Making high-quality compost tea (often called "liquid gold") involves extracting beneficial microbes and nutrients into a water solution. Here is a step-by-step guide in both English and Afrikaans. Step-By-Step Compost Tea | Stap-vir-Stap Kompostee 1. Choose Your Compost | Kies Jou Kompos * English: Use well-aged, high-quality organic compost or vermicompost (worm castings). It should smell like fresh earth, not rot. * Afrikaans: Gebruik goed-verouderde, hoëgehalte organiese kompos of vermikompos (wurm-kompos). Dit moet soos vars grond ruik, nie vrot nie. 2. The Water Quality | Die Watergehalte * English: Use rainwater or de-chlorinated tap water. If using tap water, let it sit in an open bucket for 24 hours so the chlorine can evaporate. * Afrikaans: Gebruik reënwater of gedekloreerde kraanwater. As jy kraanwater gebruik, laat dit vir 24 uur in 'n oop emmer staan sodat die chloor kan verdamp. 3. The Ratio & Bagging | Die Verhouding en Sak * English: Place 2–4 cups of compost into a porous bag (like an old pillowcase or mesh stocking). Submerge it in a 20-litre bucket of water. * Afrikaans: Plaas 2–4 koppies kompos in 'n poreuse sak (soos 'n ou kussingsloop of fyn net). Dompel dit in 'n 20-liter emmer water. 4. Aeration (The Key) | Belugting (Die Sleutel) * English: Use an aquarium air pump with a "bubbler" stone to oxygenate the water. This encourages "good" aerobic bacteria to multiply rapidly. * Afrikaans: Gebruik 'n akwarium-lugpomp met 'n "borreltjie-steen" om suurstof in die water te kry. Dit help dat die "goeie" aërobiese bakterieë vinnig vermeerder. 5. Feed the Microbes | Voer die Mikrobes [23] * English: Add 1 tablespoon of unsulphured molasses. The sugar acts as food for the bacteria, helping them grow. Let it "brew" for 24–48 hours. * Afrikaans: Voeg 1 eetlepel ongeswaelde melasse by. Die suiker dien as voedsel vir die bakterieë om hulle te help groei. Laat dit "brou" vir 24–48 uur. 6. Application | Toediening * English: Remove the bag and use the tea immediately (within 4–6 hours). Dilute it until it looks like weak tea and spray it on leaves or pour it on the roots.