EM Solution

noreply@blogger.com (Abdullah) — Tue, 08 Oct 2013 03:23:00 +0000

Animal husbandry,Europe,Pickups,Switzerland

Bienen•FIT is a liquid product to regulate digestion in a natural way, support the vitality and promote the plaster reflex of the bees.

[How To Use]
- Each time you open the boxes spray Bienen•FIT over the bees and honeycomb (Spray it on honeycomb with three pumps).
-Spray Bienen•FIT on the flight boards at each visit and before capturing bee swarms: Dilute Bienen•FIT 1:10 with water. The bees are more smoothly.
-Spray honeycomb and equipment before use with Bienen•FIT, diluted 1:10 with water.

Add 30 ml Bienen•FIT in 5 L sugar water. The constituent bacteria reach the digestive tract.
The beehives are more active and stronger. Parasites and other are better tolerated. The boxes are kept clean by the bees.
When spraying the beehives, the bees are quiet and the liquid is licked off immediately. The bees get better through the winter.

Please contact the following company to find out more details.

Local Contact:
EM Schweiz AG
Luetzelfluehstrasse 22, 3508 Arni, Switzerland
Tel: +41-(0)41-260-4474
Fax: +41-(0)41-260-4492
mail: info@em-shweiz.ch

Asia,Food & Drink,Japan

EM™ Sea Salt GOLD is rich in micro-minerals. Made 100% with the deep-sea water from Kume Island of Okinawa – an island blessed with the bounty of nature.

Positioned in the East China Sea – 100km west of Naha City – is the island of Kume. The island has been known as the “Beauty of the Ryukyus” since the days of the Ryukyu Kingdom.
Thanks to the Kuroshio Current, Kume Island is blessed with wonderful fishing grounds. The deep-sea water found off of the coasts of Kume Island is very clean. It is virtually untouched by microbes and other harmful materials due to its low temperature.

Please contact the following company to find out more details.

Local contact:
EM Research Organization
Overseas Department
mail: inquiry@emro.co.jp

Asia,Food & Drink,Japan

EM・X® GOLD is calorie free and can be consumed safely by anyone, from children to seniors. Only the safest ingredients such as yeast extract, calcium carbonate, and magnesium chloride are selected to increase the effectiveness of microorganisms.

Fermented food that helped maintain that health of many Japanese people. EM・X® GOLD is filled with enzymes and minerals produced by EM (Effective Microorganisms), start “saving up” your health today.

You can drink it straight, in water, in tea, in coffee, or even in your food. Anybody can enjoy it without any worries.

Please contact the following company to find out more details.

Local contact:
EM Research Organization
Overseas Department
mail: inquiry@emro.co.jp

Environment,Europe,Germany,Pickups

EMIKO® EM Bokashi Balls are a traditional water improvement product containing EM Effective Microorganisms®.

EM Bokashi Balls are also known in Germany as “Dangos” or internationally as “mud balls” and have been used since the introduction of EM technology to break down soil sediments and putrefaction in standing and flowing waters.
EMIKO® EM Bokashi Balls sink to the bottom of the water and disintegrate there. EM Effective Microorganisms® quickly reach their desired place of action and produce their effect of reducing the sediment.

Characteristics:
EMIKO® Bokashi Balls

reduce soil sediments and putrefaction
improve water quality
support positive pond bacteria
preserve vitality of fish
promote the breakdown of organic and inorganic compounds
prevent or remove eutrophication

Please contact the following company to find out more details.

Local Contact:
EMIKO Handelsgesellschaft mbH
Duetzhof, Vorgebirgsstrasse 99, 53913 Swisttal-Heimerzheim, Germany
Tel: +49-2222-93 95-0
Fax: +49-(0)2222-93 95 -20
Email: info@emiko.de
Web: www.emiko.de

Agriculture,Europe,Germany,Pickups

EMIKO® MicroFertilizer is an organic fertilizer with EM Effective Microorganisms® for the improved supply of nutrients to all plants.

It provides nutrients which are available quickly for an immediate fertilizing effect. Additional nutrients are slowly mineralized and ensure the supply for the plant at a later time. They are stored in the soil and are protected from being flushed out into the ground water. EMIKO® MikroFertilizer also promotes the life in the soil, the EM Effective Microorganisms® it contains providing for its ideal composition.

EMIKO® MikroFertilizer improves:

conversion of organic substances
soil fertility
availability of nutrients in the soil
yield and quality of crop plants
vitality of plants
drought and stress tolerance

Please contact the following company to find out more details.

Animal husbandry,Europe,Germany,Pickups

EMIKO® EM Apis is the organic nutritional supplement for bees with EM Effective Microorganisms®.
High-quality, natural ingredients are fermented by a special method to produce EMIKO® EM Apis.
EMIKO® EM Apis contributes to maintaining the performance of the bee population.

You can also finely spray EM Effective Microorganisms® straight, or 1/10 diluted with water, directly onto bees and honeycombs.
EMIKO® EM Apis may be used in organic farming.

Please contact the following company to find out more details.

Agriculture,Europe,Germany,Pickups

EMIKO® EM5 Forte is a traditional product with EM Effective Microorganisms®, garlic, and chili, to promote vigorous plants.

EMIKO® EM5 Forte is poured or sprayed directly onto the parts of the plant which are above ground. EM Effective Microorganisms® populate the surfaces and ensure, together with the balanced ingredients, strong and healthy plant growth.
Additionally, the soil can be treated with EMIKO® Garden and Soil Activator, EMIKO® Fertilizer Bokashi, or EMIKO® MicroFertilizer. This creates optimal conditions for the growth of healthy and vigorous plants, which are able to protect themselves from sickness and pests in the best possible way.

Please contact the following company to find out more details.

Animal husbandry,Europe,Pickups,Poland

EM Zakiszacz (Silage) is a supplementary product to produce high quality silage for animal feed. It is intended to improve the fermentation of grass and corn.

Please contact the following company to find out more details.

Local Contact:
GREENLAND TECHNOLOGIA EM
Trzcianki 6, 24-123 Janowiec N/Wisla, Poland
Tel: +48 (0) 81-888-53-25
Fax: +48 (0) 81-888-53-26
mail: info@emgreen.pl
Web: www.emgreen.pl

EM・1,Europe,Pickups,Poland

EM·1® is a microbial product in liquid form, consisting of a wide variety of effective, beneficial and non-pathogenic microorganisms produced through a natural process and not chemically synthesized or genetically engineered. Please see EM application in the local area to find out more details.

Please contact the following company to find out more details.

Local Contact:
GREENLAND TECHNOLOGIA EM
Trzcianki 6, 24-123 Janowiec N/Wisla, Poland
Tel: +48 (0) 81-888-53-25
Fax: +48 (0) 81-888-53-26
mail: info@emgreen.pl
Web: www.emgreen.pl

Environment,Europe,Pickups,Poland

EM Bio is used to improve wastewater treatment processes and treatment of excessive sludge.

Please contact the following company to find out more details.

Local Contact:
GREENLAND TECHNOLOGIA EM
Trzcianki 6, 24-123 Janowiec N/Wisla, Poland
Tel: +48 (0) 81-888-53-25
Fax: +48 (0) 81-888-53-26
mail: info@emgreen.pl
Web: www.emgreen.pl

Compost Tea vs EM1 Microbial Inoculant

noreply@blogger.com (Abdullah) — Tue, 09 Aug 2011 07:31:00 +0000

Why is it that people are always looking for which thing or gadget is better? It might be human nature to look for the "next best thing" or "which is the best". I often find myself looking at how to combine things and "get the best of both worlds". There are always pros and cons for everything. Let's take a look at compost tea vs EM1 Microbial Inoculant.

This is fresh in my mind because it kept coming up at the Organic Growers School. For home owners, brewing tea properly does not seem like a cost-effective or practicle route.

This is a compost tea brewer (pictured above, right) used at a golf course in San Francisco. They make the tea and add AEM1 before they apply it to the course.

Compost Tea (Pro)

Low cost to produce.
Great way to get beneficial fungi and protozoa for soils and plants.
Can be brewed on site.
Easy to apply.

Compost Tea (Con)

Could brew pathogens without knowing.
Inconsistent quality
Requires an aeration unit and tank to brew
Very short shelf life. ( 24 hours or less)
Almost entirely aerobic microbes, lacks facultative microbes.

EM1 Microbial Inoculant (Pro)

High quality, consistent product.
Easy to brew/increase populations (Activation)
Can be brewed on site or shipped ready-to-use
Easy to apply
Contains large populations of facultative microbes, enzymes, trace minerals, vitamins, and organic acids
Long shelf Life (about 1 year with the EM1 and 30+ days on the Activated product)
Multiple uses beyond horticulture (inoculate compost, odor control, improves water clarity in irrigation ponds, etc)

EM1 Microbial Inoculant (Con)

Does require repeat purchases of "seed" product (EM1)
Does not contain much fungi (yeasts only) or any protozoa
Requires the purchase of a sugar source

Get the Best of both! Combine the two. Here's how:

Following compost tea brewing instructions
After aeration cycle is complete (up to 24 hours), turn off aeration.
Add Activated EM1 Microbial Inoculant at a rate of 1 part AEM1 to 50 parts Tea.
Follow suggested tea application rates

This gives you the facultative microbes, aerobic micorbes, beneficial fungi, and protozoa groups in one inoculant. The other benefit is that the tea is now going to be good for up to a week, as long as it is kept in an airtight container. You can simply mix in a drum or larger tank with a lid.

If you are expericened with compost tea already, you will notice improved results. EM America has heard from several growers that they have had higher levels of nutrient values in a variety crops. You'll see why Dr. Higa has answered the question, "What is the best inoculant?" with "All of them mixed together."

Dr. Higa's coming to Town...

We are working on setting up two different presentations in May with Dr. Higa presenting. We still have to finalize the times and places. Here is what we have so far:

May 11th: Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Dr. Higa and two other EM experts will present on farming applications with Effective Microorganisms(TM) This event will be open to the public and will be and "EM" event, meaning all presentations will be on EM Technology(R). We'll post more details when we have them.
May 13th: In the Naples/Ft. Myers Area of Southern Florida. Dr. Higa be one of several presentations in the evening. He will present to farmers in the area on the large-scale applications of Effective Microorganisms(TM) for building soils.

Both of these events are directed at farmers and agricultural professionals. They will, however, be open to the public for those who are interested in coming to hear presentations on EM Technology in regards to farming (large scale and small scale). We will send out notice to all our customers once we have the details finalized.

Revist to Sleeping Frog Farm

I made another trip to Sleeping Frog Farms yesterday (March 25th, 2009) to get some photos. Here are some photos of the lovely crops their growing...and, we can't forget the people who make it all happen!

Tony was out yesterday. Adam, Debbie, and CJ were working. Adam and CJ were getting ready for the farmer's market this afternoon. They were picking some radishes here.

They have about 50 chickens...some beautiful varieties of birds that produce several different colored eggs. The eggs are sold at the St. Phillip's Farmers Market on Sundays. My son was going around picking wild mustard and feeding it to them the entire time we were there. He even got to pick up a few of them.

On the East side of the property, they are preparing several new rows of crops. We pulled up the covers to take a look at the new Osaka, flat parsley, baby bok choy, and other greens. When we were there last week, they were just seedlings. Man, did they grow fast!

Gaia Herbs

While In Asheville, I stayed at Jackie Greenfield's home. Jackie works for Gaia Herbs in Brevard, North Carolina. We were able to take a tour of their production plant and their farm where they produce nearly 5 million plants annually for their botanical extracts.
This photos is from their website, showing herbs in full bloom. They have a full photo gallery of the farm on their site.

Gaia Herbs, Inc. has a Certified Organic facility and Certified Organic Farm. They grow Certified Organic herbs on their farm as well as purchase certified organic herbs from local farms. They also produce wild harvested products. They have very high standards for growing to ensure potency of their extracts and have on-site labs to test for quality and improvement of formulation.

A program they are very proud of began recently (in the past year or two), is that they produce vegetables for their staff on their farm. This program has helped their staff get several high quality certified organic vegetables, saving them money and giving them healthy food. The property is absolutely gorgeous. Walking paths on the property encourage staff to get out and exercise. I am sure during the height of the season, the 50+ acres of echinacea and other herbs is breathtaking.

Of course, I went and took pictures of their compost piles.

Organic Growers School II

The Organic Growers School is a lively event held in Asheville, North Carolina. People come from miles around for two days of intensive workshops taught by knowledgable professionals. Several classes were taught by college professors and Agriculture Extension Agents. The classes range from Organic Pest Management to Canning and Preserving to Wholesaling Crops to Retailers to Seed collection. Over the past few years homeowners have been coming to learn about growing their own foods so there is a nice mix of farmers and gardeners. This year, about 1400 people came to the two-day event.

On Sunday afternoon, 4 workshops were held Jifasa farm from 1pm to 5pm. The common theme between the workshops stressed the importance of beneficial microbes: Bio-char, Effective Microorganisms™, Compost Tea, and Worm Castings. A discussion on Bio-char was conducted by Patryk Battle (top left).

Bio-char is microbially-active charcoal. The charcoal provides a home for beneficial microbes and has a host of benefits to the environment. Patryk is working with a product that includes compost and other nutrients. They have done several grow-out trials (on this farm and at a couple universities) and can demonstrate improved growth of plants grown with the char. The char is a "carbon negative" technology that encourages the activity of soil microbes that pull carbon into the soils.

The production of the charcoal (made from high carbon materials) may offer multiple resources including energy production as well as production of fuels.

In the greenhouse the Compost Tea Making workshop (right) was taught, showing this simple method of brewing aerobic bacateria, pseudomonads, and fungi. The tea is made from high quality compost, aerated for up to 24 hours, and applied through a drench, irrigation line, or sprayed onto plants with a mister. The instructor discussed the importance of getting the tea applied in about 6 hours after the aeration cycle is completed as the aerobic microbes begin to die off once the air is turned off. He also suggested mixing in some fish emulsion (liquid fertilizer) and some yucca extract (soap) to feed and provide some sticky-ness to keep the microbes on the leaves for a while after the application.

This is another picture of the green house that is treated on a weekly basis with compost tea mixes.

We also did a class introducing EM Technology (sorry, I couldn't take a picture of myself). I discussed how EM1 Microbial Inoculant can be added to the Bio-char, the compost tea, the worm castings, and to accelerate composting. For one group I did have enough time to show them how to activate the EM1 and turn one liter of EM1 into 5 gallons of ready-to-use product.

For anyone that is in the area in the Spring, I highly recommend attending this event.

An EM Farm in the making

Sleeping Frog Farm is a new farm in Tucson, Arizona. My wife purchased some of their produce at a local farmer's market and told me about them. It turns out I know one of the owners, CJ Marks. CJ has been passionate about learning all the ways EM Technology can help in the production of food and has told me that he always wanted to start an EM Farm. He's doing it now, right here in Tucson!

I visited the farm this week and they have quite a bit growing already. They are growing heirloom varieties of veggies and now working on developing about another acre of soil to expand their offerings. Most of what they have growing now is various types of lettuce, chards, kales, and some herbs. They have about 50 chickens, really neat looking breeds, and are selling about 25 dozen eggs per week. Their customers include some high end restaurants in town, who have noticed that their lettuce stays fresh longer than anything else they buy.

They have lots of plans for doing workshops at the farm to educate people about organic agriculture...and Effective Microorganisms™. If you're in the area, they sell their produce at the

St. Phillip's Plaza Farmer's Market on Sunday Mornings 8am-Noon (Southeast Corner of River and Campbell),
The Santa Cruz Farmer's Market on Thursdays 3:00pm-6:00pm (NE Corner of Speedway & Riverview between AZ School for the Deaf and Blind & El Rio Center), and the
Marana Farm Stand on Mondays 3:00pm-6:00pm (12375 N Heritage Park Drive).

I'll get some photos up soon

Organic Growers School

I'm off to North Carolina tomorrow to speak about Effective Microorganisms™ at the Organic Growers School in Ashville, North Carolina. I am pretty excited about this. I haven't done more than a couple workshops on EM1 since last summer at the Health & Wellness Expo. I enjoy getting up in front of people and discussing the many applications of this great technology. We hold something than can make such a difference in the world and it seems like more and more people are opening their minds to the idea that microbes have a place in the world as problem solvers.

The gist of this meeting is to stress the importance of microbes in farming and gardening. EM America does have a few customers in the area including some naturopaths and homeowners. I'm nut sure how many people already know about EM Technology in the area. What I'll do is a general overview lecture on EM Technology and its impact on farming, home, and the environment. After that, I will be doing a couple workshops on practical applications of EM1 such as making activated EM, EM5, and Fermented Plant Extracts.

I'll write a little after I get back.

Another Green"er" Economy

The biggest buzz word in the news today is "Green". I get the feeling that green is being so overused by companies. It is so much so that I do not want to associate EM Technology with the word. There are still many people who are not sure what the difference is between organic and natural. It is so easy to be duped by word association. Many die-hards have been looking for an alternative to organic as the USDA got involved. Doing a quick search, one can find terms like "beyond organic" being used by people who want to take things to the next level.

The current administration is supposedly pushing a green agenda, which attracts the masses who have been trying to offer safer, more effective products that do not have a negative impact on the earth. Effective Microorganisms(TM) has been beyond these regulations and certifications since it hit the market in the early 1980's. On so many levels this technology offers solutions to environmental problems. The lists keep expanding as people keep experimenting with the various products.

With the economic crisis we are in and continue to delve deeper into, EM Technology shines as it can make so many industries be more efficient, saving operation costs and reducing environmental impact. More than half of the states in the US are on the verge of bankruptcy. Many of their budgets include areas that EM Technology can help. In the areas of waste treatment (solid and liquid) EM1 Microbial Inoculant can increase digestion rates of wastes, increasing capacity of operations, and reduce costs associated with treatment. In solid waste (landfill) management, over 40% of the materials going into the landfills can be diverted if the public were educated on the food waste recycling program we promote (Bokashi food waste recycling. Existing landfills could be treated with EM1 Microbial Inoculant, increasing the digestion of organic matter, making leachate non-toxic, and to prevent the production of methane. The valuable space these landfills take up could be reclaimed in a quicker time and the wastes discharged from them could be converted into resources.

