Compost Tea vs EM1 Microbial Inoculant

Why is it that people are always looking for which thing or gadget is better? It might be human nature to look for the "next best thing" or "which is the best". I often find myself looking at how to combine things and "get the best of both worlds". There are always pros and cons for everything. Let's take a look at compost tea vs EM1 Microbial Inoculant.

This is fresh in my mind because it kept coming up at the Organic Growers School. For home owners, brewing tea properly does not seem like a cost-effective or practicle route.

This is a compost tea brewer (pictured above, right) used at a golf course in San Francisco. They make the tea and add AEM1 before they apply it to the course.

Compost Tea (Pro)

• Low cost to produce.
• Great way to get beneficial fungi and protozoa for soils and plants.
• Can be brewed on site.
• Easy to apply.
  

Compost Tea (Con)

• Could brew pathogens without knowing.
• Inconsistent quality
• Requires an aeration unit and tank to brew
• Very short shelf life. ( 24 hours or less)
• Almost entirely aerobic microbes, lacks facultative microbes.
  

EM1 Microbial Inoculant (Pro)

• High quality, consistent product.
• Easy to brew/increase populations (Activation)
• Can be brewed on site or shipped ready-to-use
• Easy to apply
• Contains large populations of facultative microbes, enzymes, trace minerals, vitamins, and organic acids
• Long shelf Life (about 1 year with the EM1 and 30+ days on the Activated product)
• Multiple uses beyond horticulture (inoculate compost, odor control, improves water clarity in irrigation ponds, etc)
  

EM1 Microbial Inoculant (Con)

• Does require repeat purchases of "seed" product (EM1)
• Does not contain much fungi (yeasts only) or any protozoa
• Requires the purchase of a sugar source
  

Get the Best of both! Combine the two. Here's how:

1. Following compost tea brewing instructions
2. After aeration cycle is complete (up to 24 hours), turn off aeration.
3. Add Activated EM1 Microbial Inoculant at a rate of 1 part AEM1 to 50 parts Tea.
4. Follow suggested tea application rates
   

This gives you the facultative microbes, aerobic micorbes, beneficial fungi, and protozoa groups in one inoculant. The other benefit is that the tea is now going to be good for up to a week, as long as it is kept in an airtight container. You can simply mix in a drum or larger tank with a lid.

If you are expericened with compost tea already, you will notice improved results. EM America has heard from several growers that they have had higher levels of nutrient values in a variety crops. You'll see why Dr. Higa has answered the question, "What is the best inoculant?" with "All of them mixed together."

Dr. Higa's coming to Town...

We are working on setting up two different presentations in May with Dr. Higa presenting. We still have to finalize the times and places. Here is what we have so far:

• May 11th: Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Dr. Higa and two other EM experts will present on farming applications with Effective Microorganisms(TM) This event will be open to the public and will be and "EM" event, meaning all presentations will be on EM Technology(R). We'll post more details when we have them.
• May 13th: In the Naples/Ft. Myers Area of Southern Florida. Dr. Higa be one of several presentations in the evening. He will present to farmers in the area on the large-scale applications of Effective Microorganisms(TM) for building soils.

Both of these events are directed at farmers and agricultural professionals. They will, however, be open to the public for those who are interested in coming to hear presentations on EM Technology in regards to farming (large scale and small scale). We will send out notice to all our customers once we have the details finalized.

Revist to Sleeping Frog Farm

I made another trip to Sleeping Frog Farms yesterday (March 25th, 2009) to get some photos. Here are some photos of the lovely crops their growing...and, we can't forget the people who make it all happen!

Tony was out yesterday. Adam, Debbie, and CJ were working. Adam and CJ were getting ready for the farmer's market this afternoon. They were picking some radishes here.




They have about 50 chickens...some beautiful varieties of birds that produce several different colored eggs. The eggs are sold at the St. Phillip's Farmers Market on Sundays. My son was going around picking wild mustard and feeding it to them the entire time we were there. He even got to pick up a few of them.



On the East side of the property, they are preparing several new rows of crops. We pulled up the covers to take a look at the new Osaka, flat parsley, baby bok choy, and other greens. When we were there last week, they were just seedlings. Man, did they grow fast!

Gaia Herbs

While In Asheville, I stayed at Jackie Greenfield's home. Jackie works for Gaia Herbs in Brevard, North Carolina. We were able to take a tour of their production plant and their farm where they produce nearly 5 million plants annually for their botanical extracts.
This photos is from their website, showing herbs in full bloom. They have a full photo gallery of the farm on their site.

