg]

I use an old home brew container with a tap at the bottom. Also over here in the UK we have nettles which are high in nitrogen (I think). I add seaweed and the result that smells like a dog's gas blaster going full titty is just great for the veg.

[@dannyhughes4889]

I grow a few lines of Comfrey especially for making this brew. The plants are attractive and flowers attract Bees and such, Comfrey spreads and establishes a good weed barrier to reduce infestation into Gardens etc. and I chop and drop into sealable Plastic containers that are easy to maneuver around the garden. The result stinks to High Heaven but is a plant growing powerhouse. Between seasons I empty the gunk out of the containers into my Gardens or compost piles, dig it in and let it rot down until I replant. Comfrey grows like crazy all through the year [but tapers off in Winter] so there is always a heap of raw material to use for brewing. After establishing itself it will hang in there for years and is hard to remove so be careful where you plant it.

[@TeeNeeBreeNee]

Swamp water has worked well for me for a while now. Glad to see you trying this!

[@barnabydinosaurroadsafetyp3457]

Garden moonshine - the plants love it ......

[@carlottaambrose8502]

I have some of those blue barrels. I was looking at them the other day and thinking about useing them for the weed. Thanks Scoot for confirming my plan. :)

[@GrammyMidwife]

My dog Riley does the same thing when the water hose turns on! He is ready to play! Lol

[@sureshmohan458]

Brother you taught simply what I was thinking how to do it. Thanks and God bless your sharing.

[@sandieblack4860]

You are right it does stink bad! but it works. I make a bucket with stinging nettles, another one with comfrey and another with just general run of the mill weeds. I do put a shot of old maple syrup in each bucket to help the fermentation process. You could use molasses also.

[@skunk69x29]

Unless your using the water for watering plants that you are not going to eat, I wouldn't use rainwater collected from the roof. There are quite a bit of chemical contaminants that are in most standard roofing materials and that is leached/washed into the water. Also, this method you are showing can be done on a "small scale" basis too. I just put some compostable stuff in 5 gallon buckets about halfway, fill with water (prefer rainwater) and let sit for a few days. stir occasionally. usually after a few days when the stink is coming on, you can use it to water plants. always water at the base of the plant.

[@got2kittys]

People who use rain water, are aware of safe roof materials. Clay tile or cement tiles, and colored metal roofing are water safe. Moden corrugated metal has been Unleaded, in the galvanised coating just for that reason. Avoid asphalt based roofing, or plastics.

[@bobbywise2313]

Just curious, since during a heavy down pore the rain would only touch the roof for a second, wouldn't it be safe? It is not like it is penetrating the shingles but rather just running right off.

[@mgs783]

News to me! Thanks

[@JH-fk8ow]

@@got2kittys even if you collect the rainwater in safe way, its still full of PFAS chemicals that greatly exceeds the safe level for human consumption. i understand its unavoidable in outdoor growing, just dont drink or make food with that stuff.

[@anitabachmann4311]

Xcellent presentation ! We always used our night urine on our potted , now even planted trees. Daily, trying to spread the "goodness" and the plants thrive ! For a long time our urine was their only fertilizer ! When i need pee outdoors, my husband shouts " under the apple tree"

[@marktwain368]

...and your plants don't get 'pissed off' at the uric acid they must be receiving? Can I take a leak on my potatoes growing in a tub, then?

[@anitabachmann4311]

@@marktwain368 never had negativ effect, no they love their "vitamin" drink (urine contains) nitrogen

[@jonisolis9645]

@@marktwain368 I pee in a cup and then pour it on my watering can and then fill with water to dilute the pee. I read 1 part pee to 20 parts water is a good mix.

[@susanvandenbergh7276]

FANTASTIC, THANKS SO MUCH FOR THIS SIMPLE WAY TO GIVE MY GARDEN ALL IT NEEDS TO GROW WELL!!!

