Beneficial Indigenous Micro-Organisms or BIM

Thought a thread on this subject would be cool. Especially for those serious about No-till/ ROLS /permaculture / etc etc


Do not be demoralize on all the readings i or others will be posting !

Any advise or ideas adding to BIM would be great!!!
Pictures from peoples experiences would be very help full!!

Here are some links on the subject

Video

Short but informative
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=4WHzrQS72So&desktop_uri=/watch?v=4WHzrQS72So

More in detail
http://vimeo.com/m/16647170

Websites on BIM

http://www.plantingjustice.org/resources/urban-permaculture/homemade-fertilizer-and-insect-repellants/beneficial-indigenous-micro-organisms

https://www.google.com/search?client=safari&hl=en&ei=GHOrUs2XHcemygHztICIBQ&q=beneficial+indigenous+organisms&oq=ben&gs_l=mobile-gws-serp.1.0.41j0l4.995801.996194.0.997580.4.4.0.1.1.0.300.1102.2-3j1.4.0.eprnk,addre=collection...0...1.1.32.mobile-gws-serp..0.4.820.CKnlkNbkfmM

Very informative PDF files on BIM

http://www.ctahr.hawaii.edu/oc/freepubs/pdf/BIO-9.pdf

http://hkpi.webs.com/Indigenous Micro-organism(Phil).pdf

this not my information! This was taken from pdf file http://hkpi.webs.com/Indigenous%20Micro-organism(Phil).pdf

Collecting microorganisms from the environment

Microorganisms (microbes) may be cultured at any time of the year; however, avoid wet, rainy seasons. Excessive moisture in the environment promotes growth of fungi that are less desirable for the intended uses.
How time-consuming is it to collect these microbes?
The collection process takes approximately 4–5 days in cooler weather (about 68°F, 20°C) and 3–4 days under warmer conditions (> 68°F, 20°C).


Where are the best places to collect microorganisms?


Beneficial microbes are highly concentrated under un- disturbed forests or other vegetated areas. Combining microbes collected from multiple sites will likely result in a more robust culture.
Collection materials are relatively inexpensive and read- ily obtainable.


When is the best time to collect microorganisms?


Microorganisms (microbes) may be cultured at any time of the year; however, avoid wet, rainy seasons. Excessive moisture in the environment promotes growth of fungi that are less desirable for the intended uses.

What collection supplies will I need?

Collection materials are relatively inexpensive and read- ily obtainable.
• a small wooden box, 12 x 12 x 4 inches deep, prefer-
What collection supplies will I need?
ably made of cedar (photo 1)
• steamed white rice
• white paper towels, enough to cover the wooden box • two to four large rubber bands
• a sheet of clear plastic, large enough to completely
cover the wooden box
• 1⁄4-inch mesh wire screen large enough to completely
cover the wooden box.

How are collection supplies assembled?


Fill the wooden box with 3 inches of steamed rice (photo 2). Cover the box with white paper towel, being careful not to let the towel touch the rice (photo 3). There should be an inch or so of air space between the rice the paper towel. Use rubber bands around the top of the box to secure the paper towel in place.
Cover the top of the box with wire screen (photo 4) to prevent animals from tampering with the rice. Top the wire with a sheet of clear plastic to protect the box from rain, and place it under trees or in another secluded area. The box should not be in direct sunlight.
Partially bury the box in the soil (photo 5). It should be buried at least 2 inches deep for best results.
Cover the box with fallen leaves from the harvest loca- tion (photo 6). Anchor the plastic sheet on all sides with small rocks to prevent it from being dislodged by wind.
Leave the box undisturbed for a minimum of 4–5 days. After that time, check to see whether the moist rice is covered with white mold. If mold growth is sparse, re-cover the box and wait an additional 2–3 days before re-checking. If the mold is a color other than white (other colors indicate growth of less effective fungi) or if rain has entered the box, the contents should be discarded and the process repeated.


