Living organic soil from start through recycling

[ClackamasCootz]

Primary Metabolites

Fermentation products of primary metabolism such as ethanol, acetic acid, and lactic acid were the first commercial products of the fermentation industry. These industrial revelations were soon followed by citric acid production along with other products of fungal origin. Due to the high product yield and the low reproducibility costs, major interest has been shown in the respective markets. Production of cell constituents i.e. lipids, vitamins, polysaccharides as well as intermediates in the synthesis of cell constituents such as amino acids and nucleotides are also of great economic importance in present-day industry. The effectiveness of yeasts along with other microorganisms as sources of the B-group vitamins has been recognized for more than 50 years and like products of catabolic primary metabolism e.g. ethanol, citric acid etc. are of great commercial importance.

Citric acid is an organic acid that is of major economic use in today’s industry. It is a very important commercial product and is widely used in the food and beverage industries as a food additive. In addition to the beverage and food industry, citric acid is used in effervescent powders as well as being used in boiler and metal cleaning. Factors effecting citric acid production vary considerable and depend predominantly on the strain of A. niger used. Other factors that affect citric acid production include the type of raw material fermented, the amount of methyl alcohol present, the substrate’s initial moisture content as well as the fermentation time and temperature. Much research has been conducted over the years in order to increase the yield of citric acid production.

Nucleotides are used in the preparation of poly and oligonucleotides as well as being of potential nutritional and medical interest. However the greatest interest in nucleotides lies in the fact that they have the ability to enhance the flavour of foods. Yeast extract is extensively used as a flavouring agent in the food industry and is widely available either in powder or paste form. After autolysis and partial hydrolysis of RNA, ribonucleotides such as 5’-monophpsphate (GMP) and inosine 5’-monophosphate (IMP) may be extracted from the biomass. Flavour enhancement is a property of these purine ribonucleosides as well as the ribonucleoside, xanthylic acid (XMP). These food enhancers are responsible for meaty flavours found in foods and are available on the market worldwide. These products are of major importance in the food industry and currently international trade surpasses US $1.1 billion per year.

Part 2

 

[ClackamasCootz]

Secondary Metabolites

Antibiotics were first defined as a chemical compound produced by a microorganism, which has the capacity to inhibit the growth of and even destroy bacteria and microorganisms in dilute solutions. Sir Alexander Fleming first discovered the antibiotic properties of the mould Penicillin notatum in 1929 at St. Mary’s hospital in London, when he noticed that Penicillin notatum destroyed a staphylococcus bacterium in culture. Penicillin is bactericidal to a number of gram-positive bacteria and acts by inhibiting transpeptidation thus preventing new cells from forming walls. It belongs to the beta-lactam family of antibiotics. During World war two research was moved to the USA where large-scale growth of the mould began. Firstly penicillin moulds were grown in small shallow containers on nutrient broth. Methods of growth were improved by using deep fermentation tanks with continuous sterile air supply and corn steep liquor as a source of nutrients. In 1943 a cantaloupe mould, P. Chysogenum was found to produce twice the amount of penicillin than P. notatum. Since then researchers continued to find higher yielding penicillin moulds and have also improved yields further by exposing moulds to x-rays and UV light. The first type of penicillin produced was Penicillin G, which had to be administered to patients parenterally because it is broken down by stomach acid. Penicillin V was later formulated so that it could be taken orally; unfortunately it was less active than Penicillin G.

The enhancement of antibiotic industrial yield has been achieved through traditional strain improvement programs based on random mutation and screening. Recombinant DNA techniques have existed since the 1970’s and involve the introduction of DNA fragments into host cells using a vector (a plasmid or phage) that contains a selection marker. The DNA fragments are integrated into the host genome or autonomously replicated as a plasmid. Transformants are then screened for improved characteristics. The pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly was responsible for the first recombinant DNA improvement of an antibiotic producing microorganism. Transformation of C. acremonium 394-4 caused an increase in the amount of antibiotic cephalosporin C excreted by the organism. Cephalosporins are beta-lactam compounds that are structurally and pharmacoligically related to penicillins. Cephalosporins resist hydrolysis by enzymes referred to as penecillinases, which are secreted by a number of bacteria. They are now one of the most widely prescribed antibiotics and are very effective for the treatment of hospital-acquired infections.

