Living organic soil from start through recycling

[rrog]

I'm having visions of Paul Stamets and a 20 Lb mystery mushroom. After Scrappy's post got my brain going, A couple interesting things surfaced.

The raw manure used on plants allows the antibiotics to be taken up.

Compost is largely thought to destroy these chemicals.

One side issue about the antibiotics being taken up by the plant is that I've often looked at the root cell walls and being quite selective in the compounds that can enter the root. Antibiotics / pesticides seem like awfully complicated molecules to be so easily absorbed. I recall all the molasses debates as to whether the plant could possibly absorb sugars or other aromatic molecules, and here we have what I imagine to be considerably more complicated molecules being absorbed and measured.

 

[Neo 420]

I have read from several sources that bacteria can consume just about everything from oil (which started as organic material thousands of years ago) to heavy metals.

They also use plants themselves to decontaminate soil... Phytoremediation
http://www.epa.gov/swertio1/download/remed/phytoresgude.pdf

 

[Microbeman]

Crossing my fingers as I still do not need the big guns of Eagle 20... Good grief !

And not to change the hilarious subject, but I finally got some time to check a few pics from my summer outdoor container garden. All of Microbeman's talk of rove beetles has had me wondering if what I saw cruising around (damn quick too), and more importantly took a pic of, was a rove beetle.

View attachment 197688

It was !

And I found a good source for bug identification:

http://www.happydranch.com/articles/Bugs_In_A_Worm_Bin.htm

Certainly appears to be.

 

[Heliopolis]

finding bulk products on the shelf in my area is hit and miss.

the feed stores don't carry a lot of things and the nursery guys don't carry big bags of anything most of the time

i hate having things shipped,because the shipping usually costs more than the product i am buying

sucks ass IMHO ...... but who said life is easy

Agreed! Farm and nursery supply in my area is pretty spotty, too. If it's outside the realm of "traditional" agriculture, then it might as well not exist for most farmers. The nurseries seem to stick to small amounts with a rather poor selection. What they do have, they gouge the shit out of you for it.

When ordering online, I think the best bet is probably KIS Organics. Their prices seem to be comparable to most places online, and they have excellent shipping rates on larger orders. They also have everything you could possibly want.

 

[YosemiteSam]

an artistic dudes point of view

an artistic dudes point of view

 

[ClackamasCootz]

When ordering online, I think the best bet is probably KIS Organics. Their prices seem to be comparable to most places online, and they have excellent shipping rates on larger orders. They also have everything you could possibly want

Heliopolis

The biggest advantage from doing business with KIS is that adults answer the telephone and can and do give real world advice about growing plants using organic materials and processes - hopefully they'll post some of the photos of their raised beds - that's what 'tilth' means.

They're honest and trustworthy so you don't have to keep checking your backside.

CC

 

[JoeDudeGuy]

Those are very cool YosemiteSam ! I could see a large, framed print of one of those hanging in my living room !

 

[ClackamasCootz]

Stunning work indeed!

 

[MileHighGuy]

Beautiful YS. Absolutely Beautiful.

 

[bigshrimp]

My local landscape supply carries composted bark fines, large grade de, and a local organic potting soil mixthat i didn't even know existed. Again hit or miss

 

[CT Guy]

I'm looking to buy in bulk, where do you go to local farmers or ebay?

Nerd,

Depends what you're looking for, and what quantities. First step would be to see what feed stores and nurseries. If you can't find it locally, you can try ebay, though I'd be a bit concerned about quality (I know the humic acid products sold on there can be total crap). You may want to consider www.kisorganics.com as well.

Hope that helps, or if you want to list the ingredients you're looking for I may be able to offer you some options for sourcing them, depending on where you're at in the country.

 

[Neo 420]

Sorry guys.. I was looking for the char info but this thread is so deep it could be a bottomless well.....

My char has been sitting in the kelp solution for over a week. It looks like a stew of shit. Do I just strain and throw in the soil pile?

 

[Coba]

Who likes reggae?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UVnjtmgIJfs

 

[unthing]

no. i listen to grindcore and grow hydro.

 

[Coba]

9 mile skidding... on a ten mile ride.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=paEQc668kY4&feature=endscreen&NR=1

 

[b_all_in]

L.A. Area Organic Gardening Supply

L.A. Area Organic Gardening Supply

Anyone know of a good one?

 

[BlueJayWay]

Look up Orange County Farm Supply, also go to Malibu Byodynamic Composts website, and go to retailers or whatever and it lists all the stores that carry their products, if they carry Bu's they will be organic friendly. I picked up stuff at a nursery on Ventura blvd just off Tampa, I think. Also do a search for Armstrong Garden Center

 

[FunTimesIndeed]

Another no. Mostly Slayer, The Dwarves, Motorhead, and the Cramps-----but always organic unless you count my orchids.

 

[ClackamasCootz]

CC, did you say that you got a lot of Luther Burbank's writings from Project Gutenberg? I can't seem to find any there.

Helio

I got things turned around - it's Open Library [link]

Sorry for the confusion......

 

[YosemiteSam]

Hey Microbeman...way back when I ask about your soil mix. Taking this paragraph possibly completely out of context...

"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"

I am curious as to the whys?

Plus I found a product called Red Lake Earth...which is diatomaceous earth with calcium bentonite that I want to chuck into my mix. Have you heard of it? Any recommend on how much to add?

I am trying to find info on %s of diatomaceous and clay now. It is available at feed stores (actually a dietary supplement for animals) or from my buddy at Custom Hydro.