EM (Efficient Microbes)

I was wondering if anyone had used this, if it was helpful, what is the best way to apply, ect. I just started making some up as supplement to take for myself, as its the cheapest way to get a well recommended probiotic, but it says agricultural use, so thought I'd ask my gardening forums. :)

http://www.scdworld.com/product.cfm?product_id=040101

Christina Cat

I have no idea? I looked and read the product info though. If it says you can take it orally, nad you have already ordered it, then give it a try. The only culutres i saw in the ingredient list are lactic cultures. The one I take "contains 10 certified non-toxic cultures labeled as Class 1 agents"
http://www.gohtn.net/productdetail/1050.asp

You might get more response in the healthy Living forum, if you haven't already posted there. Edited to say, I reread you post, and think I understand your question better. You are already taking it for yourself and wanted to know how it would work in the garden? So my answer is of no help, sorry. I have never used any probiotics in the garden. I use beneficial microbes though. It is called aqua-nu with Iodine.

This message was edited Apr 7, 2005 7:46 PM

Hi there - I have never had much luck with routine composting. My bins never heat up and my husband complains about the smell that our under the sink compost vege container acquired. So I decided to try "bokashi" composting. I bought EM, activated them, mixed them with bran, then added veges etc and buried the product all over the yard (I havent mentioned this to any neighbors mind you). I got instructions from http://www.cityfarmer.org/bokashi.html So far, it has worked well. The instructions with the EM also talked about activating some and just putting it in the garden but, I havent had the time to try that. I dont know what its supposed to do anyway. To my nose the EM are most likely some type of yeast but I dont know for sure. Whatever they are, they change organic waste into soil pretty quickly with a smell more like really strong rising bread than sewage. Please let us know if you try the EM straight or activated on your garden and what the results are!

anyone got results?

Please check the soil and composting threads, there's several threads on there discussing the use of this type of soil supplement.

I'm activating a gallon at the moment. It has about a week before it's ready. My garden loves it. My drains like it. My worms love the Bokashi.

Here are the links to the two threads in the Soil & Composting forum:

http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/802294/

http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/796403/