EM1 - effective microbial....anyone use it? - Page 3 - Organic Soil - International Cannagraphic Magazine Forums

MrFista · 12-30-2008, 08:46 PM

Bump!

OK, this stuff is amazing.

The price.... 1 litre EM1 makes 20 litres EM-A which is then diluted for soil 1:1000.

that's an awful lot of soil drench. 20 000 litres in fact.

I've cleaned my pond, desmellied several things, got sick plants back on track, my pets have it in their water and are acting like youngsters again. My sister has some from me, the local organic deli, the permaculture neighbours got some and I showed em how to use it on their chooks bedding and for the milking goats. They all love it too. Getting some bokashi starter going now too so we can ferment fish and chicken manure etc with leftover garden waste.

I still want to brew that non smelly fish emulsion, with em this might be possible.

Worm bin is working faster. Aquaponic system seems to be ironing it's problems out with pH coming down to the range plants prefer, plants are taking off again.

Kelp bucket got some too, doesn't stink half as much.

So many applications, the one bottle, I'm glad it goes so far.

ThaiPhoon · 12-31-2008, 01:43 AM

Hey Fista, this stuff is awesome! I'm glad to see more using it. I have a small rice farm now, and I am teaching the locals all about it.
I have made the EM-FFE (fermented fish extract). It was still kinda smelly, but I imagine it would have been a lot worse without EM!
So now I am using 3 things that seems to be working very well.
I use garbage enzymes (basically fruit fermented for 3+ months) EM and compost/composted elephant/Thai bat guano teas...things keep getting better!

Peace

sophisto · 12-31-2008, 02:23 AM

Awesome thread....

I have been really curious as to how EM can be made DIY as well...In Feb I am going to the World Ag Show, I will be asking some of the organic heads around to see if any one has a dial on this yet??

I would imagine that a controlled environment( temps, humidity etc) is the best place to produce consistent results if it were to be done DIY....Just a guess though...

MrFista · 12-31-2008, 07:13 AM

The microbe consortium in EM can be found in several places in nature. Me short term memories naff, it'll come back to me in a week hehe.

Ahah! Pitcher plants, the ones that trap insects and digest them in the liquid. That liquid is said to be rich in the microbial life sought however how do you dissect the EM microbes from everything else, rotting insects may not be a desirable mother culture at all.

In pond systems underneath siltation, not sure at what depth, where it is anaerobic, these bacteria living symbiotically as a consortium there as well, other places, but I just don't recall where I read it or the rest, was yesterday...

It will come back.

Enzyme extraction, I am interested in this can you tell me more about the length of time, pH sought, details... plants used etc? Please.

Fishy smells they said if the FFE is smelly add some EM-A to it before application. I do not like to foliar with EM-A, it must be my brews a bit young it seems to promote powdery mildew (humid conditions plus undigested sugar from molasses?).

I'm thinking to produce your own EM you'd need a fairly large project to justify the time, study, equipment, but if you just got to do it for shits and giggles, that's different.

The price doesn't seem so bad in the link posted. It goes a long way. There's a lot of EM-A products out there, that's where you'll get stung for your money.

But if you get EM 1 you can make things so you wont need

drain cleaners
deodorisers
bio-bugs
insecticides
plant tonics
fertilisers

You'll also decrease your vets bill, your plumbing maintenance, your animals feed bills, your compost turnover time

Halve your need for soap and detergents

And EM waste water helps to clean up the systems it enters.

I'd like to see people using this en masse. Or is that em masse.

If enough people used EM in polluted built up areas (most everyplace) we may see some radical changes for the good in our own backyards.

Check it out

Microbeman · 12-31-2008, 03:50 PM

Hello Mr Fista,

I'm so glad you like EM and have had good results. I'm not sure whether you got the human consumption stuff from SCD but if not, I like to ferment it for 40 to 60 days prior to drinking it or giving it to my dogs.

Funny enough I was doing research into creating an EM like substance years ago when a scientist in Norway emailed me about Dr. Higa and I dropped my research for EM. I put in my septic system in 1987 and have not pumped it out once. I attribute this to the AEM I've dumped down there.