Wastewater treatment is an essential part of our water supply. (what comes in must go out.) Millions of taxpayer dollars are spent on wastewater, rates are increasing and infrastucture is in need of repair. Chemical treatment has proven to be inefficient, costing billions of dollars in damage to equipment and to the environment. It does not take too much thought to wonder if it is right to add some chemical to water that is eventually going to be discharged to a waterway. I find myself often thinking, "if it isn't in there naturally, it shouldn't be added." The microbes in EM1 Microbial Inoculant are found in varying concentrations in wastewater. Chemical also have some type of residual or side reaction, not to mention the cost. Chemicals added to wastewater do nothing to improve the efficiency of the treatment. They only increase the cost of treatment. The residual effects of most of them also increase the corrosion of equipment which will result in increased infrastructure costs over time. It makes more sense to add ingredients that prevent corrosion, have no negative residual, and increase the efficiency of treatment...all at a lower cost.

If citizens want to have a cleaner world, save their state budgets, and save themselves from dramatic increases in taxes, EM Technology offers a solution to all these issues. It is right here under their noses and available for anyone right now. The technology has proven itself on six continents and has over a 25-year track record. Before a municipality issues a tax hike because they need to build a new landfill or treatment plant, check to see that they have looked into what EM Technology can do for them.

WHAT EM CAN DO.....

noreply@blogger.com (Abdullah) — Tue, 09 Aug 2011 07:25:00 +0000

Think of EM•1® Bokashi as a fertilizer

Compost, is broken down organic matter. It is actually rotten material. Many methods of making compost exist: static pile, aerobic, sheet composting, etc. It has a place in gardening and is a great way to recycle or turn waste into something useful. However, as for nutrients, it is lacking. This is why bokashi is such a boon.

If you garden, you know that manures are great for plants and soils. You also know that you can't apply fresh manure to soils where plants are growing because you'll burn the plants. Why? The high amounts of nitrogen. A couple other problems come from using fresh manure. Fresh manure has high levels of ammonia (NH3) that can leach into soils or gas off causing odor. The problem with the leaching is high levels of nitrates in the groundwater can cause blue baby syndrome...it is a toxin. A more mundane problem with fresh manures is the amount of weed seeds..mostly a problem in cow manure and horse manure. If you've ever made the mistake of applying horse manure to soil without fully composting it, you know that you just planted a new lawn! So, for safety and to save yourself of the headaches of excess weeding, you need to compost manures...or so you think.

The addition of EM•1® Microbial Inoculant to conventional composting methods is beneficial as it helps increase aerobic microbial populations, controls, odors, and produces a complete product faster.

Enter EM•1® Bokashi

All organic matter/wastes has lots of nutrients and sugars to feed microbes. Animal manures contain NPK, minerals, cellulose, and lots of microbes. The conventional way to make manures usable is to compost them. You often use ratios of Nitrogen to Carbon at 1:20 1:30 and so on. Moisture content is high because you will be turning and creating heat (mostly coming from the nitrogen and the microbial activity). EPA standards for composting require high temperatures to control pathogens, attraction to pests, and for breaking down toxins.

Fermentation of these manures is pretty easy, more economical, and faster than turning. With EM Technology™, we refer to this process as "bokashi" making. The finished product is called EM•1® Bokashi. Instead of referring this to compost, we often find ourselves explaining this is a fertilizer-making method where one is able to preserve nutrients in the organic wastes, prevent burning of plants, and save lots of money. The fermentation process produces various enzymes, vitamins, and amino acids. There also is not much heat produced during fermentation. This means that the weed seeds are not killed. Actually, the exposure to the EM•1® causes the seeds to germinate more quickly, so if the wastes are spread on the surface, there will be a tremendous amount of weed seeds germinating. This, when managed properly, is a great thing because you have produced a "free" green manure that can be turned in in about 2-3 weeks.

The conclusion is that each process has its benefits. EM•1® Bokashi methods are great for faster production, but are best to be incorporated in the soil or covered by top soils and compost is great to add lots of organic matter and to use a mulch.

The Difference Between Bokashi and Compost

I have seen a lot of discussion on the net where people are confused/wondering about the differences between compost and bokashi. Since Bokashi is a foreign terms (it's Japanese, meaning fermented organic matter), I can understand. Some visuals would help. Luckily, our sister company in New Zealand loaded a video showing how to use the food waste right out of the buckets. You can see it is quite different than compost. Here are some simple explanations that should help get people get the idea.

Composting is the aerobic breakdown of organic material. In order to make a proper compost, materials are turned, causing microbial activity to raise temperatures. During this process, temperatures can go above 160F degrees and, possibly, catch on fire. The heating process causes gases to release. These gases are mainly methane (CH4), Carbon Dioxide (CO2), and Ammonia (NH3). As you can see, these gases result in a loss of both carbon and nitrogen (a major plant food). Finished compost is very good to use as a soil amendment and mulch for plants. It will not burn when mature as the nitrogen is mostly burned off or fixed during curing.

Bokashi, is a fermentation method, which preserves the nutrients in the organic materials, leaving more material to feed plants and build soil than compost. Fermentation does not cause dramatic heat increase, which pasteurizes the materials. During the fermentation, microbes begin to break down the lignin in plant materials and start to synthesize enzymes, vitamins, amino acids, and also make minerals bio-available. When Bokashi is fully fermented (which takes about 2 weeks in an airtight container), it makes a great soil additive. Since these food waste buckets contain various food materials that are pickled, they can't be spread on the surface of soil as they will begin to rot and attract pests. They can, however, be buried in the soil, in a compost pile, or added to planters and will add lots of nutrients, organic matter, and lots of live microbes.

Both items have their place. A combination of both at homes across the country would seriously get us all toward zero wastes. You can add meats and dairy products to bokashi without problems. In compost, they can attract animals, but since the bokashi process is done in a sealed container, this is not a worry. Schools around the world are keeping much of their cafeteria waste from being landfilled, growing veggies to supplement their school lunch, or selling the bokashi and the veggies for fund raising.

A buzz in going on about EM•1® Bokashi and the food waste recycling program. EM Americais a seeing a surge in demand for the fermenter buckets and the Organic Rice Bran Bokashi. Last year I received an email from someone in Dave's Garden (http://www.davesgarden.com) that there was a lot of talk about EM Technology™ and someone from EM America should join in to help with the technical advice...I couldn't resist! There are now 3 separate forums on various applications of EM Technology™. For the gardener, Dave's is the ultimate internet community.

About two weeks ago, a Seattle Washington newspaper ran an article about the Bokashi food waste recycling program. Ann Lovejoy wrote the article. Being Seattle, I am sure people jumped at the "new" idea.

People are catching on...

FERMENTED FOOD

noreply@blogger.com (Abdullah) — Tue, 09 Aug 2011 07:22:00 +0000

Well, I did it. I am going to be teaching a class on fermented foods at Pima Community College this Spring.

I received a call from Pima Community College with an interest to have a class on Effective Microorganisms™. After going through what would be the most popular topics, cooking classes stood out. There is a growing trend in the Raw Foods and Fermented Foods arena. As more and more people focus on health, they are learning about the benefits of probiotics and fermented foods.

My cooking experience and interest in raw foods peaked my interest in teaching a class on using EM•1® EM America store to make foods. So much of cooking is intuition. You can learn the basics and branch out from there to make concoctions that suit your tastes. I generally start with a recipe and incorporate EM•1® into the recipe. Some of the recipes I came up with are on the EM America website (Raw Food Recipes). Since I normally just make something to taste, I normally don't measure ingredients. This is a bad habit when you actually want to create a recipe, but is really how things are done in the professional arena. All recipes are really just guidelines for chefs to follow up on to remind them of how they created something they liked.

In the class I plan on showing people how to make a couple of the recipes on the EM America site and also how to make a couple other things. I wanted to show how to make beer, but am not allowed to due to school policy.

Here is the information on the class:

CF117 – Introduction to Fermented Foods

Learn to make some simple, healthy foods that are Raw, Organic and Live! We’ll make a fermented Balsamic Vinaigrette that has an extended shelf life, a fermented health drink with natural carbonation, and some salsa that is packed with nutrients and is easy to digest. All of the foods provide natural probiotics to the body. Join us to prepare the latest in gourmet food that is a powerhouse of nutrition. $15 food fee per person.

Thr 5/22 6:00-8:00pm SAAVI 3767 E. Grant Road $39 ( 8 students min and 15 students max)

(SAAVI has a demonstration kitchen)

We need to get about 10 students. If you're in the area, please sign up. It will be fun!
Eric

What is "bokashi"

Bokashi is really a term. It is Japanese for "fermented organic matter." The closest thing I would relate it to is silage. Silage is hay or grains that are fermented for livestock feed. The feed is collected in large piles, some water is added, and the pile is covered and allowed to ferment for an extended period of time. The fermentation process causes the lignin in the grains to break down so it can be easily digested by the livestock.

Today most commercial feedlots go through so much feed that they do not have the time needed for the fermentation to take place. Therefore, most of the animals are fed whole grains like corn and soybeans. There is a definite difference in taste between meats that were grain fed or grass fed. Many grass fed animals are fed silage during the winter (in cold areas). This grasses that are mowed can inoculated with EM1 just before they are bagged. This will accelerate fermentation, produce enzymes, amino acids, add trace minerals and vitamins (antioxidants) so the feed it value added. This finished product would be called EM1 boakshi...for animal feeds. This is done in over 100 countries worldwide.

Starting in Japan, several womens' groups got together with schools to promote what they call the Bokashi Network. The Bokashi Network teaches students to make and use EM1 Bokashi to ferment cafeteria waste, preventing it from going to incinerators or landfills. Since this process of recycling food waste involves fermentation, meats and dairy can be added to the mix. EM America has detailed the food waste recycling program and also has the instructions on how to make EM1 Bokashi.

In Tucson, Arizona, the Arizona School For the Deaf And Blind makes their own EM1 Bokashi and recycles all their cafeteria food waste. This school wants to teach the students life-skills. Therefore, they teach the students how to make and sell the EM1 Bokashi. The students bury the food waste into pits and allow it to break down naturally...no turning. The soil they use to grow plants (flowers and vegetables). They have a little store that is open to the public. At the store they sell the flowers and veggies so they learn a bit about business as well. It is a great program. Other schools may use the foods they grow to supplement the foods they serve in the cafeteria. This is another great full circle opportunity for schools to teach, learn, and save some money.

EM1 Bokashi can also be used instead of clay kitty litter. The microbes in the EM1 Bokashi will break down all the urine so the litter box doesn't smell bad. When the box needs cleaning, the spent litter can be used to fertilizer flowers in the yard. This is another great way to keep unnecessary stuff out of our landfills and to deter from using synthetic fertilizers.

Tuesday, February 05, 2008

Cats and skunks

When I lived back in Massachusetts there were a lot of skunks in the area. During the summer you could not mistake the smell. You would be driving along a wooded road and out of nowhere that smell would invade your senses! The thick stench of a nocturnal animal...the skunk. Your mind would flash to the old cartoons of Pepe Le Pu walking around with his tail wafting the odor trail... It you get too close, look out! The smell will bring tears to your eyes.

While I was growing up, I always heard horror stories of dogs coming home wreaking of skunk. The only way people knew how to get rid of the smell was with a bath of tomato juice...not only does that sound gross, but it also sounds expensive!

One warm summer evening...around 1am...my wife and I had gone to bed. A few minutes later we heard what sounded like a cat fight. Our cat had ticked off the wrong animals. We opened the door to let him in before he got hurt. There was a funny smell that came in the house...there were also two other animals that followed him right in the door: a possum and a skunk!!! Our eyes started tearing up right away.

The cat ran into the house, climbing up the couch and down the back of the arm chair and then under the couch, leaving a lovely scent as he went. We managed to get the skunk and the possum out of the house with the assistance of a nice broom. My cat was wet with skunk spray. Without thinking I grabbed him by a handful of skin and fur and threw him in the bathtub. I grabbed a gallon bottle of Activated EM•1® (AEM1) on the way... I held him down...cats don't really like water...and poured the AEM1 all over him. Like magic, the skunk smell was gone. A few scratches later and a warm towel...it was time to treat the rest of the house. A couple of spray bottles helped get the stuff on all the furniture. It took about an hour to spray and wash down everything, but we got rid of the skunk smell on everything we thought the cat had run into.

The next morning I had a sales call. I picked up my bag and headed out the house to my appointment, which was an hour away. When I got to the clients house, I realized we missed spraying my bag. It still smelled like skunk. Oh, what a smelly day!

Tips for an Eco-Friendly Summer

noreply@blogger.com (Abdullah) — Tue, 09 Aug 2011 07:14:00 +0000

Summer can be a particularly challenging time for people who want to lead a green lifestyle. Longer, hotter days mean more hours indoors, which inevitably leads to higher energy consumption. With summer quickly approaching, it’s important to prepare your household for peak temperatures, ensuring you use energy as efficiently as possible. Here are a few tips that will help reduce your energy consumption even in the heat.

Tactics You Can Use Year Round

Plugged-in electronics constantly pull electricity, so get in the habit of unplugging electronic devices when you aren’t using them. The biggest offenders include flatscreen TVs, cable boxes and DVRs. A power-strip is an easy way to quickly turn off and on your entertainment system or any number of electronics at once.
Completely turn off your computer, rather than simply letting it hibernate.
Use a solar mobile phone charger.
Turn off the lights whenever you leave a room and consider installing dimmer switches in the future.
Use florescent light bulbs whenever possible.
Only heat or cool the areas of the house you are actually using. Close doors and shut vents in spaces like unused guest rooms.

Household Chores

Water lawns and gardens early in the morning – 4am or earlier – allowing water to fully soak in before the afternoon heat. Every 7 to 10 days, add one-to-three parts EM•1® Microbial Inoculant to your lawn water mix. EM•1® will help ensure a healthy micro-environment, improving soil structure, drainage and water retention (increased drought tolerance).
Install low flow show heads in your shower and opt for short showers rather than baths.
Wash clothes on the cold setting whenever possible and hang towels out to air dry.

Control Your Indoor Environment

Install darkening curtains or window treatments in rooms with significant sun exposure during peak summer hours. The room will remain cooler, requiring far less air-conditioning.
Rather than simply closing blinds or shutters, angle them to directly reflect the sun.
Attics are one of the easiest and least expensive parts of the house to insulate. The good news is, attic insulation can shave between 20 and 25% off your electricity bill, paying for the upgrade in just a matter of months.
Seal cool air in and keep hot air out by closing gaps around doors and windows. Easy remedies include caulk around windows and weather stripping on doors.
Air sealing with spray foam insulation will tighten up the house as well. Simply pull back insulation and spray cracks in joints and around joists. Then place the insulation back. Be sure not to crush the insulation if it is fiberglass. If you have blown cellulose insulation, there is no need to air seal.
Check your insulation to see if there are lots of gaps or if it has settled a lot. Fiberglass insulation looses its insulating value as it compacts. Cellulose insulation value increases as it settles. If there are lots of gaps in the fiberglass insulation or it has settled to only a few inches, it may be a good idea to install cellulose insulation to increases.
Make sure there is a cover over your attic entry way that fits properly. These look like big styrofoam coolers and fit over pull-down stairs. If you have a door entryway, there are insulation boards that can be fitted in the doorway to block hot or cold air.
Insulate pipes with pipe insulation that are either in the attic or underneath the house if you have a crawl space or basement. This can be done easily by yourself.
In the transition months, when temperatures aren’t unbearable, opt to use fans rather than a/c whenever possible.
Check the filters on your a/c unit and replace them when necessary. Have a pro look at you’re a/c system every year to ensure Freon levels are sufficient. When filters are clogged or Freon is low, the system has work harder, for longer in order to produce the same cooling affect.

Getting Houseplants Right: A Guide to Effective Indoor Plant Care

If you enjoy nature, chances are you also enjoy bringing elements of nature into your home. Houseplants can infuse your living space with natural beauty that - if done correctly - can complement the décor and lift your mood.

When it comes to caring for plants, there are several primary needs you should address: potting, soil quality, lighting, temperature, moisture, and maintenance. You can address these in needs with six simple steps.

Step 1:

Choose the right pot. If you are transferring the plant from another pot, be sure to wash thoroughly and spray the pot’s surface with a microbial inoculant as it may harbor harmful bacteria or disease. Be sure to keep your pot size proportionate to the plant it will house. Too large a pot can lead to root disease and too small a pot will prevent the plant from thriving.

Step 2:

Provide the right soil. Simply filling the pot with outdoor soil is not going to cut it as standard soil does not drain properly. Indoor plants require special potting soil that provides additional nutrients as well as proper aeration and drainage. After placing the potting soil in the pot, lightly pack the soil down around the plants root system and then prime the soil with a light misting ofEM1 effective microorganisms.

Step 3:

Find the right spot. Most houseplants require sunlight to create food via photosynthesis. Depending on the type of plant you are caring for, you will need to make sure the plant is exposed to an adequate amount of sunlight. If possible, place the plant within direct sunlight or move the plant to a windowsill for several hours every day.

Step 4:

Make your home the right environment. Most plants require temperatures between 65 and 75 degrees during daylight hours. If you want to keep plants healthy, your house needs to stay within this temperature zone. Plants also thrive in around 80% humidity. If you live in a drier environment, consider purchasing a humidifier to make the home most hospitable to your plants. (Bonus: The humid air is also beneficial for human lungs, sinuses and skin.)

Step 5:

Get watering right. Most houseplant deaths are water related. The plant either receives too much or too little water. There is no set rule of thumb for watering. You want to water plants when they need it. Rather than having a rigid watering schedule, feel the soil every so often. The plant is ready to be watered when the soil feels dry to the touch. For more effective watering, mix in approximately one quarter tablespoon of a microbial incolulant like EM1.

