Sally, I doubt you can find EM anywhere but online.
Remineralizing The Earth
What's EM?
Just came back from my hydroponics store. They don't have it but called their supplier who knew what I was talking about. He said they have a product of similar composition and is bringing me over some free samples. We'll see.
Misspoke about the alphalfa and molassas. It was $12. So got all that for less than the shipping cost alone. OOOOOOOOO I'm so happy!
EM = Essential Microbes. No matter how great your garden amendments, the garden will languish without a really good microbial population.They are the guys that convert all those amendments into forms the plants can utilize.
This place, Farmers coop in Glen Burnie, last year started offering some green juice in bottles and if I recall correctly it sounded like an EM product but I was a bit concerned about what might really be in the bottle, I am not familiar with any makers names of those products. Also concerned they could have been not fresh. Just 'concerned' that the product may not have been in prime condition, not that it would be harmful.
He is a small business owner who may have the flexibility to order weird products.
I'd probably have better luck going to the local sand and gravel pit and asking for local rock dust.
Sally, have you read all the threads on Bokashi?
http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/796403/
Thanks for linking that Darius- I have read at least some as they were happening. (I just don't want to sidetrack this thread so won't comment much further now. If I try those mysterious bottles I saw I will report on another thread.)
It's not a sidetrack. An important element in remineralizing is the microbes; remineralizing will not happen without them.
Good to know!
Math check?
If something had 100 ppm of a mineral, is that 100/1,000,000 ? or .0001? or .01 percent?
Crab shell shows 3,239 ppm of iron. 3239/1 000 000= . .003239, or 3.2 % ?
Did I do that right?
(hate to admit I struggle with ppm VS decimals VS percents)
This message was edited Mar 17, 2011 12:15 PM
Here's another possibility Scott's Micromax mentioned by tapla elsewhere
http://www.scottsprofessional.com/files/CKDKOSL2Eb.pdf
0.003239% for the crab shells
Ugh I was way off. So you'd need 10,000 ppm of something in something, to have 1 percent.
?
10 000/1 000 000 (paper, pencil...) ahh yes that is 1/100
Thanks
sallg, Do you suppose that most gravel pits crush gravel to 200, mesh?....not so likely around here I would guess...not a chic type of area.
Actually, gravel doesn't need to be crushed that fine for rock dust. Even something like #28 mesh (beach sand) works just dandy. Lots of surface area at that size.
Really appreciate this discussion of minerals. I have fought chloresis in several of my plants for several years. Use lots of Ironite but it takes frequent applications.
Recently came across this article on Dave's about mycorrhizal fungi. (Hope the link works properly.) Would like some input as to whether I should use both mycorrhizal and one of the mineral products.
http://davesgarden.com/guides/articles/view/722/#discuss
I still haven't done anything but need to make a decision soon and get started with something. Living where we do, almost nothing is available locally.
This message was edited Mar 18, 2011 5:56 AM
fungi need to eat, and they eat minerals.
Quote from darius :
fungi need to eat, and they eat minerals.
Does that mean it would be beneficial to add both? Got to make this simple for me. LOL.
Dogs--have you tried foliar application of Iron?
Quote from VORTREKER :
Dogs--have you tried foliar application of Iron?
No, I haven't. What product would that be?
One product is Hi Yield liquid iron----1/2 tsp per quart.
Really works