I built a simple fermentor by screwing a light fixture into the lid of a plastic cooler with a 60 watt bulb. I place a thermometer to monitor the heat and regulate it around 100 degrees F by propping the lid open accordingly. I use clear 2 litre pop bottles to ferment and can do at least 6 at a time.

ThaiPhoon · 01-01-2009, 03:27 AM

For enzyme extraction have a look at google or yahoo for "garbage enzyme". A doctor in Rayong Thailand has a farm that promotes the use of this stuff. Basically its fruit peels water and molasses set in an anaerobic condition for about 3 months...
I have found a neat page about urea (powerful N source) replacement by fermenting coconut meat in water for 2 months...the source is in Thai, I am in the process of translating!
Peace

MrFista · 01-02-2009, 06:39 PM

Thanks Thaiphoon.

Wonder if bokashi is allowed to sit for a few months if it will have a similar effect.

I just made very simple bokashi starter so thought I'd do a walkthrough (and I don't have a life till ten).

Bokashi is compost made with em that does not resemble compost. It looks and smells like pickled veggies. When the compost is put into the soil however, it breaks down and is ready to use in weeks.

Bokashi Starter is an em concoction you sprinkle on your compost to make the process work.

MrFistas Bokashi Starter

10 mls em 1
10 mls molasses (organic unsulfured)
1 kilo wheatbran (or other bran, or sawdust and bran...)
300 mls water

Dilute molasses and em in water.
Add wheatbran and mixed to even consistency.
At this ratio the mix should be able to be squeezed into clods but easily flakes away. Like you could almost squeeze water out of it.

Pack - PACK down into a container. If it's still spongy you aint packed it hard enough. I got the whole bag of bran mix into a container half the size.

Seal with airtight lid. Cover with black bag (I used a pillowcase)
leave in a warm place out of direct sunlight for 2-3 weeks.

When it is ready it should have no mold - or just a white mold - on it. Green black or grey mold are not desired and point out a contamination.

So it's ready, and it's not contaminated, what now?

Drying.

Sieve the contents to loosen them up well and dry on paper or smooth surface.

Usage.

Fresh food scraps (including dairy citrus onions meat and fish) are placed in a bucket. Half a tsp of bokashi starter is sprinkled on top, the food is packed down, the lid replaced. Repeat till the bucket is full.

When the bucket is full put aside out of direct sunlight for a fortnight. Then add it to a piece of garden that needs attention.

MrFista · 01-02-2009, 06:42 PM

ps - people are adding a tsp ceramic x powder and azomite to this recipe - I don't have either. you can though, and it'd only improve the end results.

MrFista · 01-11-2009, 06:56 PM

Bump again -

if you are spending money on nutes, spending money on this will makes your nutes go further.

if you are recycling soil, this will make it recycle faster.

if you are building soil, this will give the microherd a kickstart.

if you want more bud - try this!

No product I've seen in many years comes close to what you will get from a bottle of EM.

Neighbours comment on my outdoors garden - "It's amazing, it literally glows".

marali · 02-04-2009, 07:40 PM

You mentioned sawdust. Can i use only sawdust when making bokashi starter? Can't get bran in the moment. Any other bran alternative comes to mind?

12-30-2008, 08:46 PM	#21
MrFista Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 1,036	Bump! OK, this stuff is amazing. The price.... 1 litre EM1 makes 20 litres EM-A which is then diluted for soil 1:1000. that's an awful lot of soil drench. 20 000 litres in fact. I've cleaned my pond, desmellied several things, got sick plants back on track, my pets have it in their water and are acting like youngsters again. My sister has some from me, the local organic deli, the permaculture neighbours got some and I showed em how to use it on their chooks bedding and for the milking goats. They all love it too. Getting some bokashi starter going now too so we can ferment fish and chicken manure etc with leftover garden waste. I still want to brew that non smelly fish emulsion, with em this might be possible. Worm bin is working faster. Aquaponic system seems to be ironing it's problems out with pH coming down to the range plants prefer, plants are taking off again. Kelp bucket got some too, doesn't stink half as much. So many applications, the one bottle, I'm glad it goes so far. __________________ I'm in it for the tomatoes. I been growing tomatoes for a long long time. Sometimes I get to thinking I know everything about tomatoes. My tomatoes make me completely delusional.
	Quote 1 members found this post helpful.