Step 6:

Use the right fertilizer and insecticide. Every so often, you will need to enhance the houseplant’s soil or combat insects. Unfortunately, many plant fertilizers and insecticides are highly toxic, making them unwelcome products to bring into your home. Only use fertilizers that are organic and natural. Every month spray the plants leaves with a fine mist of EM1 effective microorganisms, which will infuse their mini eco-system with a healthy dose of enzymes, trace minerals and various B-complex vitamins. To safely treat plants for the occasional insect, mix one ounce of 3% hydrogen peroxide in 1 quart of water, and mist plants as needed.

10 Tips for a Healthier Greenhouse

A healthy greenhouse environment can produce more robust plant yields, extend the growing season, prepare delicate seedlings and even allow you to grow plants traditionally incompatible with your climate zone and humidity levels.

If you are a greenhouse gardener looking for simple ways to make your greenhouse more successful, here are the top 10 easiest ways to kick up your productivity.

If you are just starting your greenhouse, these tips will put you ahead of the curve and make your life a little easier down the road!

1. Beware of over-watering. One of the biggest mistakes new greenhouse gardeners make is over-watering. A drip irrigation system is ideal, but if you prefer to hand water, only do so when soil is legitimately dry and only using room temperature water. This means, you may not need to water every day.

2. Check your sunlight. Sunlight is fundamental to a successful greenhouse. Each year, be sure to examine possible sources for troublesome shadows, including buildings, trees (especially evergreen ones) or overhanging foliage. Trim away or remove any shadow-educing culprits. Also, be sure to take into consideration how the sun’s path may vary from season to season. In North America the sun will often lay lower on the horizon during winter months, casting longer shadows. If you are just starting out, start your greenhouse in an open space with the long side facing south.

3. Apply a garden disinfectant. Unfortunately, the moist, warm greenhouse environment can also be hospitable to unwanted algae, mold and fungi. A quality, natural garden disinfectant will kill these invaders without damaging the plants. How often you apply the disinfectant will depend on the humidity of your greenhouse.

4. Use only high grade soil. Using a high quality commercial potting soil is always a good starting point for your greenhouse garden. Soil mixtures vary, but often include a combination of sand, peat moss, perlite, vermiculite and fir bark. Mix in organic greenhouse fertilizer every so often to ensure you are maintaining an optimum soil environment. Many experts also recommend throwing in crushed egg shells (for calcium) and coffee grounds (for nitrogen) to enhance the soil. Be sure to wash eggshells prior to scattering them in the garden as lingering egg yolk can attract undesirable bugs.

5. Add Beneficial Microorganisms. Heat and moisture are the two key elements of a successful greenhouse environment. Unfortunately, warmer temperatures often dry out the soil. In some instances, dry soil call also lead to over-watering, as the soil is stripped away, water floods and overwhelms delicate plants. Adding a microbial inoculant product like EM1 to your greenhouse irrigation lines will help counter soil dehydration by establishing a healthy micro-ecology. The microbes naturally enhance the soil with antioxidants, vitamins, trace minerals, enzymes and organic acids. The end result is improved soil structure, texture and hydration.

6. Space your plants evenly. It’s tempting to try to crowd plants onto one or two benches, but if you space them out, you allow the air to circulate evenly. This means healthier plants and a more consistent room temperature.

7. Keep an eye on the temperature. Greenhouses can over-heat easily, so it is important to monitor temperature closely. Place thermometers in several locations to ensure temperature consistency. If you find that temperatures are too high, you will need to increase your ventilation. In many cases you can simply open some doors during the warmer hours of the day in order to correct high temperatures. Another quick fix includes hosing down the floor and allowing the water evaporation to cool the room. If these quick fixes don’t work, you may need to invest in a ventilation system. These systems will vary depending on your climate zone and particular needs, so it is best to go to a local gardening center and speak with a local pro.

8. Ensure the greenhouse has proper drainage. Standing and stagnant water can mean the death of sensitive plants. A quick and inexpensive trick for improving drainage includes placing broken clay pots, marbles, cracked walnuts or gravel in the bottom often planters and garden beds.

9. Add some herbs to the mix. Herbs act as a natural insecticide. Grow different herbs amongst your other plants. You can also mix some onions and garlic in a jar of water and let it stand in the greenhouse for about a week.

10. Deep clean your greenhouse two to three times a year. Remove all your plants and gear from the greenhouse, sweep out debris, clean the windows, mop the floor thoroughly with a natural garden disinfectant and treat both the floor and soil with a healthy shot of beneficial microorganisms to reestablish a good microbial environment in the greenhouse.

NATURAL ORGANIC SOLUTION

noreply@blogger.com (Abdullah) — Tue, 09 Aug 2011 07:06:00 +0000

The Top Six Tips for Simple, Healthy Living

Living a healthy life is much easier than most people assume and the rewards greatly outweigh the effort. By taking the necessary steps towards healthy living, you can improve the quality of your life and reduce your risk of heart disease, cancer, stroke and other serious diseases.

The top six easy tips for living a healthy lifestyle include:

1. Stay active
Exercise on a daily basis, even if you only have time for 15 or 20 minutes. Your body needs to move and our time consuming jobs often leave us sedentary for most of the day. You don’t need to complete the Iron Man to be healthy! The key to sticking with exercise is making it enjoyable. Find an activity that fits your personality. Join a league, wake up early and go on a brisk walk, or plan an evening workout with friends, family or even your pet. Whatever form of exercise, make sure you raise your heart rate intermittently, which will keep your heart healthy. Regular exercise will also strengthen your muscles and bones and will help protect your body against disease.

2. Focus on a healthy diet
With all of the bad choices available to us in modern society, keeping a healthy diet is probably the most challenging piece of good health. The key is including a variety of fruits and veggies, and focusing on “whole” or unprocessed foods. Limit foods and drinks that are high in calories, sugar, salt and fat. Limit alcohol consumption, which often results in extra calorie intake, as well as harm to the liver. A balanced diet is the key to receiving the vitamins and minerals that your body needs. A healthy diet will strengthen your immune system and will help you control your blood pressure and cholesterol.

3. Embrace probiotics
Probiotics introduce beneficial bacteria and enzymes to your digestive track, improving digestive as well as strengthening the immune system. A probiotic cleanse is a great way to detoxify the body, while also boosting the body’s ability to absorb nutrients and antioxidants.

4. Keep Hydrated
About 60% of our body weight is made up of water. Water plays a vital role in nearly every bodily function. It constantly rejuvenates our cells and it is especially important to drink water in morning to help the cells replace the oxygen they lost the night before. Water is also essential for proper digestion and nutrient absorption. It helps remove toxins from the body and regulates our body’s temperature. A general rule is to drink half your body weight in ounces of water every day to provide your body with its minimum water replacement requirements. Tap water can carry many impurities so it is best to incorporate some type of purification or water conditioning system. One of the most effective and natural water filtration systems is ion water purification using far infrared ceramics.

5. Protect yourself
Protect yourself, your skin and your body from harm. Wear sunscreen and a hat to protect you from the powerful sun. Insect repellent is a great way to protect you from bugs and avoid contracting an insect spread virus. Wash your hands regularly to stop the spread of germs. Avoid smoking and being around second hand smoke, which can both cause major harm to your body and lungs. Know what to do in an emergency and have an emergency kit nearby.

6. Manage stress
In modern society, being stress-free ironically takes a bit of work, but managing stress can greatly improve your quality of life, and reduce many stubborn health issues. Balance work, home and play by deciding on priorities and making enough time for each aspect of your life. Surround yourself with a strong support system that can help you stay sane when things go awry. Ask for assistance when you need it and stay positive. Try to focus on solutions instead of dwelling on problems. Take time to relax and make sure to get enough sleep, about seven to nine hours, each night. If you still find yourself struggling with stress, consider incorporating yoga, mediation and massage into your life.

Maintaining Your Lawn during a Drought

More than 13 states are currently experiencing severe drought in the southern part of the US. Here in Texas, we are experiencing the third worse drought ever on record. With state-wide burn bans, lakes at record lows, and the Department of Agriculture declaring our state a federal disaster area, it easy to understand why people are a bit nervous about their water usage. It feels wrong to waste water on your lawn when farmers are in dire straits, cattlemen are forced to sell off livestock, and our lakes are bone dry.

Thankfully, there are a number of simple strategies you can employ to keep your lawn healthy (and even green!) this summer, without using copious amount of water or contributing to the drought.

When you water, water deep.

Watering your lawn a little bit everyday might seem like the right thing to do but it’s really just wasteful and ineffective. The water evaporates away too quickly, without really quenching your lawn's thirst. A better strategy is to give your lawn lots of water at once. This tactic allows the water to seep deeper into the ground. Water that lies deep within the soil is less likely to evaporate and also encourages grass to grow deeper roots, making your lawn heartier and more effective at absorbing the water it needs. If you soak your lawn, you can also space out your waterings to be more infrequent. This is a tactic that you should employ with your lawn even when there is no drought. It’s just an all-round good practice.

Avoid fertilizers, but Improve Soil Quality

Avoid lawn fertilizers during droughts as they encourage leaf and shoot growth which will drastically increase the amount of water your lawn will require to remain healthy. It is best to stop fertilizer treatments in mid to late spring and allow your lawn to transition into natural dormancy (i.e. slower growth in summer) in order to maintain its green hue with less water. Rather than fertilizer, add a microbial inoculant like EM·1^® to the soil whenever you water. This will support the growth of beneficial organisms in the soil, improve the soil structure, drainage, and root water retention. A healthy micro-environment will also guard the lawn against disease during the extreme heat which can lower your lawn's natural defenses.

Make Sure Your Mower is Drought Ready

Sharpen your lawn mower blade, as a dull blade will shred the grass and shredded grass requires up to 60% more water to remain healthy. Likewise, raise the cutting height of your lawn mower. By allowing the grass to grow slightly higher, you are encouraging deeper root growth. As mentioned earlier, this will make your lawn resilient and more efficient at absorbing and retaining water and moisture. Finally, cut your lawn less frequently. Space out your trims to once a month or more.

Gather Water Naturally

Here in Texas rain barrels have always been popular, but with the recent green movement, they can also be attractive additions to your yard. Simply stand an empty barrel (or two or three) in your yard and let the rain clouds do the rest. Be sure to choose a spot that allows for maximum collection. For example, under a rooftop drainage system is ideal. Take advantage of rain from the roof and set barrels underneath gutter spouts to collect the rain water. This water can be used to water plants instead of using tap water.

Controlling Compost Odors

Many people understand the general process and benefits of composting, yet many choose not to pursue composting due to the associated odors. To the surprise of compost naysayers, healthy compost actually has no foul odor whatsoever. The rotting or ammonia smell people often associate with compost actually comes from incorrect composting techniques. To ensure your spouse, landlord, or HOA doesn’t give you the boot for being too stinky, you should follow the simple composting practices outlined below.

Why Does My Compost Smell?

Unhealthy compost odor can easily be resolved. The most important thing is identifying the underlying source of the smell. Once this is determined, there is generally a simple fix.

Possible Sources of the Smell…

Imbalanced Nitrogen/Carbon Ratio
Most odor issues are due to an unhealthy ratio of nitrogen to carbon – both essential elements to the composting process. Carbon, also referred to as brown material, is the dead and dry parts of your compost including paper, peat moss, sawdust, or dead leaves. Nitrogen is often referred to as the green material in your compost and includes things like food scraps and grass clippings. The ideal ratio is 25-30 parts carbon to 1 part nitrogen. Major shifts in this ratio will lead to unpleasant smells. When there is an over-abundance of nitrogen or green parts in the mix, the compost will have an ammonia or sewage-like smell. The remedy is adding brown materials like leaves, newspaper and straw to re-establish the ratio. Unfortunately, this can take time, patience and perhaps more space than is available as the compost pile grows in size with more green material. In many cases a simpler solution is adding healthy microbes and enzymes to help in the decomposition process. EM•1® compost accelerant, for example, not only prevents anaerobic, odor-causing decay by producing stable organic matter particles (humus), but it also speeds up the whole compost process.

Over-Compaction
The microbes that break down your compost require a healthy level of oxygen. Without this oxygen, your compost may become over-compacted leading to excess hydrogen sulfide and a smell of rotten eggs.
The remedy for over-compacted, un-oxygenated compost is aerating the heap. This requires the simple but messy task of churning the compost on a regular basis. It’s also a good idea to add ‘fluffy’ material, like dry leaves or grass in order to achieve the right density.

Too Much Moisture
While healthy compost requires a great deal of moisture, too much can definitely turn into a smelly problem. If your compost is in a closed container, make holes in the container so some of the moisture can be released and your compost can function properly.

Proper Compost Materials

One important thing to remember is that not everything belongs in the compost bin. These things can invite unwanted creatures and smells.
We recommend that you don’t add:

Meat
Bones
Fish
Dairy products
Grease or oil

But please DO add:

Comfrey
Garden waste
Lawn clippings
Kitchen waste (including tea bags, coffee grounds, cooked pasta, fruit and vegetable trimmings.)
Manure
Seaweed
Woody prunings
Weeds
Bracken
Straw
Newspaper and cardboard
A high quality Microbial Inoculant

While all of these tips are useful and work, some people still find the compost process to be time consuming and, despite best efforts, still smelly. Not to worry! There is another alternative…

The Most Effective Compost Alternative: The Bokashi Method

If you’re searching for a simpler solution, the Bokashi Compost Method is the best alternative to traditional composting currently available. The Bokashi Method is not only easier than composting, but because it relies on the fermentation process rather than decomposition, it is also quicker, requires less churning, and is virtually odorless, making it ideal for urban dwellers.

The Bokashi Method requires 3 simple steps:

Allow 1-2 weeks to fill compost bin
Leave compost in bin to ferment for 2 weeks adding EM•1® Bokashi every few days
Bury the material underground for 2 weeks or simply add it to your traditional compost pile

This method eliminates all odors and takes place in less than a month!

Controlling the smell of your compost is easier than you think. And with the right knowledge, composting is one of the easiest and most beneficial things you can do.

Hydroponics

Hydroponics is a Latin phrase meaning “working water.” Today, this is the process of growing plants without the use of soil. Hydroponics uses mineral nutrient solutions in water. Hydroponics has been proven as a successful way to grow healthy, stable, and high-yielding plants. When fruits and vegetables are grown hydroponically, the plants are nutrient-rich and tasty.

The two techniques for growing by hydroponics are medium culture and solution culture. Medium cultures use a solid medium such as sand or gravel to facilitate growth. Solution culture does not use these elements, and simply uses the nutrient solution.

How do Hydroponic Plants grow?

Plants grown hydroponically grow so well because they are getting all the nutrients they need in an ideally balanced environment without soil, which forces plants’ roots to search for their necessities. This means the plant can spend less effort trying to ingest food and more effort on vegetative growth and reproduction.

Hydroponic plants may grow completely in liquid or use small amounts of gravel, dirt or sand. Your hydroponics system can be in a mass fashion with many fertilizers, different mediums and automation or as simple as a single plant growing in a hand-watered bucket.

Creating a Positive Environment for your Plant

When growing hydroponically, it is crucial to remember that the nutrients and minerals soil-plants receive naturally, your plant relies on you to receive. A healthy hydroponics environment must have water, aeration, nutrients and physical plant support.

One thing you can do to ensure a healthy environment when using foliar feeding for hydroponic plants is to use a small amount of EM-1 Microbial Inoculant . While this does not substitute for nutrient solutions, it does maintain recommended dilution ratios for your plant. It is also a good idea to condition the water you are feeding your plants with EM-X Ceramics. Specialized hydroponic fertilizers can be used to ensure your plant grows as healthy as possible.

Part of hosting a positive environment for your hydroponic plants also means maintaining an ideal pH level. Similar to soil plants, very high or very low pH levels in hydroponic systems disable plants from absorbing the nutrients they need. Fortunately, like many other aspects of hydroponic systems, pH levels are much easier to monitor, test, and control than soil plants.

What are the Benefits of Growing Hydroponically?

Because of the absence of dirt, nutrients are more accessible and create greater yields. The absence of dirt also means less space is required.

Plants in hydroponic systems are maintained in a controlled environment. Should the plant show mineral or nutrient deficiencies, the concentrations of these ingredients applied in water can be easily altered. Additionally, soil plants are frequently subjected to soil-born pesticides, diseases, weeds, and pesticide use. These risks are almost completely eliminated with hydroponics.

There are a number of methods and mediums used to create hydroponic plants. It has become very easy and affordable to experiment with hydroponics at any level. So try it out and start seeing higher yields soon!

Fermentation: The Nutritional Benefits

Humans have been fermenting their food and drink since the beginning of time. Jars containing wine dating back 7,000 years in present Iran, leavened bread in ancient Egypt, fermented milk in Ancient Babylon; the list goes on and on. We can’t know if these people understood the health benefits of consuming fermented food and drink, but it’s pretty obvious they liked it.

Fermentation Today
Contemporary humans have taken a liking to it as well. Beer, wine, ketchup, Tabasco, chocolate, cheeses and many other favorites are all based in traditional fermentation processes. Unfortunately, commercial interests are causing the foods most accessible to us to be fermented in manners that lower the nutritional benefits of fermentation. Pickles, onions and sauerkraut are being fermented in acidic vinegar as opposed to natural salt; bread is leavened with commercial yeast as opposed to wild yeast; and wine, beer, yogurt, milk and cheeses are heavily pasteurized in high heats. Contrary to lacto-fermented processes, all these methods kill of the good bacteria and enzymes that fermentation naturally provides.

What’s So Great About Fermentation?
The fermentation process involves the breakdown of carbohydrates and proteins by microgranisms such as bacteria and yeast. This creates great advantages in health and food preparation.

Food Preservation
The primary goal of fermentation in ancient times which holds functionality today is food preservation. Fermented food lasts weeks and sometimes months longer than fresh food. Consider how much longer a pickle stays fresh than a cucumber.

Digestion and Immunity
By fermenting food and allowing it to break down on its own, it naturally processes our food even before we eat it. Traditionally fermented foods are also rich in enzymes which allow food to be digested easier. Fermenting food also allows your body to take in and process the nutrients and vitamins in your food.

Taste
Naturally fermenting food creates full, fresh and rich tastes in food and drinks.