[@spendheretoday3770]

Not near as grateful as I am. I'm still lost all the time, with quick little views of what might be. Still having more fun than I should be aloud. Thanks again Steven

[@JRileyStewart]

Kudos for calling out those who say anaerobes are "bad." Some are, most aren't. Korean Natural Farming is all based on anaerobic supplementation, and it works too. I think what happens is that when adding 'swamp water' to the garden, the obligate anaerobes (i.e., biology that REQUIRES very low oxygen to thrive) will die off in the aerobic regions of soil and provide food for the biology that thrives in aerobic soils. Their consumption releases the nutrients plants require. The vast majority of swamp water microbes are facultative anaerobes (i.e., they tolerate low oxygen conditions) and will either die in the soil (and become food) or permeate into the deeper layers of soil (having less oxygen than the surface), and set up house- grow, metabolize, and feed the deeper roots. So it all makes sense to me. A fact most folks don't realize is that soil microbes are the dominant life form on planet Earth: and since most, by far, of the planet is anaerobic, the diversity and number of anaerobes far exceeds aerobic microbes. So my adding such things as swamp water to the garden, we are adding to the biodiversity of the soil, and that's always a good thing. Now, where can I get cheap 55-gallon drums?

[@ScottHead]

Thanks for this, you explained it better than I can. I found my drums at a local vendor. Google it and I think you should turn some up.

[@kyler6423]

Your dog is looking to get these minerals and nutrients too. I would let him have some as they know exactly what they need. And i agree with you..centuries ago they had no aerators..they did what was available and they lived. LOL

[@ernaverheijdt2925]

I agree I use the same. Good stuff organic. Happy gardening you too

[@chuckknight2994]

I do worm composting and the liquid given off is amazing also. Tons of good stuff but no bad smell. I like this method and will be looking into doing this after the holidays.

[@keithvannote729]

Your video offers an alternate avenue to take advantage of a problem I'm experiencing-silver maple seeds. I have long thought what a waste and a nuisance. Last year I bagged 5 lawn and leaf bagsful that went to the city waste management. There has got to be a lot of good nutrients I could capture with your swamp water method. Thanks

[@evanmanalang]

Thank you! I learned something again for my garden. More power!

[@livinglifehandson7316]

I like this type of fertilizer. Free and natural. I use banana plants after they have produced a bunch of bananas. After 2 weeks in the barrel with rainwater; the potassium and phosphorus content is very high.

[@vonries]

I usually dump in some fish emulsion, trace minerals, and kelp fertilizer into my swamp water. However I store mine in with my bio-char. Then I can grab whichever I need at the time, and I know my char is charged.

[@5loaves2fish93]

God bless you Scott, love the video!

[@lloydedmonds8775]

I haven’t used “Khemicals” in my garden for a few years. Worm farming has improved my grows!

[@connecticutwormsgardens]

I've been doing this for years, just never knew it had a name lol. I have an enormous amount of comfrey and I take the leaves and put them in the bottom of a dry bucket and put a brick on top and just let the comfrey leaves rot and create their own comfrey sludge. It's like a paste rather than a liquid and omg it can be smelled down to the end of the cul-de-sac. It takes me a year to get a bucket full of liquid but when it's ready it's worth more than gold. Of course I can just add some comfrey leaves to rainwater and make comfrey tea, but the thick comfrey sludge from just the decomposing leaves is even more powerful. I never knew it needed to sit before using and I've always put it on my plants without diluting it and I've never burned or killed any plants. I like your thinking do what you think you got to do. Yep there's a lot of right ways to do things 👍

[@carolyngreen5458]

Thank you so much Scott! You’re an answer to prayer! I like the way you think and create solutions or recognize them. I have kept all my trimmings for a few years and recycled it someway in my tiny yard. Gardening in pots. I have been wondering what we would do if there was no access to fertilizer and sent out a prayer. Here’s the perfect practical answer that contributes to sustainability and carries a life cycle process full circle!!🎉🎉🎉 Love it🎉🙏

[@Juanrivers2022]

I've been using this method with a bucket also. I throw in mimosa leaves and grass clippings, random weeds. Hopefully soon ill have a barrel to make more concentrated David's swamp water

[@suehuff249]

Thank you for your true words

[@simplifygardening]

lol Scott. dogs think everything is a game. Great video. Always important to return nutrients tot he garden

[@AaricHale]

I dump all the left over drinks in ours like pop , juice , milk , tea, beer . We have 6 kids so we tend to have a lot of left over drinks . It does smell really good if you like that kinda smell lol . I have been soaking our bio char in that goodness the past few months . Thanks for sharing !