Culturing the microorganisms
Once the desired microbes have been collected, the next step is to increase their numbers.


What materials are necessary for culturing?


The basic supplies for microbe culturing are
• a clean clay pot (hard-fired, glazed, or terra cotta)
• a wooden spoon
• white paper towels
• rubber bands
• a large clear bowl, big enough to hold contents of rice
medium waste.
mixture
• a small food scale
• a straw mat
• a shovel
• a composting thermometer
• raw, granulated brown sugar
• wheat mill run* or, if available, mushroom growth

How are the materials assembled to cultivate microbes?


1) Weigh and record the weight of the large bowl.
2) Use the wooden spoon to move the molded rice from
the wooden box into the bowl (photos 7, . Weigh the filled bowl and calculate the weight of the rice mass by subtracting the weight of the empty bowl from the filled bowl.
3) Gradually add an amount of granulated brown sugar equal to the weight of the rice mass (photo 9). Hand- knead the sugar and rice until the material has the consistency of gooey molasses (photo 10). Protective gloves are suggested.
4) Fill the clean clay pot two-thirds full with the rice/ sugar mixture (photos 11, 12). Cover it with paper towel secured in place with rubber bands (photo 13).
5) Store the pot in a cool area away from direct sunlight for 7 days. This will allow the mixture to ferment. 6) Working in a shaded area (photo 14), add a small
amount of water to the fermented rice mixture in a 1:500 ratio. Then, slowly blend in wheat mill run (or used mushroom medium) until mixture is of semi-moist but not wet consistency (roughly 65–70% moisture) (photos 15–17).
7) Place a mound of the mixture on a soil surface and cover it with the straw mat or leaves, protecting it from sunlight (photo 1. Allow the microbes to propagate for 7 days. Periodically examine the external surface of the pile for white mold growth, monitor internal temperature of the pile with a composting thermom- eter so as not to exceed 122°F (50°C), and turn the pile with a shovel (a minimum of three to four times during the week) to keep fermentation temperatures from getting too high.
When the fermentation process is finished, internal temperature will stabilize, indicating cultivation is

finished. Your culture of naturally occurring micro- organisms is now ready for use (photos 19, 20).


Application

What do I do with the fermented mixture?


Dilute the final product (1 to 1 by volume) with soil and incorporate this mixture into the surface soil as a top- dressing for crop production, or add it to your compost pile. This biological soil amendment is expected to en- hance soil microorganism activity.

For more information, please contact the author ([email protected]).


Acknowledgments
The project team thanks the Farm Pilot Project Coor- dination, Inc (FPPC) and the CTAHR Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Project for providing funding for the production of this publication. The team also thanks Ruth Niino-DuPonte, Glenn Sako, Luisa Castro, and Piper Selden, and Jim Hollyer for their constructive comments and suggestions.


organisms (EM) and waste management systems in future directions for on-site systems: Best management practice. Proceedings of the On-site ’03 Conference, University of New England, Lanfax Laboratories Armidale. ISBN 0-9579438-1-4 p. 347–354.


References
Kyu, Cho Han. Natural farming. 2003. Janong Natural Farming Institute, Chungbuk, Republic of Korea. Szmanski, N., and R.A. Patterson. 2003. Effective micro-
Mazzola, M. 2004. Influence of plant genotype on de- velopment of interactions with non-symbiotic plant beneficial soil microorganisms. Research Signpost: Research Developments in Agricultural and Food Chemistry. 37:103–122.
Kirk, J.L., L.A. Beaudette, M. Hart, P. Moutoglis, J.N. Klironomos, H. Lee, and J.T. Trevors. 2004. Methods of studying soil microbial diversity. Journal of Micro- biological Methods 58:169–188.