Easy and Inexpensive
Fermenting your own foods and using them in healthy and tasty recipes is easy. With a few products, like E-1 Microbial Inoculant, fermenting your own food was never so easy or cheap!

Can Probiotics Cure Autoimmune Diseases?

The benefits of probiotics are plentiful and many people incorporate them into their diet as an add-on. However, few people realize that these micro-organisms may be the key to decreasing the severity of symptoms related to autoimmune diseases. If you have been diagnosed with celiac, type 1 diabetes or lyme disease, there is good reason to believe that including these beneficial bacteria (link) into your treatment plan will provide significant health benefits.

The Journal of Leukocyte Biologypublished a study in May 2010 that concentrated on the link between celiac disease, an autoimmune disorder in which gluten attacks villi in the small intestine, and probiotics. This study replicated the environment of a celiac patient’s intestine which included certain types of harmful gram negative bacteria. A bifidobacteria probiotic was introduced and immediately had a strong anti-inflammatory effect. The findings of this study supports previous speculation that probiotics can offer significant benefits against celiac disease by decreasing serum CRP levels and the bacteria-induced production of proinflammatory cytokines, while simultaneously up-regulating the expression of anti-inflammatory cytokines. By decreasing the inflammatory effect of celiac probiotics may be able to restrict the primary symptoms of the disease, which are severe stomach problems, fatigue and vitamin deficiencies.

Similar research has been found in regards to Type 1 diabetes and the use of probiotics. Diabetics’ cells are starved of nutrition and consequently starved for energy production. Probiotic bacteria found in supplements such as PRO-EM 1 help your body absorb nutrients and reduce constant stress on the immune system. Probiotics may also help prevent and treat yeast infections which high blood sugars resulting from diabetes often trigger.

Treatment for lyme disease typically involves long term use of antibiotics which often kill the good bacteria in the gut. A study by researchers at Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University recommends that physicians prescribe probiotics as part of the core treatment of lyme disease. Not only do probiotics re-establish the intestinal tract’s beneficial microflora, they also up-regulate the immune system so that it can successfully fight lyme disease pathogen. The lyme disease pathogen, Borrelia burgdorferi, is a potent pathogen that burrows deep into body tissues until it re-emerges weeks or months later. An up-regulated immune system from a probiotic cleanse may be of significant benefit during the latency period.

There may not be enough concrete research to deem probiotics a cure for celiac, type 1 diabetes or lyme disease yet. However, the scientific findings above illustrate the importance of incorporating these beneficial bacteria into your core treatment plan. Even if you have not been diagnosed with celiac, type 1 diabetes or lyme disease, probiotics are still extremely beneficial to your health and may decrease the likelihood that autoimmune disease symptoms will develop in your future.

Why Use Natural Soap? The Benefits of Using Castile Soap

Recently natural soaps have been making a comeback, as more Americans are diagnosed with skin sensitivities and conditions. While many major brands have begun manufacturing "natural" or "botanical" versions of their soaps, there’s little understanding of what sets these soaps apart from the regular commercial varieties. In many cases, there’s little actual difference between these soaps. Therefore, consumers looking for fragrance free, dye-free, SLS-free or chemical-free soaps should opt for pure soaps (also known as castile soaps) instead of commercial varieties of soaps.

What is Castile Soap?

Unlike commercial soaps that rely on SLS (sodium lauryl sulfate) to create a soapy lather, castile soap's bubbles come from saponins in the oils that are released from the reaction of lye and oil.

Benefits of Pure Soap

1. Doesn’t Cause Irritation
Many skin irritations like itchiness, flaking, and redness are a result of dry skin. In the commercial soap making process glycerin is removed from the oil used to make the soap so that it can be sold for more expensive applications (facial creams, cosmetics, etc.). This glycerin is what provides moisture to your skin. When pure soap is made all of the glycerin is retained so all of that moisture stays in the soap- allowing your skin to be hydrated with every use. With the moisture content so much higher, pure soap can even be used on babies and children.

2. Won’t Clog Pores
Pure soap actually opens pores, unclogging them and allowing for a deeper clean. Subsequently, people with severe acne have reported that using pure soap has allowed for their pores to be gently unclogged- reducing acne breakouts and the occurrence of blackheads.

3. Accelerates Healing
Pure soap can actually accelerate skin’s natural healing properties- allowing for scars and stretch marks to become less visible over time.

4. Good for Skin Conditions/Sensitivities
People with eczema, psoriasis, dermatitis, and SLS-sensitivity have a hard time finding skincare products that won’t irritate their skin or worsen their condition. Pure soap is the best solution for these conditions or sensitivities because it is very gentle on the skin and can greatly improve overall skin health.

5. Carries Fewer Serious Health Risks
Commercial anti-bacterial soaps contain a chemical called triclosan, which is actually registered as a pesticide by the EPA. Triclosan can lead to endocrine system issues, birth defects, decreased fertility, a weakened immune system, and even cancer. Pure soap does not contain triclosan.

6. Better Value
Pure soaps are only slightly more expensive, and the high-quality ingredients used are pure and all-natural, whereas commercial soaps use low-quality ingredients composed mainly of cheap chemicals and additives.

With all of the natural soaps out there, which one should you use? Our favorite pure bath soap is called Shabondama, which means "bubble" in Japanese

FOOD RECIPES WITH" EM" (Effective Microorganisms)

noreply@blogger.com (Abdullah) — Mon, 20 Dec 2010 10:46:00 +0000

Fermented Organic Agave Drink (makes 1 gallon)

1 cup Raw Agave (light or dark)
1/2 cup EM•1^®
1/8 tsp EM-X Sea Salt
10 drops liquid stevia
116 ounces purified water

Mix all ingredients in an airtight container with a screw on lid and let ferment at room temperature for at least 5 days. The drink will continue to ferment and gas until all the agave is consumed by the microbes. Put into refrigerator to chill or drink with ice.

Fermented Organic Lemon "soda" or sparkling lemonade

Squeeze 1 Fresh lemon
Add 8 ounces water
use Raw Agave to sweeten to taste
Add 1 ounce EM•1^®

Mix all ingredients in an airtight container with a screw on lid and let ferment at room temperature for at least 3-5 days. Put into refrigerator to chill or drink with ice.

Fermented Organic Honey Ginger Ale (makes 1 gallon)

1 cup raw honey
1/2 cup EM•1^®
1/8 cup grated ginger
10 drops liquid stevia

EM Rejuvelac
This guide will walk you through making EM Rejuvelac, you will need: a wide mouth jar with lid, soft spring wheatberries (pastry wheat), a nylon mesh or cheese cloth and a strong rubberband, and a 35mm EM^® Ceramic Pipe.

Put soft wheatberries in the wide mouth jar. Cover the jar with nylon mesh,secure the mesh with rubber band.
Add filtered water to fill the jar. Allow the wheatberries to soak for 8 hours or more.
Drain and rinse the berries for few times until the water come out clear.
Place the jar at an angle so that water can drain completely and have good ventilation.
It takes about 24 to 48 hours to sprout, rinse 2 to 3 times daily.
Rinse and drain the sprout for last time.
Put 35mm EM^® Ceramic Pipe into sprouted wheatberry jar.
Fill the jar with filtered or spring water (amount of water should be equally with amount of sprouted wheat).
Cover the jar with lid and let it set for 3 to 4 days. It helps the fermentation process go faster by gently shake the jar 1 to 2 time a day.
Pour this liquid off into another jar, this is the first batch of EM Rejuvelac.
Refill the jar with filtered or spring water again, this time requires only 1.5 to 2 days.
Pour this liquid off into another jar, this is the second batch of EM Rejuvelac.
Good EM Rejuvelac taste a little tart,lemon-like flavor.

This recipe provided courtesy of Shu Chan of the Living Foods Learning Center, Columbus, New Mexico.

Kim Chee
A yummy Korean favorite with a bit of EM•1^®, here is something to try that is kind of traditional. Change amount of red chili miso paste according to how hot you like it.

INGREDIENTS

2 heads Napa Cabbage
1 small onion
4 cloves of garlic
2 ounces ginger
1 tablespoon EM-X^® Gold Sea Salt
1 teaspoon red chili miso paste
1 tablespoon EM•1^®
1/8 cup water

INSTRUCTIONS

Cut and rinse the cabbage. Sprinkle 1 teaspoon salt on cabbage and squeeze together to make it "bleed".
Cut onion, garlic, and ginger and "Toss"
Put into container
Mix paste, remaining salt, EM•1^® and water and pour over vegetables.
Cover

This will start to ferment over a few days, however, you can start eating it the next day. It will last about 1 month in the fridge (if you can keep yourself from eating it all!).

Balsamic Vinaigrette:
Below are some recipes for salad dressings that are fermented with EM•1^®.

INGREDIENTS

2 Tbsp EM•1^®
2 Tbsp Raw Honey
2 ounces Balsamic Vinegar
6 ounces Cold Pressed Olive Oil
1 sprig thyme
1 sprig rosemary
1 clove garlic
1/4 tsp EM-X^® Gold Sea Salt
6-8 leaves fresh basil

INSTRUCTIONS

Mix all ingredients in an airtight container with a screw on lid and let ferment at room temperature for at least 15 days. Mixture will store at room temperature for up to 1 year.

Raw Mango Salsa:

You can make great raw salsas with freshly cut vegetables (grown with EM•1^® of course), adding a little EM•1^®, and letting them ferment for at least a day. Once the fermentation has started, put into a refrigerator and they will last about 3 weeks.

INGREDIENTS

1 mango chopped
1 medium red onion
1/2 diced cucumber
1 fresh tomato, diced
1/2 red pepper diced
1 scallion, chopped
2 medium sized okra (I have been using these a lot lately!)
6 green olives, diced
6 sugar peas, sliced
1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
1 tablespoon raw honey
1 tsp EM-X^® Gold Sea Salt
1/4 cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil
2 tablespoons EM•1^®

INSTRUCTIONS

Cover and allow to ferment at room temperature for at least 24 hours. Chill for a couple hours if you prefer before serving. Toss with 1/2 pound mixed salad and 1 head of romaine lettuce

Fermented Organic Agave Drink (makes 1 gallon)

1 cup Raw Agave (light or dark)
1/2 cup EM•1^®
1/8 tsp EM-X Sea Salt
10 drops liquid stevia
116 ounces purified water

Fermented Organic Lemon "soda" or sparkling lemonade

Squeeze 1 Fresh lemon
Add 8 ounces water
use Raw Agave to sweeten to taste
Add 1 ounce EM•1^®

Mix all ingredients in an airtight container with a screw on lid and let ferment at room temperature for at least 3-5 days. Put into refrigerator to chill or drink with ice.

Fermented Organic Honey Ginger Ale (makes 1 gallon)

1 cup raw honey
1/2 cup EM•1^®
1/8 cup grated ginger
10 drops liquid stevia

Put soft wheatberries in the wide mouth jar. Cover the jar with nylon mesh,secure the mesh with rubber band.
Add filtered water to fill the jar. Allow the wheatberries to soak for 8 hours or more.
Drain and rinse the berries for few times until the water come out clear.
Place the jar at an angle so that water can drain completely and have good ventilation.
It takes about 24 to 48 hours to sprout, rinse 2 to 3 times daily.
Rinse and drain the sprout for last time.
Put 35mm EM^® Ceramic Pipe into sprouted wheatberry jar.
Fill the jar with filtered or spring water (amount of water should be equally with amount of sprouted wheat).
Cover the jar with lid and let it set for 3 to 4 days. It helps the fermentation process go faster by gently shake the jar 1 to 2 time a day.
Pour this liquid off into another jar, this is the first batch of EM Rejuvelac.
Refill the jar with filtered or spring water again, this time requires only 1.5 to 2 days.
Pour this liquid off into another jar, this is the second batch of EM Rejuvelac.
Good EM Rejuvelac taste a little tart,lemon-like flavor.

INGREDIENTS

2 heads Napa Cabbage
1 small onion
4 cloves of garlic
2 ounces ginger
1 tablespoon EM-X^® Gold Sea Salt
1 teaspoon red chili miso paste
1 tablespoon EM•1^®
1/8 cup water

INSTRUCTIONS

Cut and rinse the cabbage. Sprinkle 1 teaspoon salt on cabbage and squeeze together to make it "bleed".
Cut onion, garlic, and ginger and "Toss"
Put into container
Mix paste, remaining salt, EM•1^® and water and pour over vegetables.
Cover

This will start to ferment over a few days, however, you can start eating it the next day. It will last about 1 month in the fridge (if you can keep yourself from eating it all!).

Balsamic Vinaigrette:
Below are some recipes for salad dressings that are fermented with EM•1^®.

INGREDIENTS

2 Tbsp EM•1^®
2 Tbsp Raw Honey
2 ounces Balsamic Vinegar
6 ounces Cold Pressed Olive Oil
1 sprig thyme
1 sprig rosemary
1 clove garlic
1/4 tsp EM-X^® Gold Sea Salt
6-8 leaves fresh basil

INSTRUCTIONS

Mix all ingredients in an airtight container with a screw on lid and let ferment at room temperature for at least 15 days. Mixture will store at room temperature for up to 1 year.

Raw Mango Salsa:

INGREDIENTS

1 mango chopped
1 medium red onion
1/2 diced cucumber
1 fresh tomato, diced
1/2 red pepper diced
1 scallion, chopped
2 medium sized okra (I have been using these a lot lately!)
6 green olives, diced
6 sugar peas, sliced
1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
1 tablespoon raw honey
1 tsp EM-X^® Gold Sea Salt
1/4 cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil
2 tablespoons EM•1^®

INSTRUCTIONS

Cover and allow to ferment at room temperature for at least 24 hours. Chill for a couple hours if you prefer before serving. Toss with 1/2 pound mixed salad and 1 head of romaine lettuce

Fermented Organic Agave Drink (makes 1 gallon)

1 cup Raw Agave (light or dark)
1/2 cup EM•1^®
1/8 tsp EM-X Sea Salt
10 drops liquid stevia
116 ounces purified water

Fermented Organic Lemon "soda" or sparkling lemonade

Squeeze 1 Fresh lemon
Add 8 ounces water
use Raw Agave to sweeten to taste
Add 1 ounce EM•1^®

Mix all ingredients in an airtight container with a screw on lid and let ferment at room temperature for at least 3-5 days. Put into refrigerator to chill or drink with ice.

Fermented Organic Honey Ginger Ale (makes 1 gallon)

1 cup raw honey
1/2 cup EM•1^®
1/8 cup grated ginger
10 drops liquid stevia

Put soft wheatberries in the wide mouth jar. Cover the jar with nylon mesh,secure the mesh with rubber band.
Add filtered water to fill the jar. Allow the wheatberries to soak for 8 hours or more.
Drain and rinse the berries for few times until the water come out clear.
Place the jar at an angle so that water can drain completely and have good ventilation.
It takes about 24 to 48 hours to sprout, rinse 2 to 3 times daily.
Rinse and drain the sprout for last time.
Put 35mm EM^® Ceramic Pipe into sprouted wheatberry jar.
Fill the jar with filtered or spring water (amount of water should be equally with amount of sprouted wheat).
Cover the jar with lid and let it set for 3 to 4 days. It helps the fermentation process go faster by gently shake the jar 1 to 2 time a day.
Pour this liquid off into another jar, this is the first batch of EM Rejuvelac.
Refill the jar with filtered or spring water again, this time requires only 1.5 to 2 days.
Pour this liquid off into another jar, this is the second batch of EM Rejuvelac.
Good EM Rejuvelac taste a little tart,lemon-like flavor.

INGREDIENTS

2 heads Napa Cabbage
1 small onion
4 cloves of garlic
2 ounces ginger
1 tablespoon EM-X^® Gold Sea Salt
1 teaspoon red chili miso paste
1 tablespoon EM•1^®
1/8 cup water

INSTRUCTIONS

Cut and rinse the cabbage. Sprinkle 1 teaspoon salt on cabbage and squeeze together to make it "bleed".
Cut onion, garlic, and ginger and "Toss"
Put into container
Mix paste, remaining salt, EM•1^® and water and pour over vegetables.
Cover

This will start to ferment over a few days, however, you can start eating it the next day. It will last about 1 month in the fridge (if you can keep yourself from eating it all!).

Balsamic Vinaigrette:
Below are some recipes for salad dressings that are fermented with EM•1^®.

INGREDIENTS

2 Tbsp EM•1^®
2 Tbsp Raw Honey
2 ounces Balsamic Vinegar
6 ounces Cold Pressed Olive Oil
1 sprig thyme
1 sprig rosemary
1 clove garlic
1/4 tsp EM-X^® Gold Sea Salt
6-8 leaves fresh basil

INSTRUCTIONS

Mix all ingredients in an airtight container with a screw on lid and let ferment at room temperature for at least 15 days. Mixture will store at room temperature for up to 1 year.

Raw Mango Salsa:

INGREDIENTS

1 mango chopped
1 medium red onion
1/2 diced cucumber
1 fresh tomato, diced
1/2 red pepper diced
1 scallion, chopped
2 medium sized okra (I have been using these a lot lately!)
6 green olives, diced
6 sugar peas, sliced
1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
1 tablespoon raw honey
1 tsp EM-X^® Gold Sea Salt
1/4 cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil
2 tablespoons EM•1^®

INSTRUCTIONS

Cover and allow to ferment at room temperature for at least 24 hours. Chill for a couple hours if you prefer before serving. Toss with 1/2 pound mixed salad and 1 head of romaine lettuce

HOW TO CREAT "EM"

noreply@blogger.com (Abdullah) — Mon, 20 Dec 2010 10:39:00 +0000

Today we had a lesson in how to create “Effective Microorganisms,” or “EM” for short. EM is kind of a miracle substance in the garden than functions as plant nutrition, pest control agent, soil builder, and all-around ecosystem enhancer. So what is it?

EM is an inoculum of microorganisms cultured using compost, sugar, and a bit of the local soil. Microbes are a crucial part of every ecosystem, even the ecosystem we call the human body. The idea with EM in the garden is that you cultivate a super-vigorous culture of microbes that can use the native soil mineralogy, build soil and provide nutrition to your crops. There are even types of EM you can drink that will promote a healthy ecosystem in your gut!

