by Stephen Storch
Introduction
I graduated from Southampton College of Long Island University in 1980 with a Bachelor of Science in Marine Science, Biology concentration. Worked for over a decade in the commercial fishing industry. Declines in fisheries and disappointment in science led me into the landscape and tree service industry. Though the mentality was no better their I was able to make inroads and connections which enabled me to work according to my own standards.
After marrying into a 12th generation farm family in Water Mill I began to apply my scientific insights into compost making and was introduced to biodynamics in 1987. Since then the world of subtle energy and earth healing has had my undivided attention.
Turbo-Vortex Compost Tea Brewer
On the farm I build hydraulic stirring machines for the biodynamic remedies and can stir eighty gallons per machine applicable to twenty five acres at a time. After hearing Elaine Ingham on compost teas I began to use my knowledge of water dynamics to build compost tea brewers. [These devices are also useful for potientiating other water based liquids.] I continue to work and learn in these fields and incorporate the work of Steiner, Schauberger, Riech, Pfieffer, Herbe and others into an advanced, results oriented earth healing methodology.
I build them from stock components. From water cooler bottle size to 5000 gallons and up. From a central drain four lift tubes are attached with the air diffusers down each tube. The rising air moves the water and creates a vortex. You can manually turn the nozzles so you can go clockwise or counter clockwise. It can be done automatically but that gets pricey.
I had them at acres, the Miracle II booth had a conductivity meter and the shitty water at the hotel was vastly improved by the action and with additions of 508, 501, or basalt.
Q: Steve, this sounds interesting. Assume that you wanted to make a small garden-sized device. Use a plastic water cooler bottle and cut off the top?
A: Not the top, the bottom. Leave the part that turns in and cut the center out, use a jig saw. The water cooler bottle is polycarbonate and the best material.
Q: Or just just a 3 gal plastic bucket? Would a nonplastic be better, like a ceramic crock?
A: These would be ok but you won't be able to do the same style with the stone without some difficulty.
Q: How many diffuser tubes of what size?
A: For a standard water cooler bottle use inch and a half schedule 40 pvc. The bottom piece that adapts to the bottle has to be custom made. That is a cross piece with the top center drilled out to fit a 1 1/2 coupling that is glued in place and the excess on the inside is filed off. If you don't understand that I can send that to you.
Q: How much air flow do you need?
A: You want about 100 liters per minute for the four diffusers
Q: What are the nozzles?
A: Those are the returns where the flow comes out, just the opening of the pipe.
Q: Do you use stock plastic for the risers?
A: Yes, 1 1/2 sch 40 pvc
Q: Is the drain also a tube?
A: The drain is where the vortex goes that feeds into the top of the cross.
Q: Do you keep the compost in a mesh or let it float loose?
A: I do both.
Q: Can you post a sketch?
A: I will try to post a picture, maybe Allen can put it on his site.
Q: I guess you run it in one direction for a while then change the nozzle, so there isn't a lot of chaos/counter flow. Is that right?
A: It creates a beautiful vortex. If you take off the pieces that direct the flow it tends towards chaos. If you assist by stirring it makes a vortex, stop, goes to chaos, reverse, etc.
Q: Where do the bubble tubes go and where do the bubble stones sit?
A: The air diffusers drop down into the vertical legs of the brewer, I like them to be close to the bottom of the tubes.
Q: What do you change when you reverse the direction of spin?
A: Inside the brewer is where you can manually spin the 45 degree elbows.
Q: Ok, so I see the gravity flow, but it sounds like you have a stand pipe or more to give the upthrust necessary to raise the fluid to the next level. If this occurs then at some point the stand pipe will create suction and the denser material will be carried down the pipe center while the lighter is expelled along the periphery; creating its' own vortex within the pipe flow. Is this correct?
A: The water seeks its own level in the set-up, the air displaces the water, creating lift and suction, you will see from the photos.
For those less than handy I will build them and ship any size with a list of components.
Stephen Storch
Natural Science Organic
P.O. Box, 467
Water Mill, NY 11976
631-726-6783
appbiodyn@aol.com
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