Recycled Organic Living Soil (ROLS) and No Till Thread

Rrog...have you tried the rice wash fermenting? Looks like a super cheap and natural way of compost starter and deodorizer! Lactic acid bacteria for pennies. No luck on the BIM hunt. Maybe I'm just a BIM BUM. Soil around here is cement. Just going to start my own compost bin. Gonna call it my BIM BIN.
 
Rrog said:
That wasn't me you're quoting. Collecting microbes with rice is something I've always advocated.
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Actually you like'd the following post to my question....

  • My understanding is that the first phase of the process collects a whole lot of random micro-organisms. The second phase doesn't just multiply them; it selects the ones which perform well in the conditions you provide (sugar-loving things in the case of molasses, or lacto-fermenting ones if you give them milk). You can also select for aerobic or anaerobic life with short or long fermentation times, and the use of air pumps or lids on vessels.

    While you could skip the second step, you would be providing fewer organisms, and you might get a higher ratio of some sorts you don't want.​


    Last edited by viewer1020; 09-09-2013 at 02:32 AM.​
    Rrog and Mohican like this.




 
So from what I have read here EWC`s from a worm bin are better quality than out of the bag. Obviously cheaper. Are they the same fine, granular type consistency or chunkier?
 
Have 2 seedlings indoors, 2.5 gal container, in a cabinet less than 3'hx2'x2' using 3 CFL's 75w w/ clamp reflectors on each bulb. First time indoor grow; sowed 5 seeds and 4 germinated however lost 2 weaker seedlings to damping off unfortunately. The seeds were the free samples included in pack. Soil used is organic outdoor topsoil, unbaked, sourced from a backyard that has been left to succession for at least 5-7 years; weedy and local annual plant populations dominate small habitat. Recently amended the soil in the container through surface mulching by adding frozen organic cannabis fan leaves along with 1 whole organic browned banana peel; covered soil lightly on top. Plan on FIMing, topping, and possibly LSTing to maximize yield and canopy density in the small grow space allotted. Wondering how one should add molasses to the soil to boost beneficial microbial (bacterial) populations, and also wondering how one should introduce aloe vera plant cytoplasm/gel to benefit the plants. Replies will be greatly appreciated, as I am new to the RIU boards yet have some experience with plant ecology and am always looking to learn. Stay organic, think globally and act locally! Peace
 
alien mushroomhead said:
So from what I have read here EWC`s from a worm bin are better quality than out of the bag. Obviously cheaper. Are they the same fine, granular type consistency or chunkier?
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The ones I pick up from the local place are less refined. Definitely chunkier, but if a person wanted to go to work on them they could. I layed mine out in the sun on a brown tarp for a couple of hours, it dried them to the point where they could be processed a bit more.
 
Your own EWC is better and here's why- Your product is actually Vermicompost. Not pure castings. Pure castings don't have nearly all the goodness of nearly-completed VC. Castings have generally been run through the worms several times, and this is like over-baking a cake. More processing than we want.

Plus commercial castings for sure aren't fed the diet that you would. So as good a product as bagged castings is, it's nothing compared to what you would make. You would make the best VC available.
 
Anyone have advice on growing with straight coco and all/mostly organic teas?! My soil isn't ready yet so I want to use what I have on hand. Rep for good advice...unless it's Rrog the rep hog lol.
 
Rrog said:
Your own EWC is better and here's why- Your product is actually Vermicompost. Not pure castings. Pure castings don't have nearly all the goodness of nearly-completed VC. Castings have generally been run through the worms several times, and this is like over-baking a cake. More processing than we want.

Plus commercial castings for sure aren't fed the diet that you would. So as good a product as bagged castings is, it's nothing compared to what you would make. You would make the best VC available.
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Hi Rrog,

Say couldn't one effectively obtain EWC using a hole in their back yard. I understand red wriggler is the best and I am willing to introduce them if there aren't that many native ones around. But here is my question by back yard, why would I need to build an bin above ground and try to keep it right temp environment. Should I not be able to somehow use the ground as my bin as a free range bin for my worms. My thinking is if the area in the ground is designated as a composting bin but with free access to all the critters in the soil, couldn't one maintain a hospitable natural bin using the ground some sort of tray collection buried a foot or two down with maybe a hand pump to pump casting fluid. Just trying to think how I can produce my own EWC using resources readily available and to ensure right enviroment why not build a bin what utilizes the ground which worms already live in...?
 
DANKSWAG said:
Hi Rrog,

Say couldn't one effectively obtain EWC using a hole in their back yard. I understand red wriggler is the best and I am willing to introduce them if there aren't that many native ones around. But here is my question by back yard, why would I need to build an bin above ground and try to keep it right temp environment. Should I not be able to somehow use the ground as my bin as a free range bin for my worms. My thinking is if the area in the ground is designated as a composting bin but with free access to all the critters in the soil, couldn't one maintain a hospitable natural bin using the ground some sort of tray collection buried a foot or two down with maybe a hand pump to pump casting fluid. Just trying to think how I can produce my own EWC using resources readily available and to ensure right enviroment why not build a bin what utilizes the ground which worms already live in...?
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You could most certainly pull something like that off, but you'd have to put some thought in to controlling predators (birds, raccoons,etc), and you also have to account for environmental factors. Your worm-bunker won't be very productive in sweltering summer heat, or cold winter temps. Indoors you can keep the elements as close to ideal as possible. It would be cool to try for sure though.
 
What are some thoughts on sowing a couple pre-soaked (in h2o) seeds directly into the plants main and final container [2.5g], as the soil in that container is R.O.L.S.? The strain is Master Kush
 
ROLS needs bigger pots. 15 gallon is a good starting size. You have less of a safety buffer with smaller pots. Gotta watch things more closely.
 
What and how much do you guys use for drainage/aeration? Since I'm cooking up some good BIM I'd like to know how to properly water my little precious microbes. I've always used 1/3 perlite mix with good results.
 
The traditional ROLS recipies generally have a 1/3 aeration, 1/3 humus, 1/3 peat ratio. Roughly. I have used the giant Perlite / giant Vermiculite route, and that works well, but I really like pumice and lava rock. Biochar acts as a smaller aeration amendment also.
 
Rrog said:
The traditional ROLS recipies generally have a 1/3 aeration, 1/3 humus, 1/3 peat ratio. Roughly. I have used the giant Perlite / giant Vermiculite route, and that works well, but I really like pumice and lava rock. Biochar acts as a smaller aeration amendment also.
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I watched a video on biochar the other day. Kewl stuff bro. Ever use rice hulls?
 
I have not. Looking into alternatives to Peat that are not finite. I'm no coco fan, so rice hulls looms as a candidate.
 
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