Today we began experiments with three types of EM – two for the garden and one to drink. The drinkable EM consists of bananas and sugar. We chopped up enough bananas to fill a two gallon plastic bucket. We added about 2 kg of raw cane sugar, put the lid on, and stored the bucket in a shady spot in the kitchen. In a few weeks we should have about half a gallon or so of liquid produced by the rotting bananas. This can be used as a tincture and mixed with water, or taken in a small amount (a couple tablespoons) daily for health. I tasted some they have already made and it tastes like sweet and slightly alcoholic banana wine. Pretty good stuff! Either I will become violently ill, or I will never get cancer. I’ll let you know one way or the other…

Here are the two recipes we are experimenting with for EM for our gardens:

Michel’s easy EM

In a large mixing bowl, mix a bunch of starchy cooked leftovers. We mixed a lot of cooked rice with some sweet potatoes. To this we added about 1 kg of cane sugar (molasses would also work).

Find a nice spot outside in a grove of trees that’s shady and has a diverse and thriving arrangement of plant life. The diversity and healthy plants indicates a healthy ecosystem and a good crop of ambient microorganisms. Mix a couple handfuls of soil into the bowl and cover with a cloth to keep critters out.

Let this mixture rot for about 1 week. Add the mixture to about 2 gallons of water in a five-gallon bucket. Add food scraps and another kilo of sugar or molasses. Let this brew for about a month. Aliquots of the resulting liquid can then be diluted with water about 1:20 and used to water your plants. Repeated additions of sugar can keep the stock of microbes going for a few months, possibly up to a year. If it ever smells sour and gross it’s done and can be composted.

Pi Jo’s original old-school EM

This recipe is based on the original conception for EM that first took hold among Thai farmers.

Sterilize a pint-sized mason jar with boiling water. Fill it about 2/3 full with cooked rice. Cover the jar with a piece of paper (notebook paper is fine) and secure with a rubber band. Put the jar in a shady, diverse and healthy environment of trees and shrubs. Cover the jar with leaves and whatever plant detritus is on the ground.

In three days to one week a white, cotton-like mold should form on the rice. Put the rice and mold into a large bucket with 1 kg molasses or sugar and 3 kg vegetable scraps (fresh but some cooked are OK). Let this mixture sit and rot for one month. Strain the juices off the bottom of the bucket and dilute 1:20 with water and add to garden. Aliquots of the juices can be used with additional sugar/molasses to create more EM, up to two times after the original.

An extra-potent for of EM can be made using the same procedure as above except substituting fish (whole fish, fish parts, fish leftovers) for the vegetables. This EM is so potent it should be diluted 1:1000 before application. The fish-EM also cures viruses that affect tomato plants.

The solids from both of these variations can be composted and mulched. The fish-based EM solids can be applied right to grass in sheet mulch form and it will kill the grass and prepare the soil excellently for planting a garden. As with Michel’s recipe, when then smell of the mixture turns sour and gross it is done and should be composted.

DEODORIZING

noreply@blogger.com (Abdullah) — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 03:37:00 +0000

Deodorizing

EM1 CAN GET RID OF ALMOST ANY SMELL...INSTANTLY

EM•1^® has an amazing ability to eliminate almost any foul odor. Simply dilute some EM•1^® in water and spray the area where the smells are coming from. Odors will be gone almost on contact.. The microbes will work on breaking down the materials causing the odor as well.

Surfaces that have been soaked with can be soaked with an EM•1^® and water solution. It is safe on any surface. On areas where there are metal parts that have rust, you'll notice that applying the EM•1^® regularly will remove the rust and the metal will become shiny again.

1. Smoke

2. Food

3. Pet Odor

4. Testimonials

5. Ingredients EM*1

6. OMRI Listing

7. MSDS

SMOKE

Smoke from cigarettes or cigars can ruin the smell of a room. If you have an area that smells of smoke, be it a room or a car, you can get rid of the smell with the 1:10 dilution of EM•1^® to water. For carpeted areas or upholstered furniture, you will have to soak the solution in using an upholstery cleaning machine or a carpet cleaner.

FOOD

Although the smell of freshly baked bread or apple pie makes a home smell great, some foods we love we wish we didn't have to smell af

ter we eat them. Fish and curries are some of these. EM•1^® to the rescue!

Dilute 1 ounce EM•1^® into 10 ounces of water in a spray bottle and spritz the entire room or house.

Another easy way to deodorize larger areas is to add about 1/4 cup EM•1^® in a vaporizer, plug it in, and let it run for a few hours. The house will smell like warm molasses while the EM•1^® is fogging the room. After about 4 or 5 minutes, there will be no smell at all.

PET ODOR

If you own a pet, it is inevitable that a

t one time or another that the animal is going either have an accident on the floor, or track in some stench from outside. No need to worry...if you have some EM•1^® around.

If the animal itself smells, such as when dogs get wet, you can simply spray the animal with a 1:10 dilution of EM•1^® Microbial Inoculant to water. Or, you can add about 1/4 cup of EM•1^® to some bath water for the animal.

Since EM•1^® is perfectly safe for all

animals, you can spray down any animal that likes water or give them a bath.

Urine and Feces
For accidents on porous surfaces,such as carpets and brick, you can soak the area with a 1:10 dilution of EM•1^® to water. After it dries, if there is still some odor, simply apply once more. Two times should do the trick. For kennels, animal hospitals, animal stalls, or other large areas, using a sprayer, such as the hose-end sprayer used in the video above, is the easiest way to cover a large area quickly.

Skunk:

If you have ever had the misfortune of an animal being sprayed by a skunk, you'll know that the odor burns the eyes and lungs and you'd do anything to get rid of the smell. As you may have guessed, EM•1^® will get rid of it in seconds. If the 1:10 dilution doesn't work, feel free to put it on undiluted. You will be glad you had s

ome EM•1^® around if this ever happens!

Litter Box or cages:

If you have a pet that uses a litter box or lives in a cage (hampsters, rats, etc.) you can add about 2 cups of EM•1^® Rice Bran Bokashi to fresh litter. It will control the smell of urine and feces.

TESTIMONIALS

We live on a small farm in Tennessee and love our pets. We take our two Yorkshire Terriers to the beauty parlor but Matilda, the “outside” dog, is a big hairy mutt and doesn’t get the same treatment. She always smells very “doggy”, especially after the rain. My friend game me some EM•1^® to try and I sprayed her twice. She smelled wonderful after applying the solution but I realized that you need to remember to always do the bedding!

I was skeptical at first because she alw

ays smelled. Now she smells squeaky clean and it’s a pleasure to pet her and hug her – and I don’t come away smelling doggy too!

Gail
Tennessee

I was camping this weekend and our friend's dog got sprayed by a skunk. I just happened to have some activated EM with me that I had brought out to put in the stock tank and it totally did the trick! I remembered your story about dunking you dog in EM when s/he got sprayed! So thank you!

Leza

Tucson, AZ

I love EM•1^® so much we have shared it with all we know and would love to see it used on a large scale to clean up our area rivers and lakes. But one use in particular that others may not know: We have a lovely old dog who is very large and with very thick hair - he is too old to bathe anymore and well...kind of smells. W e mist him with EM•1^® and presto, no more old doggie smell. Works wonders on his bedding and any "accidents" on the floor.

Thank you EM•1^® for making our house a healthier and cleaner home!

In peace - Tammy

Bandon, Oregon

INGREDIENTS EM*1

ACTIVE INGREDIENTS: Microorganisms: 1 million colony forming units/cc (units/ml), 1%: Lactobacillus Plantarum, Lactobacillus casei, Lactobacillus fermentum, Lactobacillus delbrueckii, Bacillus subtilis, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Rhodopseudomonas palustris.

INACTIVE INGREDIENTS:

96% Water and 3% Molasses

OMRI LISTED

MSDS

EM•1^® (Effective Microorganisms™) Microbial Inoculant

PREPARED: 09/01/06

PRODUCT NAME: EM•1^® Microbial Inoculant

PRODUCED BY:
EMRO USA, Inc. dba EMRO USA Effective Microorganisms
2440 N. Coyote Drive Suite 126
Tucson, AZ 85745
Phone: (520) 792-3143 Fax: (928) 563-1037>

SECTION I - PRODUCT IDENTIFICATION
GENERAL OR GENERIC NAME: Liquid Microbial Inoculant
HAZARD RATING:
HEALTH - 0 Normal Material
FIRE - 0 Will not burn
REACTIVITY - 0 Stable

SECTION II - HAZARDOUS INGREDIENTS
If present, carcinogens and chemicals subject to reporting are identified in this section:

INGREDIENTS %(By Volume) Note

No hazardous ingredients present; not hazardous to humans, animals or plants.

SECTION III - PHYSICAL DATA
BOILING POINT: >100 °C
SPECIFIC GRAVITY: 1.2 (25°c)
VAPOR PRESSURE: N/D
SOLUBILITY IN WATER: Complete
VAPOR DENSITY: Air = 1
MELTING POINT: N/A
% VOLATILE BY VOLUME: 0
EVAPORATION RATE: Equal to water
APPERANCE AND ODOR: Brown liquid; mild
pH OF SOLUTION: 3.5

SECTION IV - FIRE AND EXPLOSION INFORMATION
FLASH POINT: N/A
EXPLOSION LIMIT: 0
EXTINGUISHING: N/A
FIRE FIGHTING PROCEDURES: N/A
SPECIAL FIRE & EXPLOSION HAZARDS: None
HAZARDOUS DECOMPOSITION BYPRODUCTS: None

SECTION V - HEALTH HAZARD DATA
HEALTH HAZARDS: None
CARCINOGENICITY: Non-carcinogenic
EFFECTS OF CHRONIC OVEREXPOSURE: None
PERMISSIBLE EXPOSURE LEVEL: None; see Section II
PRIMARY ROUTES OF ENTRY: Skin contact, Eye contact, Ingestion, Inhalation
SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF EXPOSURE:
SKIN - None
EYES - May cause eye irritation
INHALATION - None
INGESTION - May cause gas

FIRST AID:
IF ON SKIN - None
IF ON EYES - Flush with fresh water
IF INHALED - None
IF INGESTED - Drink fresh water

SECTION VI - REACTIVITY DATA
INCOMPATIBILITY: None
HAZARDOUS POLYMERIZATION: Will not occur
HAZARDOUS DECOMPOSITION OR BYPRODUCTS: None; biodegradable
STABILITY: Stable, not effected by freezing. No toxic fumes.

SECTION VII - SPILL OR LEAK PROCEDURES
IN CASE OF LEAK OR SPILL: Mop up with fresh water, sewer disposal
WASTE DISPOSAL METHOD: Sewer disposal
HANDLING AND STORING PRECAUTIONS: Store at room temperature
OTHER PRECAUTIONS: Not recommended for human consumption

SECTION VIII - PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT TO BE USED
RESPIRATORY PROTECTION: None
VENTILATION: None
PROTECTIVE GLOVES: Optional
EYE PROTECTION: Safety glasses recommended
PROTECTIVE CLOTHING: None
WORK PRACTICES: Clean up spills immediately; floor will be slick

WATER AND POND TREATMENT WITH EM

noreply@blogger.com (Abdullah) — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 03:19:00 +0000

Home Water Gardens & Pond

Water gardens offer household gardeners some variety in landscape plantings. These small ponds develop their own ecosystem that can oftentimes go out of balance. If the water is left stagnant for too long, mosquitoes will start to inhabit the area, algae begins to form in the water, and odors can start to appear. Adding in a water feature, such as a fountain, that moves the water can cut down on these problems. Depending on the water quality, however, algae and calcium deposits may still form. You can help maintain water clarity with Effective Microorganisms™.

Using EM•1^®Microbial Inoculant once per month will keep enough beneficial microbes in the system to keep nutrient levels low enough to prevent the growth of algae. Interestingly, EM•1^® Microbial Inoculant also has the ability to neutralize salts, such as calcium, and prevent them from crystallizing on surfaces. It will also clean the crystallized salts off the surfaces it is in contact with.

On average, for a healthy pond or water garden, EM•1^® Microbial Inoculant is applied once per month. Because of the size of ponds, we recommend the use of Activated EM*1^® Microbial Inoculant. The rate is 1 part Activated EM•1^® for every 10,000 parts water. Higher concentrations are not necessary under normal conditions. Over time, frequency of application can be decreased while maintaining the same ratio (applying every other month or 4 times per year). Allow several weeks for the Activated EM•1^® to work. Some slime (muck) from the bottom will slowly rise to the surface. Leave it and let nature do its thing as it will disappear shortly.

Treating Aquriums with Effective Microorganisms

Effective Microorganism™ is used extensively around the world in aquaculture. The same principles can work in an aquarium. In a fish aquarium, residual feed and droppings tend to rot, and ammonium nitrogen is produced. N-Type ceramics are effective in adsorbing the nitrogen. It is more effective also to use ceramics that change water into good water having a lot of dissolved oxygen by making the water clusters small (structuring water).

N-Type, 35mm pipe, K-Type, and Yugo Ball ceramics can all be used for this application.

You will need one bag of N-Type for every 10 gallons of capacity of the aquarium.

Additionally, EM-1® can be used to prevent algae growth in aquariums and ponds by competing with the algae for nutrients. Typical monthly application rates are one part EM•1^® for every 10,000 parts of water.

To figure out how much EM•1^® you need, calculate how many gallons of water the aquarium holds (128 ounces per gallon). Multiply the total number of gallons by 128 to find how many ounces of water you need to treat. Divide this by 10,000. Example for a 10 gallon aquarium:

EM: A Microbial Product for Sustainable Agriculture

noreply@blogger.com (Abdullah) — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 14:37:00 +0000

Microorganisms are widely utilized in human medicine and health, food processing, agricultural biotechnology, environmental protection and the treatment of wastes. These organisms are most effective when introduced into a suitable environment containing substrates that match their metabolic needs. Professor Teruo Higa of Ryukus University in Japan identified several microorganisms that promote agricultural production and environmental conservation (Higa 1993). The microorganisms are packaged as “EM Technology”, including a product “EM1”_® that is stocked in Kenya by several retailers.

This technology consists of naturally-occurring microorganisms that are compatible with one another and can coexist in liquid culture. The microorganisms include photosynthetic bacteria (Rhodopseudomonas spp.), lactic acid bacteria (Lactobacillus spp.) and yeast (Saccharomyces spp.). When in contact with organic matter, they secrete beneficial substances such as vitamins, organic acids, minerals and antioxidants that beneficially affect plants and other micro-organisms (Table 1). In agriculture, EM promotes crop growth and yield through improved release of plant nutrients, photosynthesis, resistance to plant diseases, efficacy of organic matter as fertilizers and in suppression of soil-borne pathogens and pests. The EM product also reduces offensive smells from industrial and domestic waste disposal sites, inhibits proliferation of harmful microorganisms and vectors such as flies, mosquitoes and ticks and retards the oxidation of metals.

EM is not a substitute for other management practices, rather it may be considered a compatible accompanying technology. It may be combined with other sustainable land managements such as crop rotations, use of organic amendments, conservation tillage, crop residue recycling and biocontrol of pests. In Kenya, this technology is promoted by EM Kenya for use by organic and conventional farmers. In environmental management, EM may be used to treat industrial and human wastes as it controls odors and accelerates decomposition.

EM Technology in Agriculture

EM1_® is sold in one liter plastic bottles containing a yellow-brown liquid with an acidic pH (<4.0).>

According to Prof. Higa, the microorganisms contained in EM promote more favorable soil microbial populations which decompose organic inputs and soil organic matter and also suppress plant parasitic organisms. Non-symbiotic microbial innoculants are relatively new to organic farming systems and show promise as a means to regulate microbial processes in the phylloplane (leaves), rhizosphere (roots) and soil. Because these processes are complex and biologically-based, the effects of EM technology are not as predictable or consistent compared to more conventional agro-chemicals, but nor are they as destructive to the environment. EM technology is considered “organic” and may be used within certified production systems. Preliminary field trials with tomatoes at Embu in Eastern Kenya suggest that a very large economic return may be obtained from spraying EM onto crops (Table 2).

Other EM Products and Applications

Figure 1. Applying an EM solution to climbing beans using a watering can at a dilution of 1:1000.

EM extended solution is prepared by mixing EM stock, molasses and water. It is stored in an air tight container for 7-14 days to ferment until the solution attains a pH of below 4.0 and with a sweet sour smell. Its shelf life is normally 30 days after fermentation.

EM fermented plant extract is made by fermenting young fresh weeds with molasses and EM stock. It contains organic acids, bioactive substances, minerals and other useful organic compounds. By absorbing these derivatives, the plant develops antioxidants and improves its resistance to diseases. It should be applied after seedling emergency to control pests and diseases.

EM insect repellant is prepared from molasses, vinegar, distilled spirit and EM stock and stored in a tightly closed plastic container away from direct sunlight for 7-14 days. It should be used within three months after preparation by spraying a diluted solution of 1:200 (100 ml EM: 20 litres) after seed germination.

Figure 2. Applying an EM solution to young pumpkin vines using a backpack sprayer at a dilution of 1:500.

EM compost is made by applying fermented plant extract at 1:100 and sprinkling it onto a compost pile until it contains about 30% moisture. The compost is then covered and left to react for 30 to 40 days, when the compost is ready for application to the filed.

EM fermented livestock feed is made by sprinkling EM onto the feed, mixing and storing in an airtight plastic container for 10-14 days. A sweet sour smell indicates good quality silage while a rotten smell, resulting from excess oxygen, indicates poor quality. Add the fermented feed to the regular livestock feed and use within 3 months.

References

EM Technologies. 1996. The Apnan User’s Manual: EM Nature Farming Guide. EM Kenya, Embu. 139 pp.

Higa, T. and Parr, J.F. 1994. Beneficial and Effective Microorganisms (publisher not provided). 416 pp.

Higa, T. 1993. An Earth Saving Revolution. Ryukus University, Japan. 436 pp.

