The Kitchen Garden Company

We are currently involved in two very interesting projects involving EM and Bokashi. We are just beginning, so there isn’t much to say, but I will outline the different proposals. As we have results we will post more information in the future.

Here in the Pacific Northwest we have had tremendous rains. In addition to terrible flooding, groundwater levels have risen to absurd levels. This has affected two different properties in different ways.

The first property is having trouble with their septic system. Not only is the additional ground water flooding over land and draining into their septic tank–causing the normal operation of the tank’s biological functions to be disrupted. In addition the drainfield has become flooded due to the extra liquid and solids being pumped in from the tank and the rising water table. While the area is still contained and hasn’t begun to spill out, the odor at times is unbearable–even in sub-freezing weather.

The second site is likewise affected by heavy rains and rising groundwater. The normal, day-to-day oil drips and fuel spills trapped in the soil of an active farm tractor shed have begun to rise to the surface and run off concerning the ecologically minded farmer. The total of this run-off is less than from a city parking lot on a rainy day, but on an organic farm is of concern nontheless.
We are employed in bio-remediating both of the sites using EM and Bokashi technologies. In both cases the microbes in EM & Bokashi have the potential to consume and change the structure of the offending materials. In the case of the tractor shed, the microbes–many of the same species as are used in controlling and digesting oil slicks–will go to work to consume and change the nature of the petroleum in the ground. The further benefit of the EM will be expericenced in any run-off as the microbes can re-populate the soil and water with the beneficial bacteria, fungi, and other microbes required for healthy soil.

In the case of the septic system, we will use both EM and Bokashi to help resolve the odor problems. By spraying the EM directly over the swampy septic drain field and adding it right to the septic tank we should be giving a tremendous boost to the system in terms of the ability to consume and control noxious odors. This is the same principle we find works in our chicken coops and has been proven in controlling odors in swine operations. This direct injection of microbes will work their way into the drain field and the septic tank helping control any harmful bacteria in the discharge. In addition we will be adding some Bokashi Balls to the septic tank to help remain behind, slowly dissolving and working on the tank solids.

We are confident our low-cost solutions will turn around both these issues in short order. We will update you on the progress in the future.

Technorati Tags: bokashi, em, effective microbes, efficient microorganisms, bioremediation, bokashi balls

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It has been a very busy summer. Between the usual dinners, parties and functions I managed to squeeze in an appearance at the County Fair doing an cooking demonstration using local foods, all while keeping The Gastrocast going.

Now, the harvest is almost over. We didn’t get as much as we’d hoped from the Kitchen Garden as it was so dry, but the Polytunnel surprised us with a bounty of Tomatoes and Chillies which are still coming. Hopefully we should be harvesting lettuces and herbs until Christmas, weather permitting, from the tunnel. All this has lead to an abundance of material for a second cookbook, if I can ever find some time for it. . . .
Meanwhile I should be spraying the Chicken coops down with EM and getting the Gardens and Livestock ready for Winter before the cold, rainy weather really hits us with a vengeance.

In addition, this week, I am working on a few mid-season events, getting ready for a television appearance and beginning to take bookings for the holiday season. Of course Rowan is right there taking it all in. I’m not sure if she’ll appear on TV with me just yet. I suppose it depends a bit on the weather. Even if she doesn’t I wager she’ll be underfoot “helping” get ready for it all anyway. At 13 weeks old she’s really keeping us on our toes. More on the TV thing later.

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If you recall from below, I was trying to clean up a certain murkiness in the pond which does not seem to be sediment related. Neither, now though, do I think it is a stagnation or algea problem.

The Bokashi Balls didn’t seem to do the trick. Either I did not add enough, or added too many or the problem is not of the sort for which they are effective. To find out what the case might be I decided to perform a much smaller experiment.

As you can see from the photo, I took three samples of the pond water. They were all taken from the surface of the middle of the pond at the same time.

To one of the jars I added 5ml of Activated EM solution–the immediate result of that was the water actually got darker due to the molasses in the solution. To another jar I added 50 Type K EM Ceramic beads. And finally I left one jar alone as a control.

After one day there was very little change, other than the control jar had attracted a few bugs, even though covered loosly with some cling film–I didn’t want to seal the jars up as to replicate pond conditions as much as possible, and the pond doesn’t have a lid.

Over time, however, the most noticeable change came from jar #3 with the Ceramics in. The water became clearer, had no bugs, no sediment settled out of the water and had no odor. Quite frankly, if I had to I would drink from jar #3. Jar#2 with the AEM remained brown, but relatively odorless, but didn’t seem to be clearing up. Just before the lower photo was taken I added 50 EM Type-K Ceramic beads to it to see what would happen, and indeed the murkiness cleared, but the water is still tinged brown, probably from the molasses.

What isn’t too clear from the photo is that the control jar–#1–deteriorated quite a bit. The water inside became cloudy, more greenish brown, slightly viscous, and had more bugs in it. Again, no sediment settled out, everything remained in suspension.

My immediate conclusion is that whatever properties the Type-K Ceramic beads have on the water condition of this pond could possibly help clear it up. I will be devising a filtration device to add to the ponds pumping system to cycle the water through a chamber of these beads. What I am not clear on is how many beads will be needed to affect approximately 8000 gallons of water and for how long it would last. Certainly with lab facilities behind this project the organic matter in the water could be identified and the reduction thereof could be tested, but with only a simple microscope and some highschool biology there isn’t much more science we can do other than observational. However, if we can affect a change in this pond without spending much money, and involving no lab work I think it could be a model for helping other people in similar situations with similar budgets.

Results of the filtration device will follow.

Technorati Tags: EM, effective microbes, EM Ceramics, type-k, ponds, pond water, water treatment, experiment

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