So who here is growing in true organic living soil?

I think it's really satisfying to make premium amendments from food scraps and waste. My worms are digging it. Get it... digging it... I'll be here all week. Tip the waitresses...

no questions I get it it's just a dry read.

Well... make up some questions anyway! It's a great subject and simplifies the overall thought process on soil and plant interaction.

OK. Why are the nematodes so fucking ugly??? LOL

That's a great question. I think it's because bacteria have eyes.

I am going to try making my own calcium here soon, anyone else tried it yet?

I just mixed a new batch and webs were visible 48 hours after mixing. Also found the hookup on EWC.

Your own calcium? Like toasted egg shells?

EDIT: Kalamazoo was the site of some major research into worms and their potential for composting waste. 40 scientists from all over the world. Whooda thunkit?

Yeah the toasted egg shells in vinegar. I didn't add any calcium to the mix so I still use some from a bottle every now and again.

There's a lot of calcium in the things we can add to the soil. The plant teas, for example. The earthworm castings have huge levels of Calcium Carbonate. Leaves have a lot, and so the compost made with them will. Crab shell meal has a lot.

This is a good idea pretty much anytime, but try an EWC Tea. Basically, you're just breaking it up, but pouring it in gets it down and in there fast, where it can be used fast.

So I think I have it all straight now. Bokashi bran can be made from the wheat bran and l b. Labran into a bucket with holes in the bottom, inside of another bucket with no holes. Put in good food scraps, pop on lidlid, and fermentation of sorts ensues. You can use the liquid in the catch bucket it teas yes? And then your end product is going into your outdoor compost pile, and worm bin.

If you're a die hard and want to make your own bran, then mix the lacto with bran, then into black garbage bag for a month. Then dry. I've never done it, but it's done all the time. That's the readers digest version.

Now on to Bokashi, which is a separate thing. You would use the bucket deal and add food scraps + the Bokashi bran from above and keep the lid on. Yes on the teas, for sure. Most of the things we do are aerobic and don't smell. This process is anaerobic = stinky. You will see a white fungus (mold).

Just a thought, but Lactobacillus is actually considered an anaerobic bacteria. It prefers stinky anaerobic environments, and that's where it probably does the best digesting. So Bokashi buckets always have a lid on them. Interestingly, Lactobacillus is also helpful in aerobic conditions such as our soil and leaves (phylosphere) because Lacto swings both ways. While classified as anaerobic, it is a facultative anaerobe, meaning it can also function in aerobic conditions. Amazing critter, that LactoB.

fattiemcnuggins said:

So I think I have it all straight now. Bokashi bran can be made from the wheat bran and l b. Labran into a bucket with holes in the bottom, inside of another bucket with no holes. Put in good food scraps, pop on lidlid, and fermentation of sorts ensues. You can use the liquid in the catch bucket it teas yes? And then your end product is going into your outdoor compost pile, and worm bin.

Click to expand...

I'm not sure I'm reading you right but......

.here's a good link for homemade bokash....

bokashi is a compost accelerator ...
.make it first and then add it to your soil/compost to bireak things down faster-thats the purpose

i always throw in a lot in my soil mix b4 it cooks....helps break everything down and makes it available...!!...now!!

also keeps working thru cycle.....
.sprinkle a handful into your pot b4 you transplant with a little mychroizal ...
then just water till flower

i like to sprinkle/top dress some good clean potash(woodash) from the fireplace for the finnish....helps that hardening-

make sure you make the bokash correctly...try small batch first--
good luk and keep postin it...I'm curious how you'll like it better--


http://www.hawaiihealingtree.org/?p=163

Thanks buck and rrog. yeah I think I get it. I will update in a month or so wheb I am a bit further along.

Just wanted to thank everyone that contribute to this thread, learning a ton from you guys

My replacement worms arrived. The first order was frozen. Anyway, I have the 30 gallon fabric pot (Geopot) a little over 1/3 full of compost / old soil / some compost I made last summer. A little buried Bokashi at the perimeter. I also added lava rock for structure. I have the bag on a small wood frame with hardware cloth. The fabric pot has air all around. should allow the worms to take over the entire pot. We'll see. These guys are re-hydrating and warming up. I have a small piece of plastic loosely covering the surface.

So far this has been really cheap. The fabric pot was like $15-20. I'll add Bokashi and see how we go. Worms can't get out, and with good aeration and moderate watering they won't want to. There is also zero odor so far. Not anticipating any.

mancelonaman said:

Just wanted to thank everyone that contribute to this thread, learning a ton from you guys

Click to expand...

No doubt. Learning so much in this thread alone. This thread has definitely been a game changer for sure.

I really think this "system" of growing, if I may call it that, has contributed to me having zero pest issues lately.

The simpler it gets the better it gets.

Does anyone have an aloe plant?

Could we get an aloe clone or seed or something
instead? Scared of bringing in a superpest from a store.