Turf Maintenance with Effective Microorganisms (EM)

noreply@blogger.com (Abdullah) — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 04:30:00 +0000

Agriculture

Managing Turf with Effective Microorganisms

EM-1® Microbial Inoculant has quickly become an essential tool in sustainable and organic management of healthy turf. EM-1® has been utilized by the Integrated Pest Management (IPM) division of the Park and Recreation Department of the City of San Francisco for the past 4 years to improve turf quality and without the use of dangerous fungicides and pesticides. EM-1® is a necessary technology for the golf course industry to help meet new city and state government mandates that require up to an 80% reduction of most fungicides and pesticides. The public is now demanding turf management that does not compromise the environment or our health. EM-1® represents a viable solution, and is a safe and effective alternative for residential lawns, city parks, schools, and golf courses.

EM-1® supplies a benificial micro-ecology that improves soil structure, drainage, and water retention of the soil's rhizosphere (root zone). EM-1® will significantly improve turf quality during the months of extreme heat and moisture when disease pressure is greatest.

Amount of Turf Stress	Application frequency	Application Rate (EM-1®:Water)	Hose-end sprayer setting
Low	Once a month	1:100	1-1.5oz./gallon
High	Once a week	1:50	2-3oz./gallon

Managing Turf with Effective Microorgansims™

Recommendations for a successful EM-1® lawn:

Apply the EM-1® with a hose-end sprayer, backpack sprayer, or inject EM-1® into the irrigayion system. EM-1® can be applied once a week during periods of extreme drought or rain and once a month for maintaining optimal turf quality and health.
Use organic fertilizers with EM-1®. During cool weather apply EM-1® with liquid kelp. In the fall or spring Effective microorganisms can be applied with a liquid fish emulsion.
Use a "mulching mower" to chop and redeposit the grass clipping. Spray EM-1® onto the turf after mowing. This enables the clippings to rapidly breakdown into stable organic matter for the soil. Organic matter particles provides a home for EM-1® to establish in the soil.

Letter of Endorsement for "EM"

noreply@blogger.com (Abdullah) — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 17:38:00 +0000

Letter of Endorsement from the German Government

2005-09-09

County Wittenberg
Head of the District Authority
Department of Fire, Disaster Control, and Rescue

Ladies and Gentlemen,

With reference to the unfortunate events in New Orleans and the urgent need for worldwide and widespread help for this population in order to avert further devastating results for body, life, and nature, we would like to refer to the flood catastrophe in our country in 2002.

In the course of fighting the damage after the flood, our citizens in the county of Wittenberg received support through your company (EMIKO).

By applying the microorganisms that you provided, it was possible to contribute considerably to the elimination of the flood-caused contamination damage.

After the application of these microorganisms and following reconstruction, a large number of private homes and public institutions, such as schools, could be used again.

We believe that the application of these microorganisms (EM) could also be a valuable contribution for the citizens of New Orleans and the whole affected region.

We, being the region impacted in 2002, as well as the whole population of Wittenberg County, were grateful for having such support. We wish the citizen of New Orleans also such assistance in this difficult task of coping with the damage after the flood, and for the future we wish for a quick return to normalcy.

Yours sincerely

Michael Meissner

Letter of Endorsement from Congressman Udall

Congress of the United States
House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20515

September 20, 2005

Dear Sir or Madam,

I am writing in support of the Campaign for Sustainable Recovery and EM America’s initiative to introduce "Effective Microorganisms", a natural and sustaining technology, into the flooded areas of New Orleans.

I have been informed that "Effective Microorganisms" have proven effective in the prevention of pathogen diseases and could help remedy the already tragic situation occurring in the Gulf Coast region. The Campaign for Sustainable Recovery, in coopera-tion with EM America, would like to introduce ?Effective Microorganisms?, or EM, into the flooded areas of the Gulf Coast in order to combat the spread of harmful diseases in flood areas.

EM was developed in 1980 and further information indicates that it has been suc-cessfully used in disaster situations in the past 25 years. The liquid technology was sprayed into contaminated waters in Thailand as well as the other countries that were impacted by the 2004 Tsunami. It was also utilized in Germany after the flooding of the Elbe River in 2002. In both cases, EM was effective in naturally decontaminating flood sites similar to those of the Gulf Coast, where post-flood disease and illness can be devastatingly deadly to the remaining population.

Again, please accept my support for the proposal put forth by the Campaign for Sus-tainable Recovery. In the wake of a natural disaster such as Hurricane Katrina, remedies that are employed to combat immediate dilemmas may not be the best solutions for the future of our environment. It is my understanding that EM has the ability to resolve this dilemma by treating the toxic waters of the Gulf Coast with natural ingredients that will not further compromise the environmental health of the region.

Very truly yours,

Tom Udall
Member of Congress

EM Approved by EPA for Katrina Hurricane Disaster

noreply@blogger.com (Abdullah) — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 03:14:00 +0000

The Emerald Earth Company, LLC had its beginnings in Santa Fe, New Mexico in the year 2005 during the Katrina Hurricane Disaster. Emerald Earth led the grassroots initiative, the EM Recovery Campaign, to gain the approval of “Effective Microorganisms” by FEMA and the EPA for decontamination applications of the Gulf Coast disaster sites. EM had successfully been used by every country impacted by the Tsunami Wave Disaster earlier that year in curbing the spread of pathogen diseases. EM had also been used by the German government during the flooding of the Elbe River in 2002 in naturally decontaminating the standing toxic waters, similar to the New Orleans flooded areas.
The EM Recovery Campaign, coordinated by head volunteers James McMath, Sabine Steinhardt, and Kendall Arey, extended a call out to concerned citizens to contact congressional members and federal disaster relief agencies to encourage the approval of EM for the EPA vendor’s list, so that it could be applied to the Gulf Coast disaster sites. Within a week, this message was forwarded by internet bloggers to hundreds of thousands of concerned citizens. Thousands responded to this call for action, as every congressional and senatorial office placed a request to the EPA and FEMA to review this matter immediately. EM was approved and placed on the EPA vendor’s list in November of 2005. The EPA said it had never experienced such a barrage of requests for a single commercial product!

http://www.emearth.com/PDFs/EpaLetter.pdf

EM Application in Tsunami Wave Disaster

noreply@blogger.com (Abdullah) — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 02:57:00 +0000

After the Tsunami Disaster in 2004, the Thai Army began spraying decomposing corpses washing ashore with EM. Red Cross International and Red Crescent officials then instructed other countries in how to apply the microbial decontaminant to other coastal-damaged areas. The deaths from the spread of pathogen diseases that the World Health Organization had predicted following the disaster never happened. Senator Panot Tas-neeyanond of Thailand recently stated that, "In the aftermath of the Tsunami Disaster in the southern Andaman coastal provinces of Thailand, the Thai military and other relief authorities did use EM to help the victims in the ravaged areas. They sprayed the EM on the dead bodies, animals and other debris after the tsunami calamity and this mitigated the problems of the spread of pathogens and diseases to the vulnerable populations nearby I therefore support the use of EM for the Katrina Disaster relief in the USA

Tsunami Wave Disaster

A day after the tsunami struck the coastal areas of southern Thailand, the manufacturer of EM in Thailand, EM Kyusei gathered to discuss the possible ways to provide help to the affected areas. On the same day, Dec. 29th, Lt. Gen. Chinnarat of the Thai Royal Army (retired), advisor to the Science and Technology Committee of the Parliament and a strong advocate for EM, contacted Mr. Kazuhiko Wakugami telling that the military had been requested by the Chairperson of the Thai Red Cross to use EM in the affected areas.
Henceforth, on the same day, 2 tons of EM1 was airlifted using the Thai Royal Air force plane to the affected area in Phang Nga Province, one of the hardest struck areas. They sprayed EM dilution at the temple, where dead bodies were placed temporarily for identification. There were more that 1,000 dead bodies at the temple and the Thai military was collecting the dead bodies from the disaster struck areas. They made activated EM (AEM) there and sprayed dilution of AEM every day at a dilution of 100. Among other things, a 10 ton fire truck lorry was used as well as shoulder pack sprayers. There was a general comment among doctors, military people, and other volunteers that a 50% smell reduction was observed. There was some initial protest over EM/AEM use from some forensic doctors but after observing the smell reduction, all protests stopped.
EM Kyusei knew that a more concentrated solution would have more effect. However the initial problem was bringing EM into some of the inaccessible areas. At the request of the Red Cross, EM Kyusei provided 5 tons of EM on Jan 4. EM Kyusei staff brought the EM on land along with 10 staff members who have continued work with volunteers.

This is a tranlation letter from a SENATOR OF THAILAND on the use of EM in the aftermath of the TSUNAMI in Thailang.

Dear Sirs,

My name is Panat Tasneeyanond. I am currently member of the Upper House (the Senate) of the National Assembly of Thailand and serving in my capacity as committee member of the Senate Environment and Agriculture Committees. From 2000 - 20004, I used to serve as chairman of the Senate Environment committee.

Professor Panfilo Tabora of the EARTH University has asked me to write this testimonial in support of the use of EM for Katrina hurricane disater relief in the USA.

To the best of my knowledge, Thailand has been using EM for 22 years now and is handled by the Natural Farming Associations in Saraburi where the EM is produced. In the aftermath of the Tsunami disaster in the southern Andaman coastal provinces of Thailand, the Thai military and other relief authorities did use EM to help the victims in the ravaged areas. They sprayed the EM on the dead bodies, animals and other debris after the Tsunami calamity and this mitigated the problems of the spread of pathogens and diseases to the vulnerable populations nearby. It also reduced the foul stench and flies and made work very agreeable to the relief volunteers.

To further confirm the statement above, the following report by Asia Pacific Natural Agricultural Network (APNAN) is quoted as saying:

"THAILAND USES EM FOR POST TSUNAMI DAMAGE CONTROL - Thailand was also affected by the Tsunami in the Indian Ocean – and our dear friends and colleagues of EM Kyusei, who handle the EM projects in the Royal Kingdom worked close in hand with the Royal Thai Army and the Red Cross to improve sanitation in the affected areas withEM. EM Kyusei provided large quantities of EM free to the affected areas and supplies were even airlifted – to the affected regions in the South of the Kingdom. Again, the reports reaching us state the success of EM and even skeptics who were against EM were convinced of the immediate benefits caused by EM – hence we are very happy that the technology promoted by us really worked in emergency situations – and we do pledge our support to all who are interested and hence will help if requested. We also offer our sincere congratulations to EM Kyusei and all those involved in the relief operations for using this beneficial technology at the time of the crisis – this really proves the effect of Effective Microorganisms."

Sincerely yours,

Panat Tasneeyanond
Senator, Member of the Senate Environment and Agriculrure Committees

EM Application in German Flood Relief

noreply@blogger.com (Abdullah) — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 16:29:00 +0000

Following the floods of the Elbe River in 2002, the German government immediately began applying EM to the contaminated stagnant waters and drained sites in the Witten-berg District. In response to the Katrina disaster, the Honorable Michael Meissner, head of the District Authority for Fire Rescue and Disaster Control wrote, "We believe that the application of these (Effective) Microorganisms could be a valuable contribution for the citizens of New Orleans and the whole affected area. We, being the region impacted in 2002, as well as the whole population of Wittenberg County, were grateful for having such support. We also wish the citizens of New Orleans such assistance in this difficult task of coping with the damage after the flood, and for the future we wish for a quick return to normalcy.

German Flood Relief

The great flood of the Elbe River in August 2002 was the biggest flood disaster in Germany in decades, with 20 casualties and more than $20 billion (USA) of damage in property and infrastructure. The flood was caused by extreme and continuous rainfall for many days in the mountains of Austria, the Czech Republic and Germany. This is in no way comparable to the disaster of last December’s tsunami in the countries bordering on the Indian Ocean but just the same people had to experience how helpless we are in face of such forces of nature.The Elbe River, one of the major streams in Europe, stretches slightly more than 1000 kilometers from east to west and descends 1384 meters from its origin in the Bohemian mountains to the North Sea. 65% of it passes through Germany, 34% through the Czech Republic. The catchment area amounts to 148,268 square kilometers. The stream flow per year measures at the Czech-German border 10 billion cubic meters and at its mouth 28 billion cubic meters per year.

In many places the dams left and right of the river were soaked to the core and threatened to break. In fear of the dams breaking, thousands of volunteers helped to strengthen and secure them. Also, parts of the German Army were called in to assist by hand or with heavy machinery where this was possible. Because of the soaked grounds in many occasions, help could only come on foot or by helicopters. Sometimes single estates and even single villages were secured by strengthening the dams. Many of these attempts failed in the end because of the tremendous amounts of water. The strong current swept everything along and carried all kinds of debris in houses, gardens and fields. When the dams broke the water poured into open fields and rushed down streets, flooding villages and towns from the back so that there was no protection for the inhabitants any more. Thus, the water flooded large areas and hundreds of villages and towns in the rather flat region.
In Germany a large number of private houses have oil tanks for the central heating systems in their basements. One of the major problems was the oil from underground storage or from the oil tanks in private cellars. Millions of liters of oil were washed into houses, gardens and fields. In addition hundreds of communal wastewater treatment plants – notably those of the city of Dresden - were flooded so that their sludge along with chemicals and excrement mixed with the oil and contaminated everything within its reach. Due to various contaminants, the cultivation of crops and vegetables was impossible for a prolonged time. Farms as well as industrial entities were affected.
Roughly one year before in the German speaking countries Austria, Germany and Switzerland a Non-profit organization entitled EM e.V. had been founded. As soon as the scale of the catastrophe was obvious they decided to help in the aftermath with donations of Effective Microorganisms™ or EM•1^®. In Germany alone more than 6,000 liters of EM•1^® were donated and shipped to one particular area in order to help fight the developing stench and contamination. With the help of volunteers the producer of EM•1^® in Germany, EMIKO Ltd., filled 4,000 liters in 10-liter containers and had them shipped to the Elbe River area. One dealer produced 2,000 liters of Activated EM•1^® and had it shipped there, too. At the same time the Austrian producer of EM•1^®, Multikraft Ltd., donated several thousand liters to support one particular area in Austria where the heavy rains had broken the dams of one particular river and devastated a number of villages and towns in a similar manner.
The operation was limited to a few villages by the Elbe River. The first problem: Apart from one family, no one had heard of EM•1^® before. So, first, of all the inhabitants were called to meetings where they were informed of the properties of EM•1^® and briefly educated on how and where to use EM•1^® most effectively. After the instruction every household could take 10 liters home, but some asked for additional EM•1^® for neighbors and friends.
While giving out the EM•1^® many questions had to be answered. Most people needed EM•1^® to eliminate stench and mold from their previously flooded rooms and basements. They also wanted to treat their gardens, orchards and ponds. Some volunteers were able to stay an extra day and visit some of the places in order to give advice on the use of EM•1^®. Many trees had lost their fruit or died from the contamination.
Through the contacts of a native Japanese individual living in Germany who volunteered in the whole operation, a team from a Japanese TV station came to report on the flood. The also came to film the activities at a school where teachers and students together learned about the efficiency of the EM•1^®. Here the school’s principal gave an interview on how Effective Microorganisms™, conceived by Dr. Higa in Japan, could now help a school in Germany. Due to the flood, the entire ground floor of the school could not be used. With applications of EM•1^® all renovation could be executed without suffering from stench and mold. For many people the appearance of mold became the biggest problem. Fortunately, EM•1^® proved to prevent the growth of these molds quite effectively.

Nutrient Cycling and (EM) Effective-Microorganism Technology

noreply@blogger.com (Abdullah) — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 16:55:00 +0000

The nutrient elements undergo several natural transformations and interactions in soils and the environment. These processes are important because most plants are only able to take up certain chemical forms of each nutrient.

Therefore, many of the soil processes can render the nutrient elements unavailable or slowly available for plant uptake. While each nutrient element may differ in the transformations it undergoes, some important common processes are listed below. An understanding of these processes can help you to understand the fate of added fertilizer.

1. Mineralization - The largest source of nutrients in most soils is contained in organic compounds. Mineralization is the process by which organic nutrients are converted to inorganic forms, which plants can take up. For example, the nitrogen contained in protein is mineralized to ammonium. This process is microbially regulated (i.e. bacteria and fungi), and, therefore is affected by environmental factors such as temperature and moisture, which affect the activity and population of the microbes.

2. Immobilization - Addition of organic materials, which contain a small proportion of nitrogen and other nutrients (for example, wood chips) can cause the soil microbes to take up nutrients from the soil and reduce the amount of nutrients available for plant uptake. Frequently, the addition of woody materials without added nitrogen fertilizer can result in short-term nitrogen deficiency in plants. The general rule is that organic materials with an organic carbon to nitrogen ratio of greater than 30 will cause nitrogen immobilization. Addition of supplemental fertilizer nitrogen or an organic material with a high proportion of N can reduce the risk of nitrogen immobilization in the soil.

3. Cation exchange - The surfaces of small clay or organic particles (humus) often have a net negative charge on them. These negative charges can attract and retain nutrients, which have a positive charge on them. Many of the nutrient elements exist in the soil solution as charged molecules called ions. An ion with a positive charge is called a cation and an ion with a negative charge is called an anion. Common nutrient elements, which exist as cations, are potassium (K+), calcium (Ca+2), magnesium (Mg+2) and ammonium (NH4+). These cations are held on exchange sites and can be taken up by plants. The cation exchange capacity of a soil is a good measure of the ability of a soil to hold nutrient elements and have high soil fertility.

4. Leaching - The movement of water through soil can result in the transport of nutrient elements down out of the rooting zone of the plant. This process of nutrient loss is called nutrient leaching and can be of serious environmental concern in areas where nutrients can enter groundwater. Leaching of nutrients also reduces the efficiency of fertilizer use since the nutrients will no longer be available for plant uptake. The forms of nutrient, which usually leach, are those, which are not readily retained by soil through processes such as cation exchange. Leaching of nitrogen usually occurs when nitrogen is in the nitrate (NO3-) form. Phosphorus does not usually leach through soil, except for soils with a high sand content, because it readily reacts and is retained by other soil components.

