Living organic soil from start through recycling

[Microbeman]

YosemiteSam

Microbeman provided that link on another venue a couple of years ago and I began to use the Canadian glacial rock dust in my compost recipe as well as an addition to the vermicompost set-ups.

Since I started doing this, the Basalt rock dust from Eastern Oregon became available and that's what I'm using these days.

CC

Hey old man, more like a few years ago...eh?

 

[ClackamasCootz]

LOL - you're probably right!

 

[Microbeman]

Thank you. Should I soak the EWC then water or just mix and water straight away

You can do it like Gas suggests or with just molasses. It really depends on if EWC is already in your mix.

Just mix it up and apply it.

 

[Microbeman]

so do you use 10% clay (and can that be soft rock phosphate), do you include 10% compost and do you innoculate it all with a tea?

I see Nutri Tech doing a very similar thing...layers of basalt, srp, something else I forget...then a compost tea on that. And that is used to innoculate fields.

Suppose to be a very strong synergy between the minerals and compost this way.

edit...I think the third ingredient is coal...the leonardite (no clue on spelling that word) stuff

I believe (AIR) that Steve recommended soft rock phosphate and bentonite. I've used both but am now second guessing SRP because of the polonium (sp?) 210 issue.

 

[YosemiteSam]

Even if it is good stuff you would play hell picking a reliable supplier out of that bunch...I am guessing quite a variety of quality control processes in there. How would you sort that out?

 

[ColorGRo]

Why do you wish to saturate a soil mix with 'tea' before there are plants in it? If you wish to stimulate microbial activity and you have some [vermi]compost in your mix, just dilute black strap molasses at around 0.25% and dampen the mix with that.

I mean the tea that is posted on Gas' first post when u saturate it and let it sit for 3-4 weeks.

That conversion confused me. I have three 5 gallon pots filled with the peat moss. I have a big bag of lava rock. I have 10 gallons of HIGH quality EWC. And 5 gallons of HIGH quality compost. And 5 gallons of topsoil. Then i have my amendments. If I can get some help with the ratios i would greatly appreciate it.

Im confused because 1 cu ft of my moss is 15 gallons. But tje conversion says it should equal 7.5

 

[Microbeman]

Are you talkin ta me?

 

[W89]

Pots are unreliable for measuring I used a 2 liter measuring jug like what you would use in your kitchen

 

[ColorGRo]

Are you talkin ta me?

Haha yes sir. Or any of you TOP contributers to this thread.

 

[ColorGRo]

I am also going to be adding perlite to this when i pick up another bag.

 

[ColorGRo]

Ok so the peat moss doubles in size when not compressed.

 

[Cann]

double post....

 

[ColorGRo]

No didn't catch it till I searched more. thought i would be good with the ratios but now that everythings in front of me I'm kinda lost haha. Super excited tho

 

[ClackamasCootz]

Cann

That's the method that I've been using for a few years and I've never had any problems at all.

Did you like the color on the karanja meal? It almost looks like mocha latte - a big selling point in Orygonz

 

[W89]

does it taste like a mocha latte too? you should try it if you haven't already and let us know LOL

 

[Cann]

the color and the smell of both the neem and karanja cake is amazing...i used to be put off by neem but now I love it. earthy funky deliciousness.

do you use fresh coconut water, or dehydrated? i've been looking into a source of dehydrated and figured you would be the man to ask...


also, is IC being crazy for anyone else? cause I have no idea what happened to that last post...


EDIT: w89, i'll get to tasting update in 5

 

[ClackamasCootz]

I use neem toothpaste that we get at the Indian food markets - that's enough. We also use soaps & shampoos made from neem oil. I add it to the shampoo we mix up for our dog - definitely an effective flea killer!

CC

 

[W89]

neem tooth paste? shiitt i bet your breath would smell better without i... I had to take the bag of neem out my room it stunk

 

[Cann]

what is the toothpaste brand? i use an ayurvedic brand called auromere which I can find locally - it has neem and peelu as two major constituents I believe. interested in the shampoo...currently my shampoo policy is none lol, dr bronners in the hair once a year or once every 6 months maybe

lol i had a kid tell me the other day "your hair always looks so good, how can I get my hair to look like yours?"

"just dont wash with anything but water for 6 months..."

shoulda seen the look on his face lmao

 

[ClackamasCootz]

Cann

I bought a pound of coconut water powder (organic) and I've been 'giving it a go' so I'll have to get back to you - so far nothing bad to report. Cuttings are as strong as before and that's really important on my end.

But with the huge number of Asian, Indian & Mexican food markets, picking up fresh young coconuts for little money is very easy. That way I have the 'shell' to chop-up and then add that to the worm bins. A pretty nutrient dense item for that deal.