Homemade Bokashi Part 2

Ok, an update to my little experiment. My first attempt to propagate beneficial microbes was a FAIL because the rice wash that I used contained chlorine!

Take note of the protein, carbohydrate & fat residues floating at the surface & the bottom  indicated by the arrows. The circle is where the liquid is. 

In my first attempt, the protein, carbohydrate and fat (PCF) just became lumpy residues. In my second attempt, I took a cup of rice and then mixed it with 2 cups of rain water. That was on 4 July 2011. On 12 July 2011, I mixed 200 ml of the rice wash with 2 ltr of milk and look what I found the next day 13 July 2011. Not even 24 hours had passed. 

LOOK AT THAT! Look at the difference. A layer of PCF cake about 2 inches thick floating at the surface and it looked dry! I guess there really is something in the water.

If you're asking why I let the container sit on water, the reason is I don't want ants to come feeding on the milk.

This is another experiment I'm trying suggested by a fellow farmer, Abang Mat. This liquid is molasses mixed with a bottle of Vitagen which contained Lactobacillus Acidophilus. I'm propagating the bacteria, the molasses is food for the bacteria. 

As suggested by Abang Mat, I invested on a RM9/- aquarium air pump and aerated the molasses. More update coming soon.

Homemade Bokashi Brew explained.

I didn't expect my post about Homemade Bokashi to receive so much interest. Comments/questions made by Abang Mat, Lee and my Aunt Tina got me thinking about the whole workings of the process. I got the recipe for the concoction over the internet but said instruction did not explain the reason behind the process. So I decided to look under the hood. If I am going to be a successful modern farmer, then I would have to understand the process and the scientific aspects of farming. Therefore today, I put away my pitch fork, my straw hat and dived in to my research.  

One particular farmer/scientist who hails from the Philippines has been particularly helpful. In fact, I think the recipe came from him but others (and soon myself) started spreading the love around but always gave credit to him. His name is Gil Carandang. 

Homemade Bokashi Part 1

I found this "recipe" for Bokashi online and decided to try/experiment with it. I have started to propagate other vegetables and fruits at my farm. Therefore, if I can make my own fertilizers, that would certainly bring down my operating cost.

The things that were required according to the "recipe" are rice, non-chlorinated water, milk and molasses. I put the rice into the water and washed them. Then I remove the rice and kept the water in a cool and dark place for five days. I did not cover the lit of the container that I used to store the water. 

When I checked the water on the 5th day, I noticed that there were bubbles on the surface of the water and that the water itself was whitish in colour. I guess the fermenting process was working. I wonder whether there are any beneficial microbes in the water? Too bad I don't have a microscope.

I bought 2 litres of milk for the first stage. 

Pour them into this container.

The ratio for water and milk is 1 part water and 10 parts milk. So in this case, I have 2 litres of milk. Hence, I mixed 200 mililitres of rice water or water. 

200 ml of rice water. Noticed the whitish colour of the water.

Mixed milk with rice water and store them in a cool and dark place. 

I didn't tighten the lid, just placed it on top of the bottle. My mushroom house finally has its use.

Now all I have to do is just checked it again on 7 July 2011. Let's see what monster will grow in them.

My Chili Farm - Brian's last day

It has been 2 weeks, a busy and productive 2 weeks thanks to Brian; my HelpX volunteer from the U.S.A.

I just sent him off just now, he is on his way to Sipitang and tomorrow, he will be making his way to some secluded village in Sipitang named Ulu Bul. Seriously, I didn't even know that there was such a village. I know of Long Pasia but Ulu Bul? Clueless.

My Chili Farm - Attack of the wrinkly leaves

Did I mention in my last post that I am replanting all my chili plants to the local variety of the Cili Padi(Bird's Eye chili)? Yes I am. I would have transplanted at least 300 of them by now, if some pest did not devour all of them! Yes, all of them! The mysterious pesky pest didn't even leave a single seedling for me!

It's true about our local farming taboo, they say you shouldn't curse or scold when some pest disturb your crops because they will come back with a vengeance! So when you are at the field or your farm and you notice that one of your crops has been 'disturbed' by let's say, a monkey, you are just to shoo it away but no scolding or cursing or doing anything beyond what is necessary. Otherwise, that monkey will come back with more monkeys and do worse damage. Some Oil Palm growers swear by this taboo.

Garama Wetland FTW!

I became an 'accidental tourist' today and I am glad I was game enough for it because I was rewarded visually with nature's splendor!

If you are my twitter friends, you would know that I have been preoccupied with hosting my French 'helper' these past few days. She found me via www.helpx.net , it is a portal that connects farm owners who are willing to offer accommodation, meal and their hospitality, with budget travelers who are willing to work for farm owners in exchange for what the farm owners are offering.

Chili growing via Hydroponic versus Fertigasi

Ok, this post is meant to be exploratory in nature. Exploratory for me :P. I hope a good kind reader will help enlighten me.

I subscribe to www.fatalii.net mailing list and I saw this cultivation system in their website, chili growing by Hydroponic! I am familiar with hydroponic but I did not know that you can grow chili this way too?!