Aint that the way
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Seeds, Soil and 16 Square Feet
- Thread starter Siskiyou
- Start date
Aint that the way
Seems to be.
very kool, siskiyoui've been reading up about the bokashi and lactobacillus and fermented plant extracts lately...
making my first batch of lactobacillus right now... haven't gotten as far as bokashi yet...
I cheated. I bought a bokashi bucket that came with some inoculated bran. I do plan on making my own bokashi bran eventually, however. I just started the bucket about two and a half weeks ago, so I still don't have any finished bokashi compost for the worms yet. My guess is that about mid January I will have my first finished batch.
I have already drained off about 4 cups of bokashi juice, which I have poured down a few problematic household drains in hopes that the Effective Microorganisms will help keep them running better, which is one of their supposed benefits. Learning about EM and bokashi has been fun and fascinating so far. Putting that knowledge into practice may be even more informative.
I have already drained off about 4 cups of bokashi juice, which I have poured down a few problematic household drains in hopes that the Effective Microorganisms will help keep them running better, which is one of their supposed benefits. Learning about EM and bokashi has been fun and fascinating so far. Putting that knowledge into practice may be even more informative.
how is it working on the drains?
On the drains, there are two bathroom sinks here that I seem to have to clean out the P trap at least twice a year. Inside is always a nasty slime buildup that compromises the drain. Yesterday, I poured a cup of fresh bokashi juice down each drain and forgot about them. As I understand it, it is the long-term benefit of having healthy microorganisms thriving in my pipes rather than nasty and/or stinky ones that I seek. If I don't have to clean nasty slime out of that trap in a few months I will consider it to have worked or at least helped. Apparently EM can do good things for septic systems and outhouses, also.
I love the approach. I wonder how it works with 2-3 foot long hairs clogging up the pipes... about 4 times I year I haul out a globbly mess of not-my-hair
Oi yeah, plants are coming along beautifully.
fulltimehuman
Active member
boil white vinegar and pour a shit-load of baking soda down the drain. When the vinegar gets hot pour it on top of the soda. The vinegar and baking soda will bubble all that crap away. My drains are messed up in my apt. and this works well for me.
I love the approach. I wonder how it works with 2-3 foot long hairs clogging up the pipes... about 4 times I year I haul out a globbly mess of not-my-hair
Oi yeah, plants are coming along beautifully.
I've noticed that not-my-hair is the grossest kind. I'm not sure what EMs do to/for hair, if anything.
If the bokashi leachate works I won't have to do that. If it doesn't work that is good to know.
Regarding Effective Microorganisms and hair. I have read that hair can be successfully composted in a worm bin, so some microorganism can do it.
I found this description of EMs on another site
"The bacteria belong primarily to three strains: yeasts, (Saccharomyces spp.), bacteria that produce lactic acids (Lactobacillus spp.), and (phototrophic) purple non-sulfur bacteria (Rhodopseudomonas spp.). These, or bacteria like them, are the active organisms in yogurt and in silage, the fermented hay that is produced all over the world as a livestock feed. All smell sour or fermented but none produce a smell nearly as foul as those associated with natural anaerobic processes."
I found this description of EMs on another site
"The bacteria belong primarily to three strains: yeasts, (Saccharomyces spp.), bacteria that produce lactic acids (Lactobacillus spp.), and (phototrophic) purple non-sulfur bacteria (Rhodopseudomonas spp.). These, or bacteria like them, are the active organisms in yogurt and in silage, the fermented hay that is produced all over the world as a livestock feed. All smell sour or fermented but none produce a smell nearly as foul as those associated with natural anaerobic processes."
My plan for utilizing the finished bokashi is getting a little refinement after last night's readings.
When freshly finished, straight bokashi has a PH of around 3, more acidic than most vinegar (is this one of the reasons it works on drain pipes?). Several times I have read that worms will adjust to eating bokashi, just to feed small amounts in the beginning and let them come to it. I have read similar things about other acidic foods like tropical and citrus fruits, that the worms and microbes will adjust.
Rather than feed pure finished bokashi to the worms, I will utilize another plastic bin, one that holds at least twice as much as the bokashi bucket. In that bin will be some used soil, fresh EWC, dry leaves, fairly generous amounts of pumice, rockdust and oyster shell flour, rice hulls and perhaps some shredded paper or cardboard. In this bin I will "bury" my finished bokashi to let it decompose further and to let the PH balance out for a few weeks. The product of that bin will be my worm food.
When freshly finished, straight bokashi has a PH of around 3, more acidic than most vinegar (is this one of the reasons it works on drain pipes?). Several times I have read that worms will adjust to eating bokashi, just to feed small amounts in the beginning and let them come to it. I have read similar things about other acidic foods like tropical and citrus fruits, that the worms and microbes will adjust.
Rather than feed pure finished bokashi to the worms, I will utilize another plastic bin, one that holds at least twice as much as the bokashi bucket. In that bin will be some used soil, fresh EWC, dry leaves, fairly generous amounts of pumice, rockdust and oyster shell flour, rice hulls and perhaps some shredded paper or cardboard. In this bin I will "bury" my finished bokashi to let it decompose further and to let the PH balance out for a few weeks. The product of that bin will be my worm food.
Sunshine Daydream #4 nugs. Noticeably more round than the other 3 SSDD girls. Almost as sticky as SD2. SD4 has the most unique aroma of the four, but I'm not positive I can call it "butter" at this point, although "sour" is in the mix as well as something of a "smooth" smell (I'm not even sure what I mean by that, perhaps "metallic" or "coppery"). First taste screamed "Bubba!"
Some time in the jar will bring out more of her true qualities I am sure. I can already tell SD1 and SD2 apart by smell, taste, feel and appearance. It appears I will be able to do the same with SD3 and SD4. I am already happy with all four.
Some time in the jar will bring out more of her true qualities I am sure. I can already tell SD1 and SD2 apart by smell, taste, feel and appearance. It appears I will be able to do the same with SD3 and SD4. I am already happy with all four.
many organic gardening books say that hair (human, dog, cat, horse) can be used in compost... EM & bokashi is more or less just accelurated composting, right? should be fine...
I assume Sis CO lol see nice plants do come from Nor-Cal