5. Gaseous Losses and Gains of Nutrients - losses of nutrients through transformations to gaseous nutrient forms include the processes of volatilization, denitrification and oxidation/reduction. Ammonia volatilization occurs when ammonium-based fertilizer is added to the soil surface and the ammonium is converted to ammonia gas. This process usually occurs under hot, windy conditions in high pH soils. Denitrification is the process by which nitrate is converted to gaseous nitrogen forms. This process is favored in wet soils with a large amount of organic matter present. Under extremely wet conditions, nutrients can also be reduced into gaseous forms. The release of hydrogen sulfide (H2S) from low-lying wet areas is an example. The biological conversion of gaseous nitrogen to inorganic nitrogen in the soil is called nitrogen fixation and results in a gain of nitrogen in the soil. Legume plants, such as beans, sesbania, berseem, cluster bean, pulses, etc. form a symbiotic relationship with bacteria located in the plant roots in which the bacteria fix the nitrogen from air and the plant supplies carbohydrate to the bacteria. The relationship can be inhibited if nitrogen fertilizer is added to legume plants.

6. Soil Acidity or pH - Soil acidity is an important soil chemical characteristic primarily because it affects the availability of plant nutrients and plant growth. Other effects of soil acidity include effects on soil microbial activity, on exchange capacity, and the physical structure of the soil. An understanding of the concept of soil acidity can assist you in your fertilization program and help you to determine whether you may need to correct acid or basic conditions in the soil.

Organic versus inorganic - Fertilizers and other nutrient amendments can contain plant nutrients in either an inorganic or organic form. Most plants only absorb inorganic forms of plant nutrients, and, therefore, organic nutrients must be converted to inorganic forms to become available to the growing plant.

The process by which organic nutrients are converted to inorganic nutrients is called materialization. Fortunately, if the soil contains many microorganisms, which decompose and mineralize organic nutrients. The rate at which this process occurs will be affected by such factors as climate, soil texture and the amount and composition of the organic material added.

Woody materials high in lignin will decompose slower than green materials high in organic nitrogen. Inorganic salts such as ammonium nitrate, release inorganic nitrogen that is immediately available to the growing plant. Organic sources of nitrogen, such as manure, are converted to inorganic nitrogen more slowly and the nitrogen from the manure will be available to the growing plant over a longer period.

One advantage of this longer-term release is inorganic nitrogen in the form of nitrate can be leached down in the soil and be lost for plant uptake and possibly contaminate groundwater. If inorganic nitrogen is added to the soil in excess of plant needs then leaching can occur. Organic nutrient amendments can be considered as slow release fertilizers. A notable exception to this rule is urea, which is a manufactured organic form of nitrogen. Urea is rapidly converted to ammonium when added to soil.

What is EM Technology?

EM is an abbreviation of Effective Microorganisms; it is a technology that applies effective microorganism. A mixture of groups of microorganisms has a reviving action on humans, animals, plants, and the natural environment. It is a concept which is, environment friendly and cost effective through waste recycling developed in the fields.

It contains lactic acid bacteria (Lactobacillus plantarium, L. casei), photosynthetic bacteria (Rhodopseudomonos plustris, Rhodobacter Sphacrodes), yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) and others may consist of those found locally.

Many problems of environmental pollution have resulted from excessive applications of pesticides, herbicides and chemical fertilizers in the traditional farming system. This is endangering the existence of human being on the earth. Therefore, the concept of nature farming or organic farming has become increasingly important. Recently, application of microbial inoculants is introduced to the nature farming system. MI (Microbial inoculants) applications have been approved effective in many aspect and played important roles in promoting crop productions and purifying the environment.

EM promotes germination, growth, flowering, fruiting and ripening in crop plants. EM enhances the photosynthetic capacity of plants. EM increases the efficiency of organic matter as fertilizers. EM develops resistance of plants to pests and diseases. EM improves the physical, chemical and biological environments of soil. EM suppresses soil borne pathogens and pests.

It can convert all kinds of crop residues, Farmyard manure, poultry manure, and sugarcane filter cake or press mud and solid municipal waste into high quality biofertilizer within 10 days. Increasing the utilization efficiency of solar energy from maximum crop production as the actual utilization rate is less than 3% as against 10-20%. The best opportunity for increasing biomass production is to utilize the visible light, which cannot be used by chloroplasts and the infrared radiation energy.

In the presence of organic matter, photosynthetic bacteria and algae can utilize wavelengths ranging from 700-1200 nm. Fermenting microbes could also breakdown organic matter, thereby releasing complex compounds such amino acids for utilization by plants. This enhances the efficiency of organic matter in crop production.

Banana cultivation with EM- Technology
Given the importance to banana industry in Pakistan, Asim Agriculture Farm has taken serious view and decided to adopt effective microbes along with organic manures and various other cultural practices that are instrumental in increasing the productivity of banana crop in our climatic conditions.

Banana is heavy surface feeder crop, as feeding roots lie in the upper 6 layer of soil, hence it require heavy manuring. The application of irrigation water through fermentor resulted an increased leaf area index followed by thick green color and huge number of earth worms and other biological entities developed inside the soil which are serving as the natural tilth of the soil, the roots of banana plant taken up nutrients and water easily with increased biological activities.

This practice has reduced our cost in terms of working with tools, chemical synthetic fertilizers and labor. Banana fruit produced increased number of hands, size of finger and color of fruit only after application of effective microbes.

Sugarcane cultivation with EM- Technology:

Sugarcane is an important cash crop in Pakistan. Sugarcane is the main source of sugar production in the world. Asim Agriculture Farm has achieved higher yield of sugarcane by using EM technology, Sugarcane recovery percentage of em-treated sugarcane variety (PR-1000) was 11.5% whereas, the recovery percentage of un-treated sugarcane was 8.1%.

The Yield of sugarcane of em-treated sugarcane were 1900 maunds/acre from 47 acres whereas, the yield of sugarcane of un-treated were 1500 maunds/acre from 50 acres. Organic manure for mango orchard grown in mulch culture along with EM-Technology This report presents effective microorganisms application guidelines for a ring, mulch culture system for mango orchard.

As we all know we are passing through the cutting edges of water shortages our existence seems difficult as time goes if we were not able to evolve the Information on the sequence of operations in the mulch system on mango tree is included. This information has been developed from results of research in Asim Agriculture Farm Tando Allahyar.

1. Digging, (6 deep and 3’ away from the main trunk) shaping and pressing of rings. (According to the canopy).
2. Application of Farm Yard Manure or press mud composted (Bokashi)
3. Application of EM-Technology (fermented irrigation water or drops) and
4. Mulching

a) This has increased biological life inside the soil. (Earthworms and certain other microbes)
b) The roots of mango trees have a tendency to move with water films and available nutrients inside the soil. The application of bokashi and irrigation through fermentor helped a lot in root hair development (1’ to 2’ below the ground level) within a circle. Most of the water and nutrients are taken up by the root hairs.
c) The organic compounds are decomposed by the action of effective microbes into inorganic molecules which are taken up easily by the mango tree consequently the vigorous vegetative growth give a healthier look of mango trees.
d) These effective microbes are serving as the sterilization agents.
e) Mulching keeps proper moisture, weed control and more importantly a safe house for mango tree rhizosphere.

The 21st century has dawned, with renewed hope for a better livelihood for the populations of this earth. Hence the themes often discussed at international forum on human welfare and agriculture range from sustainability, food security and safety to the provision of a productive and healthy environment to humankind and its future generations. Hence there is often a great deal of optimism about the possibilities of solving the multitude of problems in relation to the provision of food and a clean healthy environment for all.

Although the picture being painted seems rosy with numerous possibilities, the reality is not that simple. The future is not too optimistic. The post war agricultural revolution has brought about problems of pollution, which are increasing in magnitude, although the agricultural development projects have increased yields in both developed and developing countries.

The problems also arise from over production of agricultural commodities in the developed countries, while inadequate production and unequal distribution of food and resources in the developing countries is a common phenomenon. There is excessive pollution caused by industrialized agriculture, loss of biodiversity and increased incidence of pests and diseases. The use of genetically modified organisms has raised concerns about food safety.

All these problems need solutions to maintain and possibly enhance the quality of the environment and provision of food for humankind and also all forms of life on earth The potential of EM in agriculture and environmental management is significant. The technology can be used easily and economically to enhance productivity of agricultural systems, especially organic systems and in mitigating environmental pollution.

EM Derivatives

noreply@blogger.com (Abdullah) — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 16:05:00 +0000

Introduction

Effective Microorganisms (EM) are a mixed cultures of beneficial microorganisms. They are applied into soil or plants to increase their microbial diversity so as to improve soil health, and the growth, yield and quality of the plants.

Benefits of EM applications

Improve soil structure ( soil aggregation, water holding capability, increase alkalinity)
Improve photosynthesis ability of plants
Enhance seed germination, growth, maturity, flowering, fruiting and ripening
Hasten decomposition (fermentation) of organic matters
Remove odour of animal dungs or organic matter used in organic fertilizer
Control or suppress pests and soil-borne diseases
Reduce re-planting problem

Application of Effective Microorganisms (EM) Technology

To start an organic farm/plantation or manufacture organic products, knowing how to culture and apply the effective microorganisms (EM) technology is an advantage.

The following EM derivatives:

EM Stock ( This is a concentrated culture of effective microorganisms) ;
EMAS ( Effective Microorganisms Activated Solution - a solution which consisted of clean water which have been added with some EM Stock to allow the effective microorganisms to multiply ) ;
FPJ ( Fermented Plant Juice which is a supplement of vitamins, hormones and enzymes which helps to prevent pests and disease of the plants and soil. It also fortifies microbial activities in the leaves and soil) ;
FFJ ( Fermented Fruit Juice which helps to promote flowering and fruiting );
FFA ( Fermented Fish which is a foliar feed that provides Nitrogen/Amino acid for plants and promotes photosynthetic bacterias activities ) ;
FPE ( Fermented Plant Extract which is extracted from a mixture of herbs to be used as insecticide or insect repellents ) ;
CaP ( Calcium Phosphate for promoting growth and fruits )
EM5 ( Effective Microorganisms insecticide and repellent to prevent disease and pests problems in plants and animals ) ;
BOKASHI ( There are many types of bokashi. They are compost and fertilizer lump together to be mixed with soil for planting vegetables and fruit trees. Most bokashi are produced by fermenting manure and recycled organic wastes. They contain most of the nutrients for plant growth ).

Producing the above EM derivatives can help farmers or planters to :

save up to 50% of their operational cost ;
increase their crop yield by more than 25% ;
produce organic vegetables and fruits ;
fetch better price for their crops ;
prevent themselves from exposure to chemicals, pesticides and herbicides ;
prevent leaching of fertilizer in their farms/plantations ;
enrich and condition their land ;
increase more microbial activities in their land ;
balance the ecosystem in their land ;
save the environment by not using chemicals.

Things to know about Effective Microorganisms (EM)

noreply@blogger.com (Abdullah) — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 13:06:00 +0000

Try to memorize the odor of EM while it is still fresh. As the dormant microbes awaken from exposure to air, heat and light, they gradually become active and their composition is compromised.

You will see two things happen in this process:
The lactic acid is the first to become active and will create a white film at the top of the liquid. This is OK. But other microbes awakening follow this process.
The photosynthetic bacteria are the last to awaken and when they become active your EM will take on a sharper, more pungent smell. This happens anywhere from 3-4 weeks up to 6 months depending upon storage.

STORAGE OF EM:

Store in the coolest environment available (preferably about 50 degrees), in a closed container away from light. Of the three elements that awaken the dormant microbes, light is the most influential, then heat, then air. I like to store the bulk of my EM in a bladder where the air can be expelled, and place this in a cool, dark environment. I keep a 2-4 oz bottle of EM beside my kitchen and bathroom sinks, and a small ½ oz bottle in my purse (great to add to restaurant water). I prefer amber glass bottles with eyedroppers so I can see inside.

FOR ANIMAL WATER:

Add just enough EM to barely tint the water. When administering to food, start with 1-2 drops and increase up to ¼ tsp daily.

FOR PLANTS:

DO NOT USE STRAIGHT ON INDOOR PLANTS.
Add EM to watering (with or without fertilizer) at the ratio of between 1:500, 1:1000 or 1:10,000 depending on how frequently you use EM and if it is being mixed with fertilizer. EM may be used with every watering.

CONVERSION CHART:

75 drops = 1 tsp
225 drops = 3 tsp = 1 Tbs
1350 drops = 18 tsp = 6 Tbs = 1/3 cup
24,300 drops = 54 tsp = 18 Tbs = 1 cup

Approximately 1 drop per ¼ cup = 1:1000
“ 2 drops per ½ cup = “
“ 3 drops per ¾ cup = “
“ 4 drops per 1 cup = “
“ 64 drops per 1 gallon = “
“ 2 Tbs per 7 gallons = “

I am always pleased to find new uses for EM, as it is a joy to use a product that is not only safe, but actually has beneficial advantages. Although I am not a doctor or scientist and can not validate with any authority that the ways in which I use EM are not harmful, I do know with certainty that the ingredients in EM are benign and without danger. This is not so with our many household ingredients such as detergents, bleach, ammonia, tile and toilet cleaner, and even personal care products such as shampoo and toothpaste (did you know that toothpaste contains a warning not to swallow)? The more ways in which I find to use EM the less I have to rely on chemicals. My goal is to have a toxic-free home and EM has made this goal much more attainable.

EM does not do everything, but it does enough to allow me to store all of the ordinary household chemicals in the garage where their fumes are not polluting the air within my home. According to a study conducted in 1995, the air in every house tested showed many times more toxic than the air outside, regardless of how pure or polluted the outside air. We need 3 things to live - air, food and water. EM can help make these essential elements less toxic. I have found dozens of uses for EM around my house.

KITCHEN:

• soak plastic dishes and wooden utensils and bowls
• wipe counters
• rinse dishes (dishwasher or by hand)
• as soak for any cooked or caked on containers
• clean produce or meat (especially fish, seafood and poultry)
• in the cooking water
• clean refrigerator

BATHROOM:

• clean toilet
• clean shower

OTHER:

• clean carpets
• mist onto carpets between cleaning to reduce animal smells
• mist onto stuffed furniture to reduce dust mites and odors
• use in laundry (in wash or rinse cycle), especially for musty rags or forgotten washer loads (CAUTION - the microbes may break down dyes faster)
• for cleaning any foul smelling messes
• deodorize EVERYTHING (urine, vomit, garlic/onion)
• diffused in the air to rid odors in house (steam works best, but misting is effective too)
• to rid puddles of mosquitoes
• to clean rust of tools
• in wells
• in septic tanks
• in paint (but check with company about this because I have never tried it, and I suspect that you have to use the paint IMMEDIATELY before it is broken down – but it is suppose to have incredible benefits)
• on wooden decks
• poured onto roof for moss control

ANIMALS:

• as a rinse after bathing (reduces doggy-odor and leaves their coat soft)
• in their ears for mites & ear infections
• mist onto coat of animal that has ‘rolled’ in something smelly (great for skunk-sprayed animal)
• in their water and food
• in the kitty litter box – pouring straight EM on wood shavings and placing this at the bottom works best, but misting straight EM onto the litter box is useful too

PERSONAL CARE:

• in bath water (with baking soda to soften)
• to brush onto teeth
• breath control
• as a hair rinse
• to remove unwanted fragrances from hair and skin products
• to clean wounds and sores
• in itchy ears
• for insect bites or other skin irritations (stinging, burning or itchy)
• athlete’s foot or other fungal problems
• a cleansing enema or douche (mildest solution)
• under-arm odor (instant bath)
• in drinking water

Some of the benefits I have witnessed in the kitchen are readily observed when EM is placed in water. Usually, tiny bubbles can be seen within seconds of placing a few drops of EM into tap water. This tells you that the little microbes are busy digesting pollutants and creating oxygen as a by-product.

I feel safe using EM for cleaning all of my food. It effectively reduces fishy odors and I can rely on its safety to clean my produce, unlike the vegetable cleaning products now on the market.

I really appreciate the job EM does in cleaning toilets and other fixtures and counters. Porcelain seems to shine better with EM and I know that it won’t eat away the finish like cleansers do. Also, I don’t like using those ‘blue’ toilet cleaners ever since I learned how bad they are for the environment.

Wherever I smell odor I use EM. I have an elderly lady friend whose old dog is incontinent, so her house wreaks of animal urine. I took some EM in a spray bottle and misted the entire carpet, which reduced the odor immediately and was still effective 3 weeks later!

I also found that one of my cats seems to be a mite-magnet. She has 3 favorite chairs that cause us to itch whenever we sit on them. Repeated use of EM on her and the furniture has gotten rid of this problem.

I found a simple solution to animal odors and cooking odors. I simply put a pot of EM-water on the stove and simmer until gone. EM is activated by heat, released in the steam and cleanses the air. I would imagine this is good for anyone who is ill, or with lung problems, or for babies and children.

I read something in Dr. Higa’s book that made me try EM in my curbside gutters that were a breeding ground for mosquitoes. I found a little EM once a week keeps them from laying eggs!

I also read how EM removes rust and decided to try it on an old horseshoe before subjecting any of my tools to the treatment. I made a strong solution and placed half of an old rusty horseshoe into the solution. After 24 hours the rust was gone, even inside the nail holes. That was over a year ago and the shoe remains rust-free today. I then felt it was safe to subject my tools to a rust-removing dip.

Did I mention that animals who are totally surrounded with EM have odorless shit? My dogs never got totally smell-less but it did decompose into what looked like wood shavings within a couple of days and it didn’t draw flies.

NOW FOR THE “DON’T” LIST:

• Don’t under estimate the power of these microbes.
• Don’t use EM straight on your houseplants.
• Don’t consume large quantities of EM without building up slowly that goes for animals as well as people.
• Don’t expect miraculous changes in your body, just KNOW good things are happening.
• Don’t expect to get full benefits from using a living product like this without investing some time reading and learning about it. There are videos and books available from the company.

What you need from EM

noreply@blogger.com (Abdullah) — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 01:34:00 +0000

EM - effective Microorganism

For sustainable Environment and Healthy Life

EM can be applied in various ways to enhance healthy environment and healthy life:

AT
HOME

Making compost
from kichen garbage

Spraying EM on the carpet
keeps bugs away and the
room becomes less dusty.

