[compost_tea] Re: L.Bacillus sp and EM
Hi Dorothy -
I have materials and resources that provide a practical
summary of EM, IM, CT, and BD. They emphasize on-farm
beneficial microbe cultures.
But they don't fit email format, and besides my schedule
is tight. U.S. farmers can obtain these resources
by sending a research request to ATTRA.
I spoke about CT, EM, and IM at the Virginia Association of
Biological Farmers conference in January. See the conference
report on NewFarm.org. It has a few notes from my presentations.
Regards,
Steve Diver
TALKING SHOP: Virginia Biological Farming Conference, January 30-31,
2004 -- "Growing Your Own"
http:=
//www.newfarm.org/depts/talking_shop/0404/vabf.shtml
In addition to the conference's dominant theme of promoting
"healthy soils, farms and people," many sessions shared a
second theme of "growing what you need to farm on the farm."
++++
Grow your own bugs: beneficial insects and microbes
On the microscopic level, Dr. Jerzy Nowak of Virginia Tech
described the role of rhizosphere microorganisms in plant
health (see "Practical tools and solutions for sustaining
family farms" for details).
Steve Diver of ATTRA discussed compost teas and other biologically
active extracts that contain soluble nutrients, bioactive substances
that promote crop growth or prevent disease, and beneficial microbes.
Many of these materials can be made from on-farm resources, he
explained, and can be used directly on crop foliage, on the soil,
or on manure or other organic residues to promote beneficial
decomposition and control odors.
Diver described two kinds of compost tea: non-aerated (fermented),
and aerated (brewed in a homemade or commercial brewer with constant
aeration). While compost teas have been shown to improve crop yields,
reduce disease, and restore worn-out soils, current USDA organic
standards regulate them as "raw manure," unless derived from
all-vegetable matter or tested to be E. coli-free (tests available
from Industrial Microbial Labs www.industrialmicro.com). For more
on compost teas, visit http://groups.yahoo.com/group/compost_tea/.
Diver also discussed effective microorganisms (EM)—a formula of
fermentative-anaerobic bacteria, actinomycetes and yeasts developed
in Japan—and indigenous microorganisms (IM), a method of
propagating
beneficial microflora from on-farm sources. "Don't let the
word
`anaerobic' scare you," he emphasized. Fermentative
anaerobic systems
like EM and fermented foods contain beneficial substances and
organisms, he said; it is only the putrefactive anaerobic processes
that yield pathogens, other harmful substances and bad odors.
Commercially available EM concentrates are activated and diluted
at the farm, Diver said, then used as foliar feed, livestock
probiotic, compost inoculant, or odor-control treatment for manure
or food wastes. Significant benefits to both crops and livestock
have been observed, he said. For information and sources of EM,
see www.emtrading.com, www.scdworld.com, or www.emrousa.org.
Korean natural farmers have cultured and used indigenous
microorganisms (IM) from their soil since the 1960s, Diver said,
describing how boiled rice is placed in contact with forest soil
or leaf mold (very rich in mycorrhizae) for one week, after which
time the inoculated rice is mixed 1:1 with molasses, diluted 20-fold
and fermented an additional week. Various recipes call for additional
plant-derived materials, Diver said, and final products are applied
to plant foliage, soil or composting materials. Diver also discussed
biodynamic preparations, fermented nettle and comfrey teas, and a
series of complex recipes developed in Auroville, India to treat 64
different crop diseases and pests. For more information, contact
Steve Diver at steved_at_ncat.org, or visit www.attra.ncat.org.
--- In compost_tea_at_yahoogroups.com, Dorothy O'Brien <obriendot@y...><=
BR>
wrote:
> Steve, Lloyd and all--
>
> After Steve Diver's comments relating to EM several
> weeks ago I looked for how-to information and more
> background. From my limited looking, it appears that
> this is a purchased product?
>
> Yet, the Rodale article on Mr. Caradang brewing his
> own sounded like this could be a backyard operation
> such as ACT. Any suggestions on other sources and
> how-to information would be appreciated.
>
> Also, Lloyd, what biodyanmic processes assist?
>
> How (if?) is EM/L. Bacilus used in connection with
> ACT? Thanks!
>
> Dorothy
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Received on Wed Jun 16 2004 - 22:37:54 EDT
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