Gaia Herbs, Inc. has a Certified Organic facility and Certified Organic Farm. They grow Certified Organic herbs on their farm as well as purchase certified organic herbs from local farms. They also produce wild harvested products. They have very high standards for growing to ensure potency of their extracts and have on-site labs to test for quality and improvement of formulation.

A program they are very proud of began recently (in the past year or two), is that they produce vegetables for their staff on their farm. This program has helped their staff get several high quality certified organic vegetables, saving them money and giving them healthy food. The property is absolutely gorgeous. Walking paths on the property encourage staff to get out and exercise. I am sure during the height of the season, the 50+ acres of echinacea and other herbs is breathtaking.

Of course, I went and took pictures of their compost piles.

Organic Growers School II

The Organic Growers School is a lively event held in Asheville, North Carolina. People come from miles around for two days of intensive workshops taught by knowledgable professionals. Several classes were taught by college professors and Agriculture Extension Agents. The classes range from Organic Pest Management to Canning and Preserving to Wholesaling Crops to Retailers to Seed collection. Over the past few years homeowners have been coming to learn about growing their own foods so there is a nice mix of farmers and gardeners. This year, about 1400 people came to the two-day event.

On Sunday afternoon, 4 workshops were held Jifasa farm from 1pm to 5pm. The common theme between the workshops stressed the importance of beneficial microbes: Bio-char, Effective Microorganisms™, Compost Tea, and Worm Castings. A discussion on Bio-char was conducted by Patryk Battle (top left).

Bio-char is microbially-active charcoal. The charcoal provides a home for beneficial microbes and has a host of benefits to the environment. Patryk is working with a product that includes compost and other nutrients. They have done several grow-out trials (on this farm and at a couple universities) and can demonstrate improved growth of plants grown with the char. The char is a "carbon negative" technology that encourages the activity of soil microbes that pull carbon into the soils.

The production of the charcoal (made from high carbon materials) may offer multiple resources including energy production as well as production of fuels.

In the greenhouse the Compost Tea Making workshop (right) was taught, showing this simple method of brewing aerobic bacateria, pseudomonads, and fungi. The tea is made from high quality compost, aerated for up to 24 hours, and applied through a drench, irrigation line, or sprayed onto plants with a mister. The instructor discussed the importance of getting the tea applied in about 6 hours after the aeration cycle is completed as the aerobic microbes begin to die off once the air is turned off. He also suggested mixing in some fish emulsion (liquid fertilizer) and some yucca extract (soap) to feed and provide some sticky-ness to keep the microbes on the leaves for a while after the application.

This is another picture of the green house that is treated on a weekly basis with compost tea mixes.


We also did a class introducing EM Technology (sorry, I couldn't take a picture of myself). I discussed how EM1 Microbial Inoculant can be added to the Bio-char, the compost tea, the worm castings, and to accelerate composting. For one group I did have enough time to show them how to activate the EM1 and turn one liter of EM1 into 5 gallons of ready-to-use product.


For anyone that is in the area in the Spring, I highly recommend attending this event.

An EM Farm in the making

Sleeping Frog Farm is a new farm in Tucson, Arizona. My wife purchased some of their produce at a local farmer's market and told me about them. It turns out I know one of the owners, CJ Marks. CJ has been passionate about learning all the ways EM Technology can help in the production of food and has told me that he always wanted to start an EM Farm. He's doing it now, right here in Tucson!

I visited the farm this week and they have quite a bit growing already. They are growing heirloom varieties of veggies and now working on developing about another acre of soil to expand their offerings. Most of what they have growing now is various types of lettuce, chards, kales, and some herbs. They have about 50 chickens, really neat looking breeds, and are selling about 25 dozen eggs per week. Their customers include some high end restaurants in town, who have noticed that their lettuce stays fresh longer than anything else they buy.

They have lots of plans for doing workshops at the farm to educate people about organic agriculture...and Effective Microorganisms™. If you're in the area, they sell their produce at the

St. Phillip's Plaza Farmer's Market on Sunday Mornings 8am-Noon (Southeast Corner of River and Campbell),
The Santa Cruz Farmer's Market on Thursdays 3:00pm-6:00pm (NE Corner of Speedway & Riverview between AZ School for the Deaf and Blind & El Rio Center), and the
Marana Farm Stand on Mondays 3:00pm-6:00pm (12375 N Heritage Park Drive).

