BIM, Bug Juice, etc.

15 years ago

Well, since it IS winter and I'm pining away, looking at my waiting raised beds covered with snow -- I remembered a subject I got all wild about a couple of years ago (on the Soil Forum, I think).

Wonder if anyone here has made Bug Juice or if you are planning to this summer? Big, big response on "Off-topic, that's why I love the internet" or some title like that. I made yogurt curd for the compost bin from that and it seemed to be a success. At least the yogurt cheese was delicious.

I guess talking about Al's recipes on another thread made me long for my Mad Scientist Summers with lots of nutty and not so nutty ideas on GW for experiments. Does anyone know if Bug Juice is worth enduring the smell? It might smell as bad as alfalfa tea. lol

Sunny

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Comments (5)

helenh
15 years ago
Tell us about yogurt curd for the compost and delicious yogurt cheese. I don't know what you are talking about. I have never heard of that one. Is bug juice ground up bugs strained and made into a spray? I thought about that for stink bugs and even collected some bugs. Then I thought, do I want to eat a tomato with ground up stink bug juice on it?
sunnyside1
Original Author
15 years ago
I probably have printed 50 or so pages from GW on these subjects. Be aware that you are fermenting liquids and need to be mindful that all sorts of bacteria is brewing -- I'd tell you to get on the Bug Juice (TM) website, but it's for sale.
Do a search on GardenWeb for BIM (beneficial indigenous microorganisms)as well as Bokashi and you will have the posts to at least get you started. The actual title of the best thread is on Soil Forum "Why I love the internet ... really it's on topic." and you can put in Blutranes, (Monday, Feb 1`6, '09) Also search "LB" which is lactobacillium made with the yogurt curd. The recipe/instructions for this is on "Why I love..." found at: http://forums2.gardenweb.com/forums/load/soil/msg0219021917181.html?61.
The "Bug" in Bug Juice refers to the microbes (bugs) that will thrive on the mixture.
Helen, I should think drowned or ground-up stinkbugs as a spray or drench would gross out their own kind. And you, as well. lol
I've never posted a GW link before, but will try. This link is about "Caradang's ginger/garlic extract information" - I think it works. Let me know if the yogurt directions don't come through and I'll just type them up.
Sunny
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gldno1
15 years ago
The closest I get to a garden brew is letting alfalfa meal/pellets steep in a 5-gallon bucket of water. Oh, I forgot I do make manure tea to water some roses with.
helenh
15 years ago
I don't make compost just a pile where I throw stuff. It would be nice to make it rot faster. I saw a sturdy compost tumbler at Sam's for about $100. I haul bags and bags of leaves from Joplin and I am wondering how the new blue trash containers will affect that supply. I would like my leaves to rot faster so I may look into the bacteria.
helenh
15 years ago
That is interesting. William was making brews a while back - for the bacteria of course.

Here is a link that might be useful: one link to sunny's bacteria brew