[@robynnbryar1977]

I have been planning my swamp delivery system for this year. I got a new water softener and kept the old plastic brine tank. At the bottom it has a shelf that the salt sits on top of. The shelf has holes all over it. The shelf sits up above the bottom, by about 4 inches. That will work nicely to keep the bottom of the can plant debri free. It is probably 25 or 30 gallon trashcan size with a good lid. My plan is to add a hose bib and faucet handle so that I can attach a hose and water directly from my can. It is easy to add water to my can and dilute it in the can just before use. That will make room to add more water and add more plant or household scraps to my can. I also have something I bought and used last year from Home Depot that I can fill with the swampy water then screw onto my watering hose that dilutes it as you water. I also got lazy and found it is easy to dump a bunch in the garden rows then water it in diluting in the garden. And I got even lazier and tipped my entire can of swamp water into my densely planted stand of corn. It really doesn't matter to worry about the dilution too much. It stinks to high heaven but it is fantastic fertilizer.

[@ScottHead]

This stuff is great for corn.

[@jackslapp9073]

On the white barrels like that I just cut the molded on lid off, right below the bottom side of the lid where it is narrowest. Then turn the lid over and it sits on the barrel just fine because the lid rim on top is wider in circumference than the narrow circumference under the lid. I use the same kind for rain barrels.

[@garden_geek]

Free fertilizer is the best fertilizer! I have several 5-gallon buckets full of rainwater right now. I think it’s time for a new garden experiment!

[@billclinton6040]

My thoughts of anaerobic composting: The fact that you have seal off the container from not only mosquitoes but all detritivores combined with the fact that the inputs are underwater means that more of the volatile compounds are retained. I have mused over this often when it comes to traditional composting. As greens like leaves turn brown, almost all of the nitrogen is being released straight into the atmosphere versus breaking down into a form available for plants. Now, multiply this across the many other volatile compounds found in plants and suddenly aerobic composting has a big carbon and nitrogen footprint. And with all the detritivores feasting on it as well that don't stick around, is it any wonder that compost piles shrink so much? Much of the inputs are being released into the atmosphere and consumed by detritivores. Plus having a big container of swamp water is a good way to quickly charge biochar. So anaerobic composting is a great and simple way to capture all the inputs of a compost bin.

[@ScottHead]

Yeah the closed system is what I appreciate here. Its not air tight, but closed enough that it should retain more of the compounds released by decomposition.

[@ms.farmgirl]

TOTAL hogwash. You need to do some research regarding anaerobic sludge that this guy is brewing. It is flat out harmful to humans.

[@ScottHead]

Again, some research, there's a ton of it out there. www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0956053X2100547X www.epa.gov/anaerobic-digestion/basic-information-about-anaerobic-digestion-ad mechanical.uonbi.ac.ke/sites/default/files/cae/engineering/mechanical/Lecture%2024-Anaerobic%20and%20Aerobic%20Digestion%20(many%20slides).pdf

[@IS-217]

​@Ms. Farmgirl Do some research. You sound like you don't have much experience. I have used this technique for years with no issues of plant health or my health. My garden loves it. It works!

[@itsasickness4939]

@@ms.farmgirl think of it this way. This is no different than the digestion in animals. The barrel is the stomach and intestines. Does it stink? yes, would I eat or drink it? no, Do I foliar feed with it? Not leafy greens but everything else. This is green manure just like any other herbivore, full of nutrients that plants love. Btw this is not the same as municipal sewer sludge that is used to make products like milorganite and other “Bio solid” products that have chemicals, pharmaceuticals and God knows what else. Scott is dropping some wisdom to help people close the loop, reduce your carbon footprint, save some money ( fish emulsion and chem ferts are expensive) and grow some organic (this can be defined as vegan fertilizer) food. Do any of these things interest you?

[@williamvillar7134]

Got a few of the 30 gallon barrels that look like yours but my local feed & seed was out of the 55 gallon barrels with lids. I'll be getting a couple to keep near the compost bins to make Dave's fetid swamp water in. I use the 30 gallon barrels as radiators to keep my citrus from freezing.

[@erika-py7ih]

Hold up there William! What's this you're doing with the 30 gallon barrels as radiators? Could you elaborate for me?

[@williamvillar7134]

@@erika-py7ih Fill a 30 gallon plastic barrel with water. As it heats up in the daylight from direct sun exposure, it will then radiate that heat all night. i place my barrels on the North side of my young citrus and then cover them during extreme cold events, barrel and all.

