Paulns,

Saving money and still getting the same or better results is my idea of fun.

I am not so sure about using more yeast; may be too much of a vitamin input for the brew. I am thinking more on the lines of using some other source of protein. Some foods that come to mind are different kinds of (raw) beans or seeds. Since the brew only calls for 5 (five) tablespoons, it shouldnÂt take very much to replace the Maxigrow. Of course any kind of "feed meal" will work (alfalfa, soy, cottonseed); as too pinto, black, or kidney beans should serve the purpose. And you did mention you live near fish, fish scraps may work if you can figure out how to get around the smell. The link below may offer some other ideas for protein sources; I trust this helpsÂ

Blutranes

Here is a link that might be useful: High Protein Food Sources

This is from the Gil Caradang piece...on using available fish scraps..

"Fish Amino Acid
As a general rule, the higher the protein of the materials, when composted or fermented, the higher the nitrogen. We use a lot of fish scraps to generate high nitrogen on our fish extracts. Here in the US, fish emulsion is pretty popular. Again, on basic fermentation of this material, we use crude sugar or molasses, third ratio of the fish scraps. I personally like using molasses than crude sugar not just for cost considerations, but molasses minimizes those fishy odors. I have added lactic acid bacteria in fermenting these fish scraps that arrest the foul odors very evident of fish emulsion foliar fertilizer."

I did an experiment after Blutranes arrested his cabbage odors with LB. Poured some LB into some bottled fish emulsion and could actually stick my nose into the measuring cup.

There's also a FAQ about it on the OG forum on GW...but I'm not sure it has the added benefit of odor control from LB.

Here is a link that might be useful: Make your own fish emulsion

Excellent ideas Blutranes, thanks. If I drained and rinsed a couple of cans of cheap - cat treat - tuna from the cupboard, @40 gms protein - probably less, drained - dried it in the dehydrator and used it in the bug juice, would I get a special compost wacko certificate, I wonder.

Raw fish scraps aren't available yet but I'll certainly try making some fish meal this summer using mackeral racks. Thanks for the instructions Penny, I didn't know they were in the FAQ. Also about the LB and molasses.

This bug juice is certainly stirring up a lot of interest here. I'm looking for it to help counteract the slow awakening of the microherd in our gardens during our long cool spring, and to speed up the marriage of sandy soil and high-carbon organic mulch.

Paulns said"

"If I drained and rinsed a couple of cans of cheap - cat treat - tuna from the cupboard, @40 gms protein - probably less, drained - dried it in the dehydrator and used it in the bug juice, would I get a special compost wacko certificate, I wonder."

They have been a little lacking in awarding special certificates around here lately; it might have something to do with prenuptial distractions. I have a plan that if successful is going to deserve another "gold seal" for brilliance IMO.

I plan on buying about ½ pound of seed inoculated with Rhizobium Nitrogen-Fixing Bacteria, grinding the seed up, and then making a fermented BIM (beneficial indigenous microorganism) to use all over the garden. If I can get that bacteria thriving without planting some kind of cover crop it is on like Donkey Kong around here.

Speaking of cheap, you may want to look into making BIM; I must admit the results I have seen so far, in many different types of soils, is impressive. I have been using bug juice for over 8 (eight) years; it has become a yearly ritual brewing up a big batch at the beginning of the season. However, bug juice is going to have company from this point forward, BIM is just as much fun to make, stores longer, is more versatile, and just as effective. If you havenÂt looked into it the link below is a good start IMOÂ

Blutranes

Here is a link that might be useful: Beneficial Indigenous Microorganism (BIM)

Yesssss!!! Go, Blutranes, GO!!!
(Don't forget to post your results .... thanks in advance)
Sunny

I plan on buying about ½ pound of seed inoculated with Rhizobium Nitrogen-Fixing Bacteria, grinding the seed up, and then making a fermented BIM (beneficial indigenous microorganism) to use all over the garden.

Blutranes, nitrogen-fixing bacteria strongly loves neutral PH. In acid medium NF bacteria stop working. In organic gardening it is a big issue even with CO2 and carbon acid. There is one trick of how to get rid of carbon acid from the surface of the soil  long and deep holes in soil when CO2 can go down by them. The cheap way to make them is to grow green manures with long roots previousely. Next year the roots will be rotten and leave empty tubes/holes in soil. Another benefit of long holes in soil is the increased contact of atmosphere with the soil which is always desirable in organic gardening.

Valerie your ideas are a valuable contribution to the discussions here.
You've reminded me, it goes without saying that bug juice and BIM are not substitutes for good organic matter levels, right? And their effectiveness depends on good OM?

About using Lacto bacillus to counteract ammonia - I would hope this wouldn't apply to us as we know better than to make compost or soil that offgas ammonia.

Paulns, IÂll better tell you about what kind of soils we have in Russia.
First of all our soils are BLACK! It is the only property of the soil that we consider mostly important. No one russian even will stick a stick into the soil if itÂs not black. It is the only soil test that we make (visually). So, we simply donÂt understand your problems with soil. Even if they are not black, grey soils, the only cure for them  make them black by manure or compos in large quantities. In average we implement compost once in 7-10 years. This is all what we make with the soil.