Vegan farming and fertilizers

I am a vegan organic farmer in the High Desert of California. I use the Ruth Stout method of permaculture which is modified into forest gardening which is modified for the desert. The extent of composting for me is going out in the mornings and putting the food scraps under the mulch. I have a vegan foliar fertilizer recipe if anyone wants it.

Let's see that recipe!

Learning new ways to keep out plants healthy is great, please do share.

Thanks

Adam Klaus wrote:Let's see that recipe!

Learning new ways to keep out plants healthy is great, please do share.

Thanks

1TBS Fulvic/Humic Blend (this is a substitute for an animal based ingredient)
1 TBS Azomite
1 regular bayer aspirin (helps in transpiration)
1 TBS K-Mag
1 TBS earthworm castings from earthworms fed vegan sources
1 tsp Bio-Rush
1 tsp Nature's Nitrogen (plant based nitro)
1 oz. black strap molasses
1 oz Apple Cider Vinegar
1 oz. liquid kelp

Add this mixture to one gallon water, cap and shake well. I let mine sit overnight. Then take four cups of that liquid and place in another gallon container. Add 4 cups unchlorinated water. To that one gallon, add 1 TBS yucca extract and 2 TBS EM-1 and a squirt of a surfactant (I use CocoWet). Strain and put in sprayer and spray top and bottoms of leaves until they start to drip. Spraying must take place in temps under 80. This is when the stomata is open. Sun must also be over the horizon for the stomata only opens when the sun is shining. Dawn is fine as is just before dusk.

Leaves will absorb and begin to use the fert within 20 minutes. Leaves absorb 80% more nutrient than a root will. Foliar spraying also repels the bad bugs. Not all but enough that you shouldn't have heavy infestations.

My spray schedule is every two weeks for two months; then every three weeks. For me, here in the desert - that takes me to August. I do not spray in August. Different areas will have different schedules obviously - you will be able to tell by looking at the plant.

For bug problems I spray Surround WP at the beginning of the season. Bio-Wash is a excellent addition to any spray program. Surround can be bought at Planet Natural and Bio-Wash has their own site. All the unusual sounding ingredients in my formula can be purchased at kelp4less on the net. Get the small bags - it will last several years, even more.

Diehard Bio-rush also has their own site. EM-1 can be purchased from Terraganix on the net. They are the makers of Bokashi.

As noted; when making this recipe you will have 4 cups left over. That can be stored and used for the following feeding. It may get a white scum on the top - just strain it. If anyone needs help or has questions please post and I will answer fairly quickly.

DO NOT add fertilizer of any kind to the soil. Or compost. It will cause an imbalance within the spray schedule. Amendments from a previous season will not cause a problem. Veggie scraps, leaf clippings go under the mulch of hay and straw. Just pick up the flake and put them under it.

Howdy Davilyn, do you have any aspen trees in your area? If so you could substitute the aspertane scraped from the bark for the manufactured aspirin.

Miles Flansburg wrote:Howdy Davilyn, do you have any aspen trees in your area? If so you could substitute the aspertane scraped from the bark for the manufactured aspirin.

I live in the desert. But one can also substitute willow bark. It can be purchased at health food stores if the tree isn't available. If anyone is interested, I have information about using willow extract (make your own) to root cuttings in.

I'm a little confused, as your recipe has manure in it (scratches head).

Vegans and fertilizers....I'm confused. We have a vegan at our community garden. She seems to have no objection to using horse manure from a horse who is essentially just a lawnmower. The horse lives in a multi-acre pasture. The horse's purpose is to give the garden manure. It is not ridden nor used in any other way. Would other vegans find this unacceptable?

I've been told that vegans do not support the exploitation of animals. So by being a vegan, would you be willing to use manure from wild animals, say feral cattle, feral goats or sheep, feral pigs, wild animals?

While I am not interested in being vegan, though I am compassionate to all animals I have or care for, I do attempt to be sensitive to the vegans who come to the garden.

...Su Ba
www.kaufarmer.blogspot.com