For my personal experience,
i took a hiking trip to Julian San Diego, i chose this spot because i know there is many deciduous trees and some un touched parts where the wild is still wild. Plus its local for me

i found a old growth oak tree and collected leaf litter that was a couple feet deep,
i then dug up a hole near the tree and collected some humus that was black in color with a great smell.
i used all this and sinply dumped it in my containers.
Thus far everything looks great.
im planning on going back to julian but this time imply what is posted above

foreverflyhi said:

For my personal experience,
i took a hiking trip to Julian San Diego, i chose this spot because i know there is many deciduous trees and some un touched parts where the wild is still wild. Plus its local for me

i found a old growth oak tree and collected leaf litter that was a couple feet deep,
i then dug up a hole near the tree and collected some humus that was black in color with a great smell.
i used all this and sinply dumped it in my containers.
Thus far everything looks great.
im planning on going back to julian but this time imply what is posted above

Click to expand...

I've done the same thing here, collecting dirt and leaf litter. I just dumped it all into my worm bin though.


Nice thread and good info. When I started on the whole making and growing your own nutes. I had no idea what people meant when they were saying bim, So this should help out the newbie organic heads quite a bit. the pics help wit the rice wash too. I know when Red did it he was asking Rrog all kinds of questions along the whole process..

^^^^^I have also done this....lucky im surrounded by beautiful native forests and undisturbed soil (until me and my shovel arrived.. )

Great thread by the way.

hyroot said:

I've done the same thing here, collecting dirt and leaf litter. I just dumped it all into my worm bin though.


Nice thread and good info. When I started on the whole making and growing your own nutes. I had no idea what people meant when they were saying bim, So this should help out the newbie organic heads quite a bit. the pics help wit the rice wash too. I know when Red did it he was asking Rrog all kinds of questions along the whole process..

Click to expand...

Nice i also forgot to mention i threw some leaf litter that i collected from Jullian in my compost

Chronikool said:

^^^^^I have also done this....lucky im surrounded by beautiful native forests and undisturbed soil (until me and my shovel arrived.. )


Great thread by the way.

Click to expand...

Lucky! I have to drive hours too find undisturbed nature, worth it tho!
more info coming soon!

Great post!

(Not my research, credit goes too http://hkpi.webs.com/Indigenous Micro-organism(Phil).pdf)