Actinomycetes are aerobic spore forming bacteria that originate from soil. A large number of antibiotics are produced by actinomycetes and in particular Streptomyces. They resemble a fungal mycelium in form, but have thinner filaments. These filaments are formed when cells divide to form long chains of up to 50 cells. Actinomyces griseus was first isolated from soil in the Andes, this bacterium produced a substance that killed many bacteria unaffected by penicillin, including Tuburculosis bacillus. The antibiotic was named streptomycin. However tubercle bacilli soon became resistant to streptomycin and it has since been replaced by para-amino-salicylic acid (PAS). Stretomycetes are still very important bacterial producers of antibiotics and cytostatics. Due to the emerging resistance of bacteria to common antibiotics, new technologies such as combitatorial biosynthesis are being used for the production of novel metabolites using streptomycetes. This technology involves the use of a combination of genes from different biosynthetic pathways to produce modified metabolites.

Ordinarily Actinomycetes use the EMP pathway to metabolise glucose because this pathway is a more efficient one than the ED pathway. The secondary metabolites of the fungi including Drechslera, Trichoderma, Aspergillus and Curvularia have the ability to produce green dyes / anthraquinones.. These dyes are from natural sources and do not cause the pollution to the environment associated with chemical dyes.

Part 3

 

[Microbeman]

MM

I just hit the link you posted on the Vermi-beds! That is a great concept. I'll see if they're exporting them to the USA and see what's up on pricing.

CC

They are presently sold out. I'm getting two when they have more in a couple of weeks. $45 each to me. I'm going to experiment by running soil warming cables underneath connected to a thermostat, fill up with my worms and 'loosely' cover with clear vapour barrier for winter production. Cheaper than insulating and putting doors on my 16x32 ft worm barn and heating.

 

[Microbeman]

Hey....all their 'strains' finish in UNDER 40 days.... sounds like that Swami Kushendez bullshit.

Growing with the proz....

An organic soil cannabis gardening school up here would only work in those chunky places like Olympia,Port Townsend,PDX,and possibly the Seattle area...that's where that frame of mind tends to be more prolific.
But really...why not teach the truth rather than the models presented by these types of humans. ..and be able to pay the rent without feeling like you just bent someone over a barrel.

I'd love to teach the truth. It was why I was born.

 

[ClackamasCootz]

MM

I hit several of the links at their site and ended up at their operation in India. Then I searched using the name of the product and included India in the search string.

Wow! These beds are definitely established there at universities, research centers and especially in commercial vermicompost operations which ties into other things I've read about the ramping up on studies using worms for a myriad of applications to deal with biomass, waste products, etc.

Looks like you found something ideal for cheap money. I need to get a couple as well. Funny thing though is their USA distributor is located in South Carolina which I found puzzling.

I sent them an email this morning for information and I'll let you know what they have to say.

CC

 

[DARC MIND]

Just grab what you need and dont make any eye contact.

& the no speaka deh english,i only the do math response
works well as they try to swindle yea some fancy bottles during the exchange of coin...

 

[Gascanastan]

^^^^^. That's pretty funny coot!

So I'll be on my own till spring as far as compost goes, picked up a few bags of that bu's biodynamic stuff, still need to crack the bag open, never worked with cow poo based compost inside, but I love that nettle and yarrow and stuff is worked into the compost

Once you start building your own compost everything around you seems to improve. People that have this much concern for a plant will often apply that same amount of concern to the compost and the rest of life...pot nerds build rich beautiful stuff. Far better than anything you can go buy.

 

[rrog]

These fabric worm bins sound cool. Why wouldn't any fabric pot work the same? Doesn't some fabric pot company already make long fabric beds?

 

[Microbeman]

Sounds like she used to work for Monsanto

Or Sf....er...Earthfort....

 

[ClackamasCootz]

Our Sf....er...Earthfort....