Spraying EM on the pets keeps flee or bugs away, eliminates
their peculiar smell. Adding a few drops of EM in their drinking water enhances their health, and their excretions becomes less semlly.

Spraying EM can keep
the kichen always clean
and shiny.

Adding a capful EM into
the washing machine re-
quires less detergent and
makes the clothes so fluffy
after rinsing, thus they dry
so quickly.

Spraying EM on the plants
enhances their healthy growth
tremendously with stronger
resisitance against diseases,
thus it eliminates the need of
use of pestiside and chemical
fertilizer.

Spraying EM into the refrige - rator as a substitute of deodorant.

Pouring a capful EM into
the toilet or water tank prevents grime and clogging pipe, plus
keep the toilet odorless.

Spraying EM into the hood
of the car enhances the
combustion efficiency of the
gas because of anti-rustic
effect and peculiar vibrational
energy of EM, thus you can
save a lot of cost of energy.

AGRI-
CULTURAL
&
FARMING

Organic farming based on
EM compost or fertilizer and irrigation system with EM-
diluted water yields healthier
and bigger crops with richer
nutrients.

Chickens fed on EM-processed
food grows healthier and their egss conatins so much nutrients than normal. Notice the yellow part of a egg does not break easily because it is so healthy.

EM fed cattles and swines usallygrow very healthy, their manures hardly smell which can be recycled as excellent organic fertilizer. You do not need any antibiotics or hormones to make them fat or disease-free.

No More Waste with EM

noreply@blogger.com (Abdullah) — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 08:45:00 +0000

A system to process all organic kitchen garbage into pulverized fertilizer

Households that have their own fields or kitchen gardens can easily recycle their kitchen garbage into EM compost and use it by themselves, and this practice is becoming common in many places around Japan. This kind of grassroots movement is of course very essential, but this time I would like to present a recycling system which can turn all food remains into high quality fertilizer. This system would cover all households, including those in apartments, and also restaurants, hotels, food- processing factories etc. Food refuse from the lives of 120millon people in Japan would produce enough fertilizer to replace all chemical fertilizers now in use, and thus offer us really healthy farm products grown in Japan.

The effect of EM fertilizer is not limited to the revival of farming.EM-Bokashi-used daily in households would revive the family life as well because EM purifies the atmosphere in the house making everyone healthier and happier. Furthermore, every citizen can feel he or she is taking part in the restoration of the earth.

In order to process all garbage into pulverized EM-fertilizer, we need to construct a great number of factories throughout Japan. As for their management, nongovernmental enterprises would be the best solution, but for the cost of the plants and equipment they would need financial aid from local and central governments. This public financing can be provided by the money, which was previously used for burning garbage at incinerators.

Transportation of the garbage from homes, restaurants, etc to the factories is not a big problem at all since we can use the present collecting system now in use to carry garbage from collecting stations to the incinerators. Citizens are already used to separating garbage according to type and putting it out for collection. The more difficult question is how to persuade households to add EM-Bokashi at home to their garbage before it is taken out for collection. Local governments should provide all households with garbage containers, and instruct citizens to sprinkle EM-Bokashi onto the garbage every time it is put into the container. The price of Bokashi is very low, so I believe most people would be ready to pay the cost in order take part in this recycling movement. In the case of those people who are not ready to cooperate in using Bokashi at their homes, EM could be added to the garbage after it is carried to the factory. At any rate the raw garbage should be collected every day to prevent it from spoiling. Then it is not too late to treat it with EM after collection.

In order to further improve the quality of the fertilizer, it is better to add other organic materials into garbage while processing it. This year I visited a few fertilizer factories and found out they were using rice bran, activated carbon, fossil seashell, minerals, dung etc together with food garbage to produce high quality fertilizer.

To my knowledge there are already quite a few EM-fertilizer factories operating in Japan and far more in other countries around the world, so we already have enough proof of the effectiveness of EM as a method of recycling garbage. The next step is to create a nation-wide organization in order to extend this system to recycle all the garbage in Japan.

When this system is put on track and pulverized EM-fertilizer is available everywhere at a low price, I am sure more and more farmers will be ready to use it and say good -bye to harmful chemical fertilizers and pesticides.

However, it is too optimistic to believe this system can spread to every corner of Japan all at once. I think it is better to select a few pilot communities where EM- technology is already recognized by local governments and used widely by common citizens. Governmental workers are sensitive to everything new, and often drag their feet when it comes to something for which there is no precedent. However, after something is proved officially, it can quickly become a boom.

As for myself, I would like to attempt to prepare a draft for a new law concerning garbage recycling. Of course nobody can do this kind of a job alone, so I need to find a number of Diet members who believe in this plan and who are willing to work together on it.

History of EM

noreply@blogger.com (Abdullah) — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 23:24:00 +0000

In 1982 Dr. Teruo Higa presented his new discovery to to the international market. Dr.Higa called this discovery "Effective Microorganisms". Since then, the use of Effective Microorganisms™ has spread to over 120 countries. Effective Microorganisms™ is a brand name, not a generic term, referring to a proprietary blend of non-pathogenic microorganisms that secrete benificial compounds for other life. From this original product, a technology has formed. Dr. Higa calls this EM Technology™.

EM America offers only the original, authentic, and certified brand, Effective Microorganisms™, (EM-1®), produced under the direct supervision of Dr. Teruo Higa, by EM Research Organizatio 's (EMRO) highly trained scientists in Tucson, Arizona at EMRO USA Effective Microorganisms .EMRO USA is the ONLY facitlity in North America currently producing Dr. Higa's products. This facility has been food grade since 2003 and is one over 50 such Effective Microorganisms™ production centers in the world. EMRO USA is also the only facility producing the food grade PROEM-1® Daily Probiotic Cleanse in the world.

EM America is licensed by EMRO USA Effective Microorganisms to use the EM Logo, exclusively distribute their entire product line, and manufacture products utilizing Effective Microorganisms® Technology.

We sell all food-grade products made with proprietary techniques that ensure the highest, most consistent product quality on the market.

Several companies around the world have taken Dr. Higa's technology and tried to copy it and make similar claims of effects. Some of these companies use research conducted with Effective Microorganisms™ to market their own products and even tell their customers their product is "Effective Microorganisms". The only way to be sure that you have the Original, Authentic, Certified. and licensed products is to look for the EM Logo. EM-1® and EM-X® are registered trademarks of EM Research Organization (EMRO).

What is EM Solution

noreply@blogger.com (Abdullah) — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 15:25:00 +0000

EM Solution or called "EM" (EFFECTIVE MICROORGANISMS )

　 EM stands for (effective microorganisms). EM is a combination of various beneficial， naturally occurring microorganisms; mostly used for or found in foods. EM contains beneficial organisms from 3 main genera: photosynthetic bacteria， lactic acid bacteria and yeast. These effective microorganisms secrete beneficial substances such as vitamins， organic acids chelated minerals and antioxidants when in contract with organic matter. They change soil micro flora and fauna so that disease-inducting soil becomes disease-suppressing soil， which in turn has the capability to develop into axymogene soil. The anti-oxidation effects of these microorganisms pass directly to the soil or indirectly to plants maintaining their NPK and CN ratio. This process increases the humus content of the soil and is capable of sustaining high quality food production.

Effective microorganisms were developed over many years in liquid form by Prof. Dr. Teruo Higa， University of the Ryukyus， and finished in 1982. At first EM was considered an alternative for agriculture; chemicals. But its use has now spread to application in environmental， industrial and health fields， How ever， it must be stressed that EM is not a synthetic chemical or a medicine but a microbial formula.

Prospects of EM

Sanko Sangyo provides cost effective multi-disciplinary professional services and consultancy in the field of agriculture， environment， health & other sciences. The catch phrase of our EM Technology is “sustainable society， based on co-existence and co-prosperity， quality information， safety， convenience， low cost and high quality”.
Sanko Sangyo is the mother company in Okinawa-Japan， which introduced and launched the research and the business of EM Technology 25 years ago. Prof. Teruo Higa of The Univesity of the Ryukyus， joined to develop EM Products in early 80’s. Since then， Sanko Sangyo is devoted and dedicated to produce safe and high quality EM products for its customers to contribute in protecting of human and environmental health.

Expertise:

Bioremediation
a) Industrial solid wastes / sludge
b) Municipal wastes / garbage
c) Industrial effluent
d) Sewage sludge
e) Sewage water

Deodorization
a) Industrial odor / tannery odor
b) Sewage odor
c) Live-stock shed odor
d) Poultry farm odor
e) Indoor odor

Agriculture
a) Reclamation of saline-sodic lands
b) Reuse of saline ground water as irrigation water
c) Organic farming

Using EM Technology， the hazardous metals-laden mineral sludge can be converted into nonhazardous biological sludge for safe disposal and use as biofertilizer in agriculture and as soil conditioner in ameliorating saline-alkali lands.
Using EM Technology， deodorization can be achieved in the industry premises. The elimination of obnoxious odor can be emitted from the stagnant industrial and sewage water using EM Technology.
Using EM Technology， saline-alkali lands can be reclaimed and hazardous groundwater can be made fit for irrigation purposes. The farm refuse and farmyard manure and poultry manure can be converted into compost for promoting organic farming.

Agriculture:
Agriculture is a vast field. Land is the basic resource for growing crops at large scale to meet the food requirements of the humans and animals. The application of EM starts from the improvement of land & irrigation water， seed treatment， sprays for the enhancement of photosynthesis and control of insects， pests & diseases. EM Technology， thus， helps to:

i) reclame / ameliorate salt affected lands， improve soil structure and its related properties， improve germination of seeds， growth of crops， enhance photosynthesis， control of weeds， control on insects & disease and finally increase in yield.
ii) remove various problems relating to horticulture (gardens or orchards) to increase fruit production and its quality.
iii) enhance the quality of all types of farmyard manures i.e. animal manure， poultry manure， solid waste， litter， kitchen garbage， green leaves， grass etc when converted into compost， the application of which increases the microbial population in the root zone.
iv) accelerate decomposition of organic matter applied to the land， availability of nutrients to crops and control of insects， pests & diseases.
v) minimize the salinity hazard of groundwater used for irrigation purposes.
vi) conduct sustainable organic farming comparable to farming with synthetic fertilizers.

Vegetables
Vegetables are the most important diet for humans. Some vegetables are eaten as such. Vegetables are very delicate. The application of EM helps to:

i) improve the texture and quality of all the vegetables.
ii) increase the microbial population， accelerate the decomposition of organic matter in the soil and timely release of nutrients for the uptake by the vegetables.
iii) increase the yield.

Gardens & Orchards
Fruits are the rich source of vitamins and minerals to the humans. Insecticides sprays are dangerous for human health as the insecticide (poison) accumulate in the uppermost fruit layer. EM Technology has made it possible to grow fruits without insecticides. EM sprays help to control attack of insects， pests & diseases. The application of EM in various forms helps to:

i) increase microbial population， accelerate decomposition of organic matter and timely release of nutrients， improve and maintain the porosity of the soil under the canopy of fruit trees.
ii) control insects， pest and diseases
iii) enhance photosynthesis
iv) increase fruit yield and its quality
v) carry out sustainable and profitable horticulture

Parks & Lawns
Parks & lawns are maintained for the recreation of humans. People like green parks & lawns. A lot of budget is required to keep parks & lawns in good condition. The application of EM products and EM composted organic matter helps to:

i) reclame saline and alkali patches
ii) maintain the soil fertility
iii) increase microbial population
iv) improve the growth of grasses

Animal husbandry
Rearing of animals is always accompanied with foul odor， storage of fluid & solid waste， and their handling and management. It is a permanent problem. However， the application of EM helps to:

i) eliminate foul odor at the livestock， poultry and stud farms
ii) eliminate the pathogens
iii) eliminate flies and mosquitoes
iv) clean the environments
v) provide better working atmosphere to the workmen
vi) create interest in handling of EM composted material， its transport and application in the field
vii) improve digestive system by feeding EM fermented dry feed & green food and offering EM mixed drinking water
viii) improve overall shed environment and reduce / eliminate infections & diseases when sprayed at regular intervals with quantified dozes
ix) improve milk and egg yield
x) improve meat quality in livestock， poultry and fisheries
xi) reduce infant mortality

Environmental pollution:
Industries produce 3 types of pollution i.e. air pollution with the gases and smoke; surface and groundwater pollution with the wastewater (effluent) loaded with various types of salts and pollutants; and land pollution with the solid waste thrown along the road side， open drains， sewage， wastelands and agricultural lands. Industries are of many kinds and have polluted almost all the water bodies in the absence of execution of environmental laws. Latest diseases like cancer， hepatitis， respiratory diseases， diarrhea and others have been caused by the air and water pollution. EM Technology helps to:

i) convert the sludge of industries into biosludge for its safe disposal or application as biofertilizer in floriculture and parks & lawns.
ii) deodorize obnoxious odor of industrial effluent， tanneries， sewage， solid waste， municipal waste etc.
iii) prevent the breeding of flies and mosquitoes
iv) reduce the concentration of pollutants in the effluent for its safe disposal. An extra treatment can make the effluent reusable for watering of flowers and lawns.
v) control surface as well as groundwater pollution
vi) diminish the pollutants in the sewage water and clean it further for safe disposal.
vii) compost municipal waste for reuse.

Recycling of perishable kitchen garbage & Municipal Solid Waste
Kitchen garbage & City Solid Waste is the major source of pollution as it contains perishable vegetative material. It consumes lot of budget for collection and produces problems of foul odor at dumping site. The problem of such waste can be solved and much savings can be made if the kitchen garbage is handled at each household and Municipal Waste is minimized in total. Application of EM helps to:

i) convert garbage into bio-fertilizer usable at home scale.
ii) consume almost no budget， rather reduce expenditure being incurred on the purchase of organic matter from the market to maintain gardening at small or large scale.
iii) reduce the volume of garbage waste collection from each house.
iv) eliminate transportation cost to dump site.
v) reduce management cost at dump site.
vi) eliminate production of foul odor， flies and mosquitoes.
vii) clean bathrooms with the liquid fertilizer produced during recycling of garbage， thus eliminate expenditures on purchase of cleaning/washing material.

Think of EM•1® Bokashi as a fertilizer

noreply@blogger.com (Abdullah) — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 01:28:00 +0000

Compost, is broken down organic matter. It is actually rotten material. Many methods of making compost exist: static pile, aerobic, sheet composting, etc. It has a place in gardening and is a great way to recycle or turn waste into something useful. However, as for nutrients, it is lacking. This is why bokashi is such a boon.

If you garden, you know that manures are great for plants and soils. You also know that you can't apply fresh manure to soils where plants are growing because you'll burn the plants. Why? The high amounts of nitrogen. A couple other problems come from using fresh manure. Fresh manure has high levels of ammonia (NH3) that can leach into soils or gas off causing odor. The problem with the leaching is high levels of nitrates in the groundwater can cause blue baby syndrome...it is a toxin. A more mundane problem with fresh manures is the amount of weed seeds..mostly a problem in cow manure and horse manure. If you've ever made the mistake of applying horse manure to soil without fully composting it, you know that you just planted a new lawn! So, for safety and to save yourself of the headaches of excess weeding, you need to compost manures...or so you think.

The addition of EM•1® Microbial Inoculant to conventional composting methods is beneficial as it helps increase aerobic microbial populations, controls, odors, and produces a complete product faster.

Enter EM•1® Bokashi

All organic matter/wastes has lots of nutrients and sugars to feed microbes. Animal manures contain NPK, minerals, cellulose, and lots of microbes. The conventional way to make manures usable is to compost them. You often use ratios of Nitrogen to Carbon at 1:20 1:30 and so on. Moisture content is high because you will be turning and creating heat (mostly coming from the nitrogen and the microbial activity). EPA standards for composting require high temperatures to control pathogens, attraction to pests, and for breaking down toxins.

Fermentation of these manures is pretty easy, more economical, and faster than turning. With EM Technology™, we refer to this process as "bokashi" making. The finished product is called EM•1® Bokashi. Instead of referring this to compost, we often find ourselves explaining this is a fertilizer-making method where one is able to preserve nutrients in the organic wastes, prevent burning of plants, and save lots of money. The fermentation process produces various enzymes, vitamins, and amino acids. There also is not much heat produced during fermentation. This means that the weed seeds are not killed. Actually, the exposure to the EM•1® causes the seeds to germinate more quickly, so if the wastes are spread on the surface, there will be a tremendous amount of weed seeds germinating. This, when managed properly, is a great thing because you have produced a "free" green manure that can be turned in in about 2-3 weeks.

The conclusion is that each process has its benefits. EM•1® Bokashi methods are great for faster production, but are best to be incorporated in the soil or covered by top soils and compost is great to add lots of organic matter and to use a mulch

The Effective Microorganisms Philosophy

noreply@blogger.com (Abdullah) — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 14:20:00 +0000

The Effective ™; Philosophy has several parts: Safety, Convenience, Low Cost, High Quality, Exchange of Information, Sustainability, Co-existence, and Co-prosperity. From the patented EM-X® Ceramics to the powerful probiotics, EM Technology® always follows this philosophy. With EM-1® Microbial Inoculant one is able to reverse putrefaction (rotting) and change the characteristics of what it is applied to. EM-X® Ceramics emit subtle energies, or magnetic wave resonance, that affect water and other environments around them. This same EM Technology® has also been used to create new ducts for human health and other commonly used products around the home such as soaps, cleaners, and, in some countries, clothing.

EM-1® Microbial Inoculant Benefits Include:

Earth Friendly Microorganisms

Promotes aggregate formation and soil compaction resistance.
Improves seed germination and root development.
Increases availability.
Improves crop quality: size, color, and shelf life.
Helps improve soil structure and porosity.
Maximizes conversion of organic matter into soil humus.
Increases benificial native microbial populations.
Deodorizes
Digests Grease
Decreases
Cleans
Improves Water Clarity
And much more...

We invite you to read Dr. Higa's books that are available in English (and several other languages) to develop your own understanding of this incredible technology that calls "A gift to humanity."