I'll get some photos up soon

Organic Growers School

I'm off to North Carolina tomorrow to speak about Effective Microorganisms™ at the Organic Growers School in Ashville, North Carolina. I am pretty excited about this. I haven't done more than a couple workshops on EM1 since last summer at the Health & Wellness Expo. I enjoy getting up in front of people and discussing the many applications of this great technology. We hold something than can make such a difference in the world and it seems like more and more people are opening their minds to the idea that microbes have a place in the world as problem solvers.

The gist of this meeting is to stress the importance of microbes in farming and gardening. EM America does have a few customers in the area including some naturopaths and homeowners. I'm nut sure how many people already know about EM Technology in the area. What I'll do is a general overview lecture on EM Technology and its impact on farming, home, and the environment. After that, I will be doing a couple workshops on practical applications of EM1 such as making activated EM, EM5, and Fermented Plant Extracts.

I'll write a little after I get back.

Another Green"er" Economy

The biggest buzz word in the news today is "Green". I get the feeling that green is being so overused by companies. It is so much so that I do not want to associate EM Technology with the word. There are still many people who are not sure what the difference is between organic and natural. It is so easy to be duped by word association. Many die-hards have been looking for an alternative to organic as the USDA got involved. Doing a quick search, one can find terms like "beyond organic" being used by people who want to take things to the next level.

The current administration is supposedly pushing a green agenda, which attracts the masses who have been trying to offer safer, more effective products that do not have a negative impact on the earth. Effective Microorganisms(TM) has been beyond these regulations and certifications since it hit the market in the early 1980's. On so many levels this technology offers solutions to environmental problems. The lists keep expanding as people keep experimenting with the various products.

With the economic crisis we are in and continue to delve deeper into, EM Technology shines as it can make so many industries be more efficient, saving operation costs and reducing environmental impact. More than half of the states in the US are on the verge of bankruptcy. Many of their budgets include areas that EM Technology can help. In the areas of waste treatment (solid and liquid) EM1 Microbial Inoculant can increase digestion rates of wastes, increasing capacity of operations, and reduce costs associated with treatment. In solid waste (landfill) management, over 40% of the materials going into the landfills can be diverted if the public were educated on the food waste recycling program we promote (Bokashi food waste recycling. Existing landfills could be treated with EM1 Microbial Inoculant, increasing the digestion of organic matter, making leachate non-toxic, and to prevent the production of methane. The valuable space these landfills take up could be reclaimed in a quicker time and the wastes discharged from them could be converted into resources.

Wastewater treatment is an essential part of our water supply. (what comes in must go out.) Millions of taxpayer dollars are spent on wastewater, rates are increasing and infrastucture is in need of repair. Chemical treatment has proven to be inefficient, costing billions of dollars in damage to equipment and to the environment. It does not take too much thought to wonder if it is right to add some chemical to water that is eventually going to be discharged to a waterway. I find myself often thinking, "if it isn't in there naturally, it shouldn't be added." The microbes in EM1 Microbial Inoculant are found in varying concentrations in wastewater. Chemical also have some type of residual or side reaction, not to mention the cost. Chemicals added to wastewater do nothing to improve the efficiency of the treatment. They only increase the cost of treatment. The residual effects of most of them also increase the corrosion of equipment which will result in increased infrastructure costs over time. It makes more sense to add ingredients that prevent corrosion, have no negative residual, and increase the efficiency of treatment...all at a lower cost.

If citizens want to have a cleaner world, save their state budgets, and save themselves from dramatic increases in taxes, EM Technology offers a solution to all these issues. It is right here under their noses and available for anyone right now. The technology has proven itself on six continents and has over a 25-year track record. Before a municipality issues a tax hike because they need to build a new landfill or treatment plant, check to see that they have looked into what EM Technology can do for them.

WHAT EM CAN DO.....

Think of EM•1® Bokashi as a fertilizer

Compost, is broken down organic matter. It is actually rotten material. Many methods of making compost exist: static pile, aerobic, sheet composting, etc. It has a place in gardening and is a great way to recycle or turn waste into something useful. However, as for nutrients, it is lacking. This is why bokashi is such a boon.

If you garden, you know that manures are great for plants and soils. You also know that you can't apply fresh manure to soils where plants are growing because you'll burn the plants. Why? The high amounts of nitrogen. A couple other problems come from using fresh manure. Fresh manure has high levels of ammonia (NH3) that can leach into soils or gas off causing odor. The problem with the leaching is high levels of nitrates in the groundwater can cause blue baby syndrome...it is a toxin. A more mundane problem with fresh manures is the amount of weed seeds..mostly a problem in cow manure and horse manure. If you've ever made the mistake of applying horse manure to soil without fully composting it, you know that you just planted a new lawn! So, for safety and to save yourself of the headaches of excess weeding, you need to compost manures...or so you think.