"Whistling past the grave yard"

LMAO

 

[ClackamasCootz]

These fabric worm bins sound cool. Why wouldn't any fabric pot work the same? Doesn't some fabric pot company already make long fabric beds?

I've been using large SmartPots with great success and these are made from post-consumer plastics. The 'landscape barrier' material at even Home Depot are probably made from a similar material but you'd have to check the label to be sure.

Get a Singer and have at it! LOL

CC

 

[Microbeman]

If its any consolation, the absurdly heavy regulations out here combined with the wholesale price drop helped shake out those types in a big way. They still skulk around at patient events and such from time to time, but the legitimate pros have by and large pushed em out.

I'm working on developing a curriculum for a 12-week organic grow course aimed at patients - I think there's a way where they get a very good value and I get a decent enough sum out of it to put the time in. The basic concept is like biology class: half lecture, half lab/hands on stuff.

I'm thinking $500/head for all 12 classes incl materials (some of the hands on ideas I have are DIY compost tumbler, DIY worm bin & DIY AACT brewer), and they get to work with a plant I provide through a 10-week bloom (they would work on it in class, then I'd keep it under lights and alive between classes), and they'd keep the bud they harvest.

So they get an oz or two (or 4), the DIY stuff, and a 12 week course for $500 - does that seem like a good, fair, and respectable value to everyone?

What is AACT?

 

[IncredibowlBoss]

What is AACT?

I believe you're the man to answer that one, sir. But to my understanding, a compost tea that's actively aerated (in this scenario, in a 5 gallon bucket fitted with an airlift) for 18-24 hours. Feel free to tell me where I've made an ass of myself

 

[YosemiteSam]

I would be curious to hear how Microbeman would set up a soil for the first time??? I am sure there are a million paths that lead to the same place...but I love hearing about them.

 

[Neo 420]

The truth hurts their bottom line....especially when others are there asking the eternal question,"what's wrong with my plant"?..

I'm evolving into a Coot at these places...it's hard as hell to remain silent. That's why I'm just going to invest in the powered silica....my tounge hurts from biting it evry 30 days at the dro-store just to get some potassium silicate.

Yea,, Coot is infectious...
I haven't been to a hydro shop in days but some of my "gardner" buddies are not liking what I tell them. I confront anybody that is spewing bro-science and put them in their place. Internet boards, real life, cannibus clubs etc..

The most exciting thing about all this is I am learning fundamental flora in general. They confuse MJ as something that is "different" than other plants.... This real "organic" stuff has become a part of my life.... Real Talk....

 

[Microbeman]

I believe you're the man to answer that one, sir. But to my understanding, a compost tea that's actively aerated (in this scenario, in a 5 gallon bucket fitted with an airlift) for 18-24 hours. Feel free to tell me where I've made an ass of myself

Well it is kind of a joke internal to myself and expressed on my webpage.

4/ Bubble Blowers; There are 2 basic styles of commercial bubble blower CT brewers. What I mean by bubble blowers, is that their function depends on just that; blowing bubbles into the water, into a mesh extractor or both. They do not actively move the water, aside from the effect of the bubbles. Because of this, I find it a paradox that they refer to their units as AACT (actively aerated compost tea) brewers to separate themselves from only, aerated compost tea (ACT) brewers, which supposedly just blow air into water. This remains a mystery unto me. I won’t name these brewers because they include almost every commercial brewer available, except mine of course, which should be separated from those by being called an AAACT brewer (giggle). No offense; just kidding around.

Actually the acronym AACT was used prior to the popularity of airlifts and to my brewer being on the market.

This is why I grudgingly stick to the term ACT.

 

[rrog]

Neo, real talk indeed. I do the same. Pisses people off.

 

[Microbeman]

I would be curious to hear how Microbeman would set up a soil for the first time??? I am sure there are a million paths that lead to the same place...but I love hearing about them.

What and give up my closely guarded secrets? I have actually posted soil mixes I've used in years gone by. You might find something through a search.

Mostly, when actively growing indoors, we used inprecise amounts of what was easily or cheaply obtained or what was laying about.