12-31-2008, 01:43 AM	#22
ThaiPhoon Tropical Organic Gardener Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 620	Hey Fista, this stuff is awesome! I'm glad to see more using it. I have a small rice farm now, and I am teaching the locals all about it. I have made the EM-FFE (fermented fish extract). It was still kinda smelly, but I imagine it would have been a lot worse without EM! So now I am using 3 things that seems to be working very well. I use garbage enzymes (basically fruit fermented for 3+ months) EM and compost/composted elephant/Thai bat guano teas...things keep getting better! Peace
	Quote

12-31-2008, 02:23 AM	#23
sophisto ????WHY???? Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: SO CA Posts: 607	Awesome thread.... I have been really curious as to how EM can be made DIY as well...In Feb I am going to the World Ag Show, I will be asking some of the organic heads around to see if any one has a dial on this yet?? I would imagine that a controlled environment( temps, humidity etc) is the best place to produce consistent results if it were to be done DIY....Just a guess though... __________________ "It is better to be inspirated then educated as you can still be a damn fool with an education".
	Quote

12-31-2008, 07:13 AM	#24
MrFista Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 1,036	The microbe consortium in EM can be found in several places in nature. Me short term memories naff, it'll come back to me in a week hehe. Ahah! Pitcher plants, the ones that trap insects and digest them in the liquid. That liquid is said to be rich in the microbial life sought however how do you dissect the EM microbes from everything else, rotting insects may not be a desirable mother culture at all. In pond systems underneath siltation, not sure at what depth, where it is anaerobic, these bacteria living symbiotically as a consortium there as well, other places, but I just don't recall where I read it or the rest, was yesterday... It will come back. Enzyme extraction, I am interested in this can you tell me more about the length of time, pH sought, details... plants used etc? Please. Fishy smells they said if the FFE is smelly add some EM-A to it before application. I do not like to foliar with EM-A, it must be my brews a bit young it seems to promote powdery mildew (humid conditions plus undigested sugar from molasses?). I'm thinking to produce your own EM you'd need a fairly large project to justify the time, study, equipment, but if you just got to do it for shits and giggles, that's different. The price doesn't seem so bad in the link posted. It goes a long way. There's a lot of EM-A products out there, that's where you'll get stung for your money. But if you get EM 1 you can make things so you wont need drain cleaners deodorisers bio-bugs insecticides plant tonics fertilisers You'll also decrease your vets bill, your plumbing maintenance, your animals feed bills, your compost turnover time Halve your need for soap and detergents And EM waste water helps to clean up the systems it enters. I'd like to see people using this en masse. Or is that em masse. If enough people used EM in polluted built up areas (most everyplace) we may see some radical changes for the good in our own backyards. Check it out __________________ I'm in it for the tomatoes. I been growing tomatoes for a long long time. Sometimes I get to thinking I know everything about tomatoes. My tomatoes make me completely delusional.
	Quote 3 members found this post helpful.

12-31-2008, 03:50 PM	#25
Microbeman The Logical Gardener Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 4,436	Hello Mr Fista, I'm so glad you like EM and have had good results. I'm not sure whether you got the human consumption stuff from SCD but if not, I like to ferment it for 40 to 60 days prior to drinking it or giving it to my dogs. Funny enough I was doing research into creating an EM like substance years ago when a scientist in Norway emailed me about Dr. Higa and I dropped my research for EM. I put in my septic system in 1987 and have not pumped it out once. I attribute this to the AEM I've dumped down there. I built a simple fermentor by screwing a light fixture into the lid of a plastic cooler with a 60 watt bulb. I place a thermometer to monitor the heat and regulate it around 100 degrees F by propping the lid open accordingly. I use clear 2 litre pop bottles to ferment and can do at least 6 at a time. __________________ Anybody can be wrong about anything. "When the facts change, I change my mind. What do you do, sir?" "Capitalism is the astounding belief that the most wickedest of men will do the most wickedest of things for the greatest good of everyone." ~John Maynard Keynes~ Sorry: No questions by PM, check my webpage
	Quote 1 members found this post helpful.