[@erika-py7ih]

@@williamvillar7134 wow, great idea, thanks so much!

[@ottomobile64]

Can I put chicken poop in the swamp water?

[@theeconomicrevolutionist]

Excellent video. Thank you! I want to apply this effort on my garden.

[@donnasartsandcraftsstudio5892]

we are fortunate to have a pool, we cant use a cover in the winter the weight of leaves from ours and neighbors trees pull the cover down and the bricks, blocks and wood into the pool so we stopped using a cover and every year drain and clear it out. Several years ago I started to use the 'swamp water on my garden' have to come up with a barrel to store it in love the idea of using that black water through the growing season. Good video

[@theapopkagardener2485]

Great video BG! I’ve been doing it with my stinging nettle leaves. This is my first year trying it. It’s amazing what it’s doing to my brassicas. It’s stinks 😷. But it’s great. I’ll be trying your method soon. I have tons of weeds. Thank you 😊

[@cbr1thou]

Cool im going to try it myself

[@grazianok]

Does the smell dissipate? How often do you fertilize with the brew?

[@frederickvanpelt6393]

Thanks for the post. I started two 5 gallon buckets using grass clippings and rainwater this summer. I stirred it occasionally and by late November I wasn't sure how to use it. My compost pile had a lot of chopped leaves so I worked them into the compost. After watching this, I have a better understanding of proper applications. I look forward to using it in a better fashion this year. Thanks again.

[@suzyq5629]

Oh man,I wish I had seen this two days ago. We have had so much rain here in CA. I left 2 buckets full of weeds out in the rain, just dumped them out into my composite pile yesterday and man o man did it stink. I’m going to look for two of these barrels and do the same thing. Thanks for the great tips

[@patriciorubio4075]

Can you use grass clippings

[@jackiehorsley9263]

sounds like great stuff I had always heard about Fertilizer that had come from weeds but I had never tried It on my garden

[@spacekimono]

Thank you, love this!

[@drofumidragon5580]

Will have to try this next year. I usually throw the weeds/uprooted plants in the compost pile but was looking for a concentrated version for fertilizing.

[@beccagee5905]

Plus it would eliminate the risk of any seeds from weeds, not killed through composting, germinating in the garden.

[@lidiasoares5675]

Thank you for making me feel that I have been doing Okay! I've been doing this for a few years now because I live in a tiny unit with not much room to garden! Instead of a compost pile, I found it easier to do the WEED TEA! Everything for free! I got the bucket from empty buckets I found in Grocery stores, I use water from washing the veggies!! Thank you again! Now I feel encouraged! Before people used to complain about the foul odour!!

[@dfsheep1]

Check out Randy Smith's comment above about adding "charcoal" to his "fetid water'. Not the charcoal you buy, but have a little "stick campfire and roast a hot dog or marshmallows" and use that "charcoal" that remains and it should take some of the smell out. 🤔However, on the other hand, fish emulsion stinks good too!

[@ziggybender9125]

@@dfsheep1 Ok let me chime in. The charcoal you are referring to is called bio-char, only add bio char to your brew if you are going to let it sit for an extended period of time. The reason for this is bio char is like a sponge and needs to be "innoculated" by absorbing nutrients slowly or it will absorb them from your gardens soil when added. Once you've inocculated the stuff though, it will hold and feed your gardens roots with nutrients for many years. Just make sure you mix it into the soil, not spread on the surface.

[@milels6917]

I do in a small way small container I put rotting food but the smell wow but it didn’t kill my plants

[@dss9775]

Great vid! You could put your big barrel under the down spout and catch more water. 😊👍🏼

[@FloridaGrowing]

I really I enjoy your videos❤️ Please do more of them. Thank you

[@bonnieroberts2994]

I did this with food scraps leaves and paper very gross but I had the best potatoes. So many I had to can a single 20 foot row. And they taste good too!

[@bonnieroberts2994]

Forgot to say compost not quite ready in a tumbler in some water. Let it sit a couple days. Strained it and made the gross tea!

[@jerryhayden8720]

I've been thinking about doing something like this. I know what you mean about the negative feedback. I think negativism is worse than it's ever been. I bet if a video about putting ice cream on warm cobbler was posted there would be comments made about how those two mixed together like that would make something bad. 🙄It's inevitable. Good video.👍

[@nelehbysagiv3507]

Hi, Scott!!. Great vid!!. Thanks for sharing your knowledge!!.