Usually this has consisted of outside topsoil, sphagnum peatmoss, vermicompost (approx equal portions varying with availability), coarse sand around 10%, bentonite, soft rock phosphate, pyrophylitte, feedstore kelpmeal, dolomite all at around a coffee cup a wheelbarrow each (but should have used more calcium bentonite with high silica).

This was drenched with EM or other fermentaions and planted 10 to 14 days later. This was in wooden bins and the soil was left intact after harvest and composting worms were dropped into each bin, allowed to eat up the dead roots, aerate and poop, then (mostly) trapped out again, the soil was drenched/treated again with EM fermentations and 7 to 14 days later new plants popped in, topdressed with vermicompost avec kelpmeal et alfalfameal, watered with diluted fish hydrolysate.

This went on in one garden for 7 years and 5 years in several others. I never got to see if there was an end because I was told by some law enforcement people that my papers were not in order and they took everything away. (7 years ago)

Were I to do it differently, I would not have any down time between harvest and replanting as I have learned that the living roots are a major contributor to living soil. I also would not use wood. I would use more clay/de powder.

We had pretty good luck with keeping colonies of cucumeris and persimilis going in our hobby room and we had an excellent volunteer colony of Rove beetles who came in with the topsoil. Rove beetles are a blessing. They are voracious eaters of other insects and larvae/pupae. For the most part that kept pests under control.

Prior to that for several years we followed pretty much the pattern of my boy Gascan, reamending & remixing in 5 gallon pots. I don't know whether that is slightly better for yield but I do know its a lot of work and we were lazy with an enormous garden.

This year, outside, we are experimenting with a mix of topsoil, thermophylic compost, vermicompost, sphagnum peatmoss, local coarse sand, local smooth and sharp stone, pine/fir shavings charred and soaked in compost tea.

 

[Gascanastan]

What and give up my closely guarded secrets? I have actually posted soil mixes I've used in years gone by. You might find something through a search.

Mostly, when actively growing indoors, we used inprecise amounts of what was easily or cheaply obtained or what was laying about.

Usually this has consisted of outside topsoil, sphagnum peatmoss, vermicompost (approx equal portions varying with availability), coarse sand around 10%, bentonite, soft rock phosphate, pyrophylitte, feedstore kelpmeal, dolomite all at around a coffee cup a wheelbarrow each (but should have used more calcium bentonite with high silica).

This was drenched with EM or other fermentaions and planted 10 to 14 days later. This was in wooden bins and the soil was left intact after harvest and composting worms were dropped into each bin, allowed to eat up the dead roots, aerate and poop, then (mostly) trapped out again, the soil was drenched/treated again with EM fermentations and 7 to 14 days later new plants popped in, topdressed with vermicompost avec kelpmeal et alfalfameal, watered with diluted fish hydrolysate.

This went on in one garden for 7 years and 5 years in several others. I never got to see if there was an end because I was told by some law enforcement people that my papers were not in order and they took everything away. (7 years ago)

Were I to do it differently, I would not have any down time between harvest and replanting as I have learned that the living roots are a major contributor to living soil. I also would not use wood. I would use more clay/de powder.

We had pretty good luck with keeping colonies of cucumeris and persimilis going in our hobby room and we had an excellent volunteer colony of Rove beetles who came in with the topsoil. Rove beetles are a blessing. They are voracious eaters of other insects and larvae/pupae. For the most part that kept pests under control.

Prior to that for several years we followed pretty much the pattern of my boy Gascan, reamending & remixing in 5 gallon pots. I don't know whether that is slightly better for yield but I do know its a lot of work and we were lazy with an enormous garden.

This year, outside, we are experimenting with a mix of topsoil, thermophylic compost, vermicompost, sphagnum peatmoss, local coarse sand, local smooth and sharp stone, pine/fir shavings charred and soaked in compost tea.

You'll be pleased to know I'm running a new 6k in no-till 5 gals...already transplanted and top dressed with my homestoned compost.

 

[Microbeman]

One of these years, experiment with a deep bin. I know it is not as practical if you need to move plants around. If you do the math some time you'll see that the volume is so much higher in square containers.