01-01-2009, 03:27 AM	#26
ThaiPhoon Tropical Organic Gardener Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 620	For enzyme extraction have a look at google or yahoo for "garbage enzyme". A doctor in Rayong Thailand has a farm that promotes the use of this stuff. Basically its fruit peels water and molasses set in an anaerobic condition for about 3 months... I have found a neat page about urea (powerful N source) replacement by fermenting coconut meat in water for 2 months...the source is in Thai, I am in the process of translating! Peace
	Quote 1 members found this post helpful.

01-02-2009, 06:39 PM	#27
MrFista Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 1,036	Thanks Thaiphoon. Wonder if bokashi is allowed to sit for a few months if it will have a similar effect. I just made very simple bokashi starter so thought I'd do a walkthrough (and I don't have a life till ten). Bokashi is compost made with em that does not resemble compost. It looks and smells like pickled veggies. When the compost is put into the soil however, it breaks down and is ready to use in weeks. Bokashi Starter is an em concoction you sprinkle on your compost to make the process work. MrFistas Bokashi Starter 10 mls em 1 10 mls molasses (organic unsulfured) 1 kilo wheatbran (or other bran, or sawdust and bran...) 300 mls water Dilute molasses and em in water. Add wheatbran and mixed to even consistency. At this ratio the mix should be able to be squeezed into clods but easily flakes away. Like you could almost squeeze water out of it. Pack - PACK down into a container. If it's still spongy you aint packed it hard enough. I got the whole bag of bran mix into a container half the size. Seal with airtight lid. Cover with black bag (I used a pillowcase) leave in a warm place out of direct sunlight for 2-3 weeks. When it is ready it should have no mold - or just a white mold - on it. Green black or grey mold are not desired and point out a contamination. So it's ready, and it's not contaminated, what now? Drying. Sieve the contents to loosen them up well and dry on paper or smooth surface. Usage. Fresh food scraps (including dairy citrus onions meat and fish) are placed in a bucket. Half a tsp of bokashi starter is sprinkled on top, the food is packed down, the lid replaced. Repeat till the bucket is full. When the bucket is full put aside out of direct sunlight for a fortnight. Then add it to a piece of garden that needs attention. __________________ I'm in it for the tomatoes. I been growing tomatoes for a long long time. Sometimes I get to thinking I know everything about tomatoes. My tomatoes make me completely delusional.
	Quote

01-02-2009, 06:42 PM	#28
MrFista Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 1,036	ps - people are adding a tsp ceramic x powder and azomite to this recipe - I don't have either. you can though, and it'd only improve the end results. __________________ I'm in it for the tomatoes. I been growing tomatoes for a long long time. Sometimes I get to thinking I know everything about tomatoes. My tomatoes make me completely delusional.
	Quote

01-11-2009, 06:56 PM	#29
MrFista Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 1,036	Bump again - if you are spending money on nutes, spending money on this will makes your nutes go further. if you are recycling soil, this will make it recycle faster. if you are building soil, this will give the microherd a kickstart. if you want more bud - try this! No product I've seen in many years comes close to what you will get from a bottle of EM. Neighbours comment on my outdoors garden - "It's amazing, it literally glows". __________________ I'm in it for the tomatoes. I been growing tomatoes for a long long time. Sometimes I get to thinking I know everything about tomatoes. My tomatoes make me completely delusional.
	Quote 1 members found this post helpful.

02-04-2009, 07:40 PM	#30
marali Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 73	You mentioned sawdust. Can i use only sawdust when making bokashi starter? Can't get bran in the moment. Any other bran alternative comes to mind?
	Quote