[@marycampbell4160]

That is awesome thank you so kindly I am definitely coming to try it thanks for sharing

[@patriciacole8773]

I used alfalfa pellets this year as a side dressing. Everything grew lush!

[@marymartin3900]

Is that what I feed my rabbits

[@violaspencer5628]

@@marymartin3900 what’s in alfalfa pellets? Nitrogen, I’m guessing??

[@edwardkeller440]

I grow alfalfa & cut it & use it with the dry seaweed. Everything grows lush…

[@erika-py7ih]

Do you just toss it in your garden?

[@patriciacole8773]

@@erika-py7ih Yes. I sprinkle it around my strawberries. And a handful around everything planted.

[@DK-qx3lv]

I inadvertently made swam water over the winter as I just threw kitchen scraps into a tub off my deck (it was too cold to put into the compost bin). It was really gross, but dumped it by a fruit tree and composted the solids. Now that I have two of those blue containers, I’m going to make a permanent swamp soup. Thank you for showing me how to cut the blue containers, I had no idea how I was going to do that. 🙏

[@majorabdulhaqretired1090]

Very good effort making the video delivering to the public thanks a lot

[@aquilaclark814]

Thanks for the video I’ve learned a lot I didn’t realize that it was very valuable …I accidentally started doing that and just decided to dilute it down when I water my garden from a container..I didn’t know it was that beneficial …I will keep my brew going…I really like your concrete blocks around your garden I like that set up😌

[@WILLITGROW]

i love this concept i have never tried this but maybe one day i will..for now i just put all my fish remains in a barrel in the back yard its also great stuff..this was a really great video scott.

[@ScottHead]

I have been tempted to go cast net a bunch of mullet, place them in a bucket, and make my own fish emulsion. I'm not sure how far the stench will carry. Since I have neighbors, I've been hesitant to do so. Does the smell get really bad even with a lid?

[@WILLITGROW]

@@ScottHead with a lid it does not smell but when you use it it does smell bad for a couple of hours.my wife hates it when i use it but oh well.

[@jillclark1744]

What a fantastic idea. I will definitely be doing this. Thank you.

[@chuckmathis958]

The technical term for that fit is “Fine as frogs hair”. Great video.

[@lolitabonita08]

your dog reminded me of my Sasha she was crazy for water, love taking baths, and the rain...I really miss her..

[@Randy_Smith]

After seeing Dave's swamp water video several months ago I started my own in a 5 gallon bucket. At the time mine was made up of water from my small fish pond and a mix of weeds and rhubarb leaves. It was late summer in Indiana and the warm days quickly put the "fetid" in my swamp water mix.You weren't kidding when you said it stinks like sewage! When things began to cool off some I made up a batch of homemade charcoal in my fire pit and added about a half gallon of the busted up charcoal to the mix and stirred the mixture up every couple of days. Within a week or so the smell was gone. Not sure how well the swamp water will work when it comes to charging the charcoal and turning it into true biochar but it certainly seems to be doing a great job of absorbing the noxious odors. Thanks for sharing your thoughts showing your process!

[@carolyngreen5458]

Love it! Thank you! Could you say how you make homemade charcoal?

[@FloridaGirl-]

@@carolyngreen5458 burn branches. No quite to ash. Cool it down-hose. Get shovel chop it. There u go.

[@carolyngreen5458]

@@FloridaGirl- thank you💗

[@beccagee5905]

@@carolyngreen5458 you have to burn it in low oxygen conditions , but not long enough to turn it into charcoal.

[@Randy_Smith]

@@carolyngreen5458 I recommend watching a few videos. There are lots of different ways to do it

[@isabelladavis1363]

Dave a great teacher …I incorporated his process a while back and believe my plants feel pretty good after they get a drink of that quite pungent fragrant emulsion ….free with no waste …a win win …thank you for sharing

[@NapoleonGARDENINGTV]

Thanks for the tips sir. I am also using liquid fertilizers ( organic ) in my small garden. I use banana peel tea and grass clipping tea.

[@Gregory_TheWatchman]

I love learning something new! Thanks for sharing.

[@everybodyluvsmonkeys]

Interesting. I've only made compost tea from comfrey and greens. I certainly have lots of weeds that I can make this version though.