The addition of EM•1® Microbial Inoculant to conventional composting methods is beneficial as it helps increase aerobic microbial populations, controls, odors, and produces a complete product faster.

Enter EM•1® Bokashi

All organic matter/wastes has lots of nutrients and sugars to feed microbes. Animal manures contain NPK, minerals, cellulose, and lots of microbes. The conventional way to make manures usable is to compost them. You often use ratios of Nitrogen to Carbon at 1:20 1:30 and so on. Moisture content is high because you will be turning and creating heat (mostly coming from the nitrogen and the microbial activity). EPA standards for composting require high temperatures to control pathogens, attraction to pests, and for breaking down toxins.

Fermentation of these manures is pretty easy, more economical, and faster than turning. With EM Technology™, we refer to this process as "bokashi" making. The finished product is called EM•1® Bokashi. Instead of referring this to compost, we often find ourselves explaining this is a fertilizer-making method where one is able to preserve nutrients in the organic wastes, prevent burning of plants, and save lots of money. The fermentation process produces various enzymes, vitamins, and amino acids. There also is not much heat produced during fermentation. This means that the weed seeds are not killed. Actually, the exposure to the EM•1® causes the seeds to germinate more quickly, so if the wastes are spread on the surface, there will be a tremendous amount of weed seeds germinating. This, when managed properly, is a great thing because you have produced a "free" green manure that can be turned in in about 2-3 weeks.

The conclusion is that each process has its benefits. EM•1® Bokashi methods are great for faster production, but are best to be incorporated in the soil or covered by top soils and compost is great to add lots of organic matter and to use a mulch.

The Difference Between Bokashi and Compost

I have seen a lot of discussion on the net where people are confused/wondering about the differences between compost and bokashi. Since Bokashi is a foreign terms (it's Japanese, meaning fermented organic matter), I can understand. Some visuals would help. Luckily, our sister company in New Zealand loaded a video showing how to use the food waste right out of the buckets. You can see it is quite different than compost. Here are some simple explanations that should help get people get the idea.

Composting is the aerobic breakdown of organic material. In order to make a proper compost, materials are turned, causing microbial activity to raise temperatures. During this process, temperatures can go above 160F degrees and, possibly, catch on fire. The heating process causes gases to release. These gases are mainly methane (CH4), Carbon Dioxide (CO2), and Ammonia (NH3). As you can see, these gases result in a loss of both carbon and nitrogen (a major plant food). Finished compost is very good to use as a soil amendment and mulch for plants. It will not burn when mature as the nitrogen is mostly burned off or fixed during curing.

Bokashi, is a fermentation method, which preserves the nutrients in the organic materials, leaving more material to feed plants and build soil than compost. Fermentation does not cause dramatic heat increase, which pasteurizes the materials. During the fermentation, microbes begin to break down the lignin in plant materials and start to synthesize enzymes, vitamins, amino acids, and also make minerals bio-available. When Bokashi is fully fermented (which takes about 2 weeks in an airtight container), it makes a great soil additive. Since these food waste buckets contain various food materials that are pickled, they can't be spread on the surface of soil as they will begin to rot and attract pests. They can, however, be buried in the soil, in a compost pile, or added to planters and will add lots of nutrients, organic matter, and lots of live microbes.

Both items have their place. A combination of both at homes across the country would seriously get us all toward zero wastes. You can add meats and dairy products to bokashi without problems. In compost, they can attract animals, but since the bokashi process is done in a sealed container, this is not a worry. Schools around the world are keeping much of their cafeteria waste from being landfilled, growing veggies to supplement their school lunch, or selling the bokashi and the veggies for fund raising.

A buzz in going on about EM•1® Bokashi and the food waste recycling program. EM Americais a seeing a surge in demand for the fermenter buckets and the Organic Rice Bran Bokashi. Last year I received an email from someone in Dave's Garden (http://www.davesgarden.com) that there was a lot of talk about EM Technology™ and someone from EM America should join in to help with the technical advice...I couldn't resist! There are now 3 separate forums on various applications of EM Technology™. For the gardener, Dave's is the ultimate internet community.

About two weeks ago, a Seattle Washington newspaper ran an article about the Bokashi food waste recycling program. Ann Lovejoy wrote the article. Being Seattle, I am sure people jumped at the "new" idea.

