David the Good shares a method for creating free fertilizer at home using readily available materials. He calls it "Fetid Swamp Water" and it involves filling a barrel with water and adding nitrogenous and mineral-rich materials such as coffee grounds, kitchen scraps, fish guts, seaweed, and green trimmings. The mixture is left to rot for about two weeks, creating a liquid nutrient solution that can be used to fertilize plants.
The method is inspired by Korean Natural Farming and involves extracting minerals from the materials, rather than breeding bacteria and fungi like compost tea. David emphasizes the importance of using what is available locally and responsibly, and notes that the solution can be used to fertilize plants, but not for immediate harvest.
He also shares tips for using the fertilizer, such as pouring it around the roots of plants, and notes that it's not necessary to strain the liquid before using it. David claims that this method has worked well for him over the past 10 years and encourages viewers to try it out.
Here are the key facts extracted from the text:
1. To make free fertilizer at home, you'll need a barrel or a big bucket, water, and nitrogenous and mineral-rich materials.
2. You can use various materials such as coffee grounds, kitchen scraps, fish guts, seaweed, green trimmings, grass clippings, and weeds.
3. Comfrey, chicken manure, and other locally available materials can also be used.
4. The method is called "fetid swamp water" and involves mixing the materials in water and letting them rot for about two weeks.
5. The resulting liquid solution is rich in minerals and can be used as a fertilizer for your garden.
6. The method is similar to Korean natural farming, which has been practiced for centuries.
7. The liquid solution can be used to water plants, seedlings, and even potatoes.
8. It's recommended to water plants with the solution when they're young and growing, not when they're in the harvest season.
9. The difference between fetid swamp water and regular compost tea is that the former is anaerobic, while the latter is aerobic.
10. The fetid swamp water method doesn't require breeding bacteria and fungi, but rather extracting minerals from the materials.
11. The solution can be used for up to two years, and it's said to get better with time.
12. To make the solution, you can use a 55-gallon drum, some water, and whatever plant material you have available.
13. It's recommended to cover the barrels to prevent mosquitoes from getting in.
14. Mosquito larvae can be poured into the garden, as they're high in protein and break down into nitrogen.
15. The method is described in the book "Compost Everything: The Good Guide to Extreme Composting".