Lacto Bacilli
One of the major workhorse beneficial indigenous microorganism used in natural farming is lacto bacilli. This particular beneficial microorganism is popularly used in composting that specifically arrest foul odors associated with anaerobic decomposition bacteria thrive and feed on the ammonia released in the decomposition normally associated with foul odors. So if you need to decompose or ferment wastes less foul odors, lactic acid bacteria is the specific bacteria to use. Its application in organic farming is enormous. Lactic acid bacteria is specially used in natural piggery. Pigs are allowed to roam their pens where the floors (substrate) are made of compost, soil and other organic matter like sawdust, sprayed with lactic acid bacteria serum. There is no need to clean up the pens of excretions and urines. The lactic acid bacteria do the “cleansing”. They convert these wastes into unharmful ones through this natural way of decomposition. So there is no need to clean and no need to worry about foul odors. Another application is for raising organic chickens. The serum is diluted and added to water and feeds of the chickens. With the lactic acid bacteria intake of the chickens, it helps better assimilation of nutrients of feeds through better breakdown of food, thus, more nutritious food extraction. Likewise, in aquaculture, one of the problem is related to water quality. Poor water quality stresses the fish which in turn stunts their growth and affects their health. This is very evident specially on high density and tank aquaculture. The ammonia produced through fish excretions pollute the water and stress the fish. With regular addition of this beneficial microorganisms to the water, this ammonia problem is minimized, if not fully arrested. It helps hasten or complete the denitrification or converting wastes into forms not harmful to fish.
Spraying diluted solution of lactic acid bacteria serum to the plant and soil helps plant growth and makes them more healthy. As it is applied to the soil or the leaves, these beneficial bacteria aid in the decomposition process, thus allowing more food to be available and assimilated by the plant.
Lactic acid bacteria is also known to produce enzymes and natural antibiotics aiding effective digestion and has antibacterial properties, including control of salmonella and e. coli. To farmers, what are observed are the general health of the plants and animals, better nutrient assimilation, feed conversion and certain toxins eliminations.
Here’s a simple method of collecting this type of microorganism. Lactic acid bacteria can be collected from the air. Pour rice wash (solution generated when you wash the rice with water) on a container like plastic pot with lid. Allow air gap at least 50-75% of the container. The key here is the air space. Cover the (not vacuum tight, allowing air still to move into the container) container with lid loosely. Put the container in a quiet area with no direct sunlight. Allow the rice was to ferment for at least 5-7 days. Lactic acid bacteria will gather in 5-7 days when temperature is 20-25 degrees C. Rice bran will be separated and float in the liquid, like a thin film, smelling sour. Strain and simply get the liquid. Put this liquid in a bigger container and pour ten parts milk. The original liquid has been infected with different type of microbes including lacto bacilli. And in order to get the pure lacto bacilli, saturation of milk will eliminate the other microorganisms and the pure lacto bacilli will be left. You may use skim or powdered milk, although fresh milk is best. In 5-7 days, carbohydrate, protein and fat will float leaving yellow liquid (serum), which contain the lactic acid bacteria. You can dispose the coagulated carbohydrate, protein and fat, add them to your compost pile or feed them to your animals. The pure lactic acid bacteria serum can be stored in the refrigerator or simply add equal amount of crude sugar (dilute with 1/3 water) or molasses. Do not use refined sugar as they are chemically bleached and may affect the lactic acid bacteria. The sugar or molasses will keep the lactic acid bacteria alive at room temperature. One to one ratio is suggested although sugar, regardless of quantity is meant simply, serving as food for the bacteria to keep them alive. Now, these lactic acid bacteria serum with sugar or molasses will be your pure culture. To use, you can dilute this pure culture with 20 parts water. Make sure water is not chemically treated with, like chlorine. Remember, we are dealing with live microorganisms and chlorine can kill them. This diluted form 1:20 ratio will be your basic lactic acid bacteria concoction. Two to four tablespoons added to water of one gallon can be used as your basic spray and can be added to water and feeds of animals. For bigger animals, the 2-4 tablespoons of this diluted lactic acid bacteria serum should be used without diluting it further with water. Lactic acid bacteria serum can be applied to plant leaves to fortify phyllosphere microbes, to soil and compost. Of course, it will help improve digestion and nutrient assimilation for animals and other applications mentioned before. For any kind of imbalance, be it in the soil or digestive system, lacto bacilli can be of help.
One of the popular beneficial microorganism inoculant from Japan contains lactic acid bacteria as its major component, including photosynthetic bacteria, yeasts, actinomycetes and fermenting fungi. These are pure culture imported from Japan and can be subcultured through the use of sugar or molasses. These other microbes can be cultured in several ways by farmers themselves.

Forest Beneficial Microorganisms
One technique in culturing other beneficial microorganism is getting them fro your local aged forest. One way is finding a healthy old robust tree in your local forest. Check the humus litter around the tree. The tree should have accumulated real deep humus, litter, compost of at least 2 feet to 1 yard deep. In this area through observation, we can deduce that soil fertility and microbial biodiversity are high. Our goal is to trap and culture these diversed, aged beneficial indigenous microorganisms. The technique that we use in trapping these microorganisms is the use of carbohydrate like cooked rice. Microorganisms will be attracted to food. So generally, what we do is to put the cooked rice on a flatter container with lid. For example, you can use a plastic lunch box and add about an inch of cooked rice allowing air space in the container. What is important here is a larger area to trap those microorganisms. It is suggested that you cover this container with metal netting or equivalent protecting it from animals like rats that may undig your container once you bury it in the litter, humus of your local forest. In 2-10 days (relative to temperature), you may undig your container and will notice contamination of microorganisms like white and other color molds on the cooked rice. The cooked rice has been infected now with microorganisms of your local forest. The next step is to add 1/3 amount of crude sugar or molasses to the infected cooked rice. After a week, the concoction will look like sticky, liquidy rice. You may then add equal amount of crude sugar or molasses to keep it for storage, arresting microbial activities, in a cooler area. To use, you may dilute this serum with 20 parts water. This diluted form shall then serve as your basic forest microorganisms. You may strain it and put in a container.Another version of trapping similar forest microorganisms is simply getting the litter, humus and spreading them sparingly to the top your cooked rice. Forest leaf molds can also be used. The same procedure will be followed as described in the culture of local forest microorganisms.