People are catching on...

FERMENTED FOOD

Well, I did it. I am going to be teaching a class on fermented foods at Pima Community College this Spring.

I received a call from Pima Community College with an interest to have a class on Effective Microorganisms™. After going through what would be the most popular topics, cooking classes stood out. There is a growing trend in the Raw Foods and Fermented Foods arena. As more and more people focus on health, they are learning about the benefits of probiotics and fermented foods.

My cooking experience and interest in raw foods peaked my interest in teaching a class on using EM•1® EM America store to make foods. So much of cooking is intuition. You can learn the basics and branch out from there to make concoctions that suit your tastes. I generally start with a recipe and incorporate EM•1® into the recipe. Some of the recipes I came up with are on the EM America website (Raw Food Recipes). Since I normally just make something to taste, I normally don't measure ingredients. This is a bad habit when you actually want to create a recipe, but is really how things are done in the professional arena. All recipes are really just guidelines for chefs to follow up on to remind them of how they created something they liked.

In the class I plan on showing people how to make a couple of the recipes on the EM America site and also how to make a couple other things. I wanted to show how to make beer, but am not allowed to due to school policy.

Here is the information on the class:

CF117 – Introduction to Fermented Foods

Learn to make some simple, healthy foods that are Raw, Organic and Live! We’ll make a fermented Balsamic Vinaigrette that has an extended shelf life, a fermented health drink with natural carbonation, and some salsa that is packed with nutrients and is easy to digest. All of the foods provide natural probiotics to the body. Join us to prepare the latest in gourmet food that is a powerhouse of nutrition. $15 food fee per person.

Thr 5/22 6:00-8:00pm SAAVI 3767 E. Grant Road $39 ( 8 students min and 15 students max)

(SAAVI has a demonstration kitchen)

We need to get about 10 students. If you're in the area, please sign up. It will be fun!
Eric

What is "bokashi"

Bokashi is really a term. It is Japanese for "fermented organic matter." The closest thing I would relate it to is silage. Silage is hay or grains that are fermented for livestock feed. The feed is collected in large piles, some water is added, and the pile is covered and allowed to ferment for an extended period of time. The fermentation process causes the lignin in the grains to break down so it can be easily digested by the livestock.

Today most commercial feedlots go through so much feed that they do not have the time needed for the fermentation to take place. Therefore, most of the animals are fed whole grains like corn and soybeans. There is a definite difference in taste between meats that were grain fed or grass fed. Many grass fed animals are fed silage during the winter (in cold areas). This grasses that are mowed can inoculated with EM1 just before they are bagged. This will accelerate fermentation, produce enzymes, amino acids, add trace minerals and vitamins (antioxidants) so the feed it value added. This finished product would be called EM1 boakshi...for animal feeds. This is done in over 100 countries worldwide.

Starting in Japan, several womens' groups got together with schools to promote what they call the Bokashi Network. The Bokashi Network teaches students to make and use EM1 Bokashi to ferment cafeteria waste, preventing it from going to incinerators or landfills. Since this process of recycling food waste involves fermentation, meats and dairy can be added to the mix. EM America has detailed the food waste recycling program and also has the instructions on how to make EM1 Bokashi.

In Tucson, Arizona, the Arizona School For the Deaf And Blind makes their own EM1 Bokashi and recycles all their cafeteria food waste. This school wants to teach the students life-skills. Therefore, they teach the students how to make and sell the EM1 Bokashi. The students bury the food waste into pits and allow it to break down naturally...no turning. The soil they use to grow plants (flowers and vegetables). They have a little store that is open to the public. At the store they sell the flowers and veggies so they learn a bit about business as well. It is a great program. Other schools may use the foods they grow to supplement the foods they serve in the cafeteria. This is another great full circle opportunity for schools to teach, learn, and save some money.

EM1 Bokashi can also be used instead of clay kitty litter. The microbes in the EM1 Bokashi will break down all the urine so the litter box doesn't smell bad. When the box needs cleaning, the spent litter can be used to fertilizer flowers in the yard. This is another great way to keep unnecessary stuff out of our landfills and to deter from using synthetic fertilizers.

Tuesday, February 05, 2008

Cats and skunks

When I lived back in Massachusetts there were a lot of skunks in the area. During the summer you could not mistake the smell. You would be driving along a wooded road and out of nowhere that smell would invade your senses! The thick stench of a nocturnal animal...the skunