Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
Once your EM or activated EM has been diluted in water — often referred to as “ex-
tending” the EM — and mixed with any optional biostimulants, it should be used within a
few hours. It's generally recommended to mix it again with equal parts unsulfured
molasses, even though this was also done during the activation stage. This gives the mi-
crobes some sugar to work with when they get into the garden.
I also apply it with the biostimulants discussed in an upcoming chapter, most com-
monly some mixture of sea minerals, kelp, fish and humic acids. A recipe is coming up in
the final chapter that can be applied to both the soil and directly onto the plants. EM can
also be sprayed on compost, ponds, and buildings, and even on pets and livestock. It's en-
tirely safe for people and animals to enter the areas after spraying.
You can see that EM provides many of the same benefits as compost tea, but it's differ-
ent. It's a mixture of only a handful of species of mostly facultative anaerobic microbes,
but they just happen to be very important species, especially when mixed together in the
right proportions. The shelf life is quite long and the quality of the product is fairly con-
sistent.
With compost tea, on the other hand, we're going for maximum diversity, with as many
different species of aerobic and facultative anaerobic microbes as possible. The shelf life
is very short and the finished product more variable. Incidentally, I always put some EM
in my compost tea when I'm brewing, at two tablespoons per five gallons. This is not only
to make sure those microbes are there, but more to hopefully fill up any anaerobic pockets
with these facultative anaerobes that can live there.
I generally recommend EM over compost tea as a starting point for most gardeners be-
cause it's much less expensive and easier to get started. I use both and the serious garden-
er may eventually want to, as well.