I have BM and LAB results from about the last 4 years.

I use all kinds of crazy methods, my favorites are to culture homemade pickle, asparagus and beer juice [sadly, I don't drink other than to taste my concoctions, but I brew small batches of beer and wine for my uncle, when he asks.

Then innoculate milk just like the LAB, each type presents a different solution, fuck I need my chemistry set back.

I have been trying rice milk recently, but it just stinks like shit and doesn't separate, not surprising as it lacks lactose, but something is happening...other sugars do exist.

never been so grossed out and intrigued at the same time. lol. great thread. ima try this and throw samples under a microscope to see what i collected.

Abiqua said:

I have BM and LAB results from about the last 4 years.

I use all kinds of crazy methods, my favorites are to culture homemade pickle, asparagus and beer juice [sadly, I don't drink other than to taste my concoctions, but I brew small batches of beer and wine for my uncle, when he asks.

Then innoculate milk just like the LAB, each type presents a different solution, fuck I need my chemistry set back.

I have been trying rice milk recently, but it just stinks like shit and doesn't separate, not surprising as it lacks lactose, but something is happening...other sugars do exist.

Click to expand...

i feel u, possibilities are endless! Amazing what nature can do.

dannyboy602 said:

never been so grossed out and intrigued at the same time. lol. great thread. ima try this and throw samples under a microscope to see what i collected.

Click to expand...

Haha yup organics can be a little gross and heavy work, but its a lifestyle that is well worth it

speaking of microscopes, whats a good one thats worth the price?

Another method of gathering microorganism is through burying your container with cooked rice on bamboo plants litter. Apparently, bamboo through observation and experience in the East, attracts powerful beneficial microorganisms as the roots of the bamboo exude sugary substances that attract beneficial microorganisms. The same procedure is followed as described before in its culture.

Taken from website http://www.plantingjustice.org/resources/urban-permaculture/homemade-fertilizer-and-insect-repellants/beneficial-indigenous-micro-organisms

Mycorrhizal fungi are an essential part of healthy organic living soil structure and have an incredible symbiotic relationship with plants. They live in the root zones of plants and feed off of other microbes, called nematodes, and convert them to usable nutrients. They act as a sort of glue, holding soil particles and water in a way that creates plenty of air space.
We will collect mycorrhizal fungi from a healthy ecosystem to use in our garden. By inoculating the root tips of plants we want to propagate or transplant out into the garden, we can stimulate root growth and help the plant’s roots quickly recover from shock we may cause during the transplanting process. In addition, by increasing the amount of m.r. fungi in our soils, we won’t need to water our garden nearly as often, as m.r. fungi fill up like balloons with water to store it for when roots need it most.
HOW TO COLLECT IT
Cook the rice you washed for the lacto bacilli. Spread a thin layer of rice onto the bottom of a wide, shallow pan. Put a wire barrier over the pan to keep out rodents and cheese cloth on top of that to keep dirt and bugs off. Then, go find a healthy system, using your eyes and nose to feel out a microbe hot-spot. In this area, you may seek out a particularly old, healthy oak or alder tree to collect m.r. fungi
Collect leaf litter and soil from a foot beneath the ground, and take this litter back to your rice pan, piling the it on top of the wire and cheese cloth. Keep it on the ground in the shade, keeping it moist if it is very hot outside. After 7 days, peek under the cheesecloth, and you should find a colorful array of fungi growing on your rice. Remove and discard the leaf litter, scrape the rice into a 5 gallon bucket, and add raw sugar (1 part sugar to 3 parts rice). Fill bucket with water.
USES
Use as a root soak. Strain and dilute it 1:20 with non-chlorinated water.

