Mexican food stores, any and all southeast Asian food markets (especially Thai stores), Caribbean, etc.
Here's what you're looking for......
-
ICMag with help from Landrace Warden and The Vault is running a NEW contest in November! You can check it here. Prizes are seeds & forum premium access. Come join in!
Living organic soil from start through recycling
- Thread starter Gascanastan
- Start date
- Status
Here's what you're looking for......
Were it me, I might consider a spray with an EM fermentation but I am fairly experienced at getting what I want from such a fermentation and ending up with lots of purple non-sulphur bacteria (PNSBs). I have found EM fermentations useful for speeding up decomposition in soil. I usually use ACT more for nutrient cycling in combination with roots/plants, however it may serve you okay for this purpose.
I would keep it simple using only [vermi]compost and molasses and brew no longer than 24 hours. Alternatively, I'd just dilute some molasses (0.25%) in water (regular water) and spray that on your soil and turn it fairly often. This will cause a bacterial/archaeal bloom of your existent microorganisms (in your mix) which (as you mentioned) will help to complete the nitrogen cycle.
This is one reason I no longer add (significant) plant material into a soil mix which I plan on using anytime soon.
Good luck!
Cann
Member
hmm theres a mexican market across the street from me yet no coconuts...wrong time of year? and given the secondary metabolites deal what would you recommend I do with 1/2 jar of sprouted alfalfa (should have 1/2inch taproot by tomorrow). I was planning on adding about 1gal h2o and bubbling for 24-48 hrs. thoughts?
and THANK YOU MM!! that makes a lot of sense. I'll go with a light EWC/molasses dilution and give everything a light spray. That, combined with the 80 degree temps here today should get things going quickly. I'm assuming theres almost no way to tell what kind of bacteria are in my EM without a microscope setup?
and THANK YOU MM!! that makes a lot of sense. I'll go with a light EWC/molasses dilution and give everything a light spray. That, combined with the 80 degree temps here today should get things going quickly. I'm assuming theres almost no way to tell what kind of bacteria are in my EM without a microscope setup?
That's the deal......
Cann
Member
perfect. did you ever take a look at this link http://www.plantchicago.com/about/
just wondering what your thoughts are - obviously you understand large scale crop production better than me...what is your opinion on aquaponics?
do you run any type of symbiosis in your veg or flower rooms? curious as usual...
just wondering what your thoughts are - obviously you understand large scale crop production better than me...what is your opinion on aquaponics?
do you run any type of symbiosis in your veg or flower rooms? curious as usual...
If you are just diluting you don't need the EWC; just the molasses cause you probably have EWC in your mix already..right?
On EM fermetations;
Yes actually. I judge the EM fermentation content of PNSB by the color and the pH. I like the pH at under 3.4 and the color reddish - purple. I posted a photo, here lemme find it...
Cann
The small amount of reading that I've done on aquaponics is the multi-year project in Montreal and they're using organic methods with EWC as the base. The gardens are on top of buildings in downtown Montreal and that has now moved to NYC where there is a citywide project. Portland has some rooftop gardens but they're using soils.
I think it's a great direction and the added benefits as far as helping to maintain temperatures both in the hot months as well as the winter months.
So I know just bits and pieces but what I have looked at is encouraging on several levels. Portland has a community garden program around the city where vacant lots have been turned into areas for food production. A nice garden looks much better than a lot with beer cans and other trash.
Good food shouldn't be limited by economic class, IMHO
CC
The small amount of reading that I've done on aquaponics is the multi-year project in Montreal and they're using organic methods with EWC as the base. The gardens are on top of buildings in downtown Montreal and that has now moved to NYC where there is a citywide project. Portland has some rooftop gardens but they're using soils.
I think it's a great direction and the added benefits as far as helping to maintain temperatures both in the hot months as well as the winter months.
So I know just bits and pieces but what I have looked at is encouraging on several levels. Portland has a community garden program around the city where vacant lots have been turned into areas for food production. A nice garden looks much better than a lot with beer cans and other trash.
Good food shouldn't be limited by economic class, IMHO
CC
Cann
Member
MM - is that EM just a rice wash+milk, or at the point in the picture have you added molasses for long term storage? I can test the pH but at this point my color is skewed because I added 1tsp molasses for storage. Good point about the EWC in my soil mix already....i'll just hit everything with a molasses water spray.
Coot - glad to hear you are on board with all that - I didn't know about the rooftop projects in Montreal or NYC, thanks for that. I agree that vacant lots should be turned into community p-patches or what have you. much easier on the eye, not to mention the obvious benefits
Coot - glad to hear you are on board with all that - I didn't know about the rooftop projects in Montreal or NYC, thanks for that. I agree that vacant lots should be turned into community p-patches or what have you. much easier on the eye, not to mention the obvious benefits
One thing I have found resonance with is the strength of local materials and natural methods. I might collect BIMs but I would not buy a bottle of EM. I might bubble a small pail of Botanical Tea, but would not vortex. I use Vermicompost as a backbone.
Seems to proof out that simpler is better. We have to fight the urge we as males have to try and tweak everything. Some things don't need tweaking. Sometimes we just don't need gadgets.
Seems to proof out that simpler is better. We have to fight the urge we as males have to try and tweak everything. Some things don't need tweaking. Sometimes we just don't need gadgets.
Cann
Montreal Rooftop Garden Project - good portal that you can use to find more information on other projects.
Organic Consumers Association is a good site to Bookmark and sign-up for their email notification. Great group of people behind this one.
Organic Connections is another good one to visit
From Brooklyn, New York City
Montreal Rooftop Garden Project - good portal that you can use to find more information on other projects.
Organic Consumers Association is a good site to Bookmark and sign-up for their email notification. Great group of people behind this one.
Organic Connections is another good one to visit
From Brooklyn, New York City
Cann
Member
you da man coot. always got the phenomenal links. thanks for that.now its time to turn some soil and spray some molasses water to activate the aerobic guys
gotta love so-cal winters...75.1 degrees and rising. the comfrey root that got cold shocked last week is popping out like nobody's business, along with alfalfa, dandelion, yarrow, nettle, and chamomile seeds. time to start the spring garden haha
Y
YosemiteSam
basalt vs glacial
basalt vs glacial
Hey Cootz...any opinion yet?
basalt vs glacial
Hey Cootz...any opinion yet?
OrganicLearner
Member
RROG
When you say you would not vortex are you talking about compost tea brewers to or just when making botanical teas?
Cann; When I talk EM fermentation, I mean the real deal. I've purchased the EM microbial contortium and mixed it with non-chlorinated water and black strap molasses and fermented it at 95 to 104 degrees F with bright (cool white) light and under almost anaerobic conditions, until the pH has dropped. There is no such thing as adding molasses for storage. Nothing besides this deserves to be called EM.
The consortium was developed by Dr Teruo Higa and can only be purchased from 2 sources in North America. EMROUSA & SCD
I've been avoiding putting up information regardin EM on my webpage because the basics have been covered by Vinny Pinto, however, I'm getting so many questions and reading so much off the wall stuff, that I guess I better.
Last edited:
Compost. Only because I'm lazy. I'm letting the worms do it.
Hell ya...you got that right. Away with all that paraphernalia. As a matter of point, just open the window and toss some seeds out there, wait till Spring...now that's simple
Last edited:
B
BlueJayWay
Good call...I'll definitely pass on the botanicals. Nothing is organic around here...unless I am growing it lol.
As far as rice hulls, I drive down to Norco to the feed shops and I can get stuff called PermaStall (Rice hulls, montmorillonite, and DE) for something like $10 for 6cuft bale..not bad at all. not organic - but that is not gonna happen around here.
Also hit me up if you get 500 coconuts lol...i'll help take em off your hands
Cann, glad you found that feed shop, I was going to suggest the norco area and other horse property areas. The feed shop I go to for the exact product is north of Santa Barbara - because I'm quite often up that way, I haven't been to any in the IE.
I'm really considering the coconut deal, that's 500 cases Cann - wowzers I need a website to get rid of those - nothing that starts with young Thai because I don't want to be confused with that Other website!
ColorGRo
Member
So looks like lots of these products i can't get right now because of the season. I got the peat moss from ace. The local feed store said they dont carry every item on my list ?!?! I don't wanna pay for shipping either. Anybody in Colorado can shed some light on some stores you guys shop at?
Cann
Member
thanks MM for the clarification...i guess the rice wash solution isnt considered EM then, damn websites are always telling lies! even the ones you think are good...
consider posting something on your website about it - many people would benefit from a clarification
bluejay - damn 500 cases! didn't realize that haha you are definitely going to need a way to distribute those if you do pull the trigger..
and i'd agree - no websites with young thai in the name is probably a good decision
consider posting something on your website about it - many people would benefit from a clarification
bluejay - damn 500 cases! didn't realize that haha you are definitely going to need a way to distribute those if you do pull the trigger..
and i'd agree - no websites with young thai in the name is probably a good decision
- Status
