plant debris and dead bodies the concentrated bottom sludge was pretty disgusting.
I give mine a clean out each summer when the rain water level is at its lowest.
I want the water to be clear and untainted (-ish). I use the rain water run-off from my greenhouse as the water for my breadmaking sourdough starter culture. Where better I thought for collecting all the best wild yeasts and bacteria (apart from the flour itself). Provided it doesn't bring bad taste, any pathogenic bacteria that might come from bird poo are killed by the baking temperature. Any temperature that will gelatinise starch will kill bugs. It seems to work well.
location: Surrey Hills, England, ex-woodland acidic sand. "Have nothing in your garden that you don't know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."
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I want the water to be clear and untainted (-ish). I use the rain water run-off from my greenhouse as the water for my breadmaking sourdough starter culture. Where better I thought for collecting all the best wild yeasts and bacteria (apart from the flour itself). Provided it doesn't bring bad taste, any pathogenic bacteria that might come from bird poo are killed by the baking temperature. Any temperature that will gelatinise starch will kill bugs. It seems to work well.
"Have nothing in your garden that you don't know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."