If you are propagating a specific plant, collect leaf litter from an especially healthy specimen of that same plant species. For example, if you are growing blueberries, colonize your rice with m.r. fungi from a healthy blueberry plant, add molasses, and use as a root soak to inoculate new blueberry transplants.


Here are some other useful plants you may want to collect m.r. fungi from:
Fava Root: Dig up the roots and surrounding soil of healthy favas. Put in a 5 gallon bucket. Add 1/3 molasses to fava volume, and fill with water. Let it sit for 10 days to brew. Then, strain out solids. You can dilute this solution 20:1 with water and add to your indigenous m.r. fungi solution as part of your root soak.

Bamboo: very active microbes. Collect leaf litter and colonize your rice with m.r. fungi from a healthy bamboo plant, and then use their incredible digestion properties in your grey-water system.

Time for a update.

lets start with my adventures of collecting BIM locally, then the process of making it and using it.then ill go on to how to make lacto bacilli, and how to use it. Both of these go perfectly with each other so we can knock to birds with one stone.


This is very imortant, First off, i got a cup of rice, let it sit in a mason jar of water for a couple hours, next collect the rice to cook and KEEP the milky left over water in the mason jar from the rice! This is for the lacto process.

cook the rice as u would normally, then add rice to any type of container with at least 20% air space, this is essential for micro growth. In my case i used a plastic container, it haves a lid with cheese cloth as well as tiny holes thru out the container.

Dug up a hole near a untouched bamboo grove, place container in hole, add a bunch of bamboo leaves on top, come back and check up in a week, repeat process in other strategic locations, especially where its rich in humus and fungi.



in about two weeks, it should look colinated with white fuzz and other mold colors, black is the color u do not want. These are the captured micros from the bamboo and old growth tree


use this colinated rice and use brown raw sugar equal parts to the rice. Use gloves and keep mixing until it gets a sticky clay silk look.

ferment for about 2weeks


use this ferment and throw it in either your compost as is, or worm casting as is, or we can do it the korean way and add this mix to a substrate like mill rye, let it compost and top dress or use via water drench 50-1

in my case i used this ferment and dillited it to about 500-1 and added it to my raised garden beds, i also added about a cup to 5 gallons of this dilluted form into my ROLS indoor garden. (Yes plants responded with postive reaction.)

Keep in mind that these ratios can be adjusted according and dont have to be spot on, the beauty of organics is that it has plenty of space for it to do its magic

more info in this thread about this!

Onward to the LACTO!

ok so we saved the mason jar of that milky white water left over from the rice.

Leave the mason jar about 20% air space, put a paper towel on top,

leave this mason jar on top of your fridge. Let it sit for about a week

after a week, ur mason jar fill of this milky water is now colinated with lacto, if you look closley theres a bottom layer, top layer, and a water milky in between those two layers, we want to collect the middle part, for this is where the concentrated lacto is. (pic is after I collected middle portion


We then use this and dillute with milk, 20-1



We again put this on top of the fridge and wait a week, in a week or so u will notice a cheese layer on top, u can feed this to your worms, compost or in my case my chickens and cat.


Collect the water strain it put it in a fridge, will last about A year as long as its refrigerated. If u dont want this in your fridge, add 20 parts mollasses or brown sugar, this will also last years.

Dillute this 20-1


LAST BUT NOT LEAST
NEEDS TO B DILLUTED ONCE MORE, WITH THIS DILLUTED FORM DILLUTE TO ABOU 4TBS PER GALLON. you can foliar and or drench soil, lacto helps break down nutrient so it can become available!

more info on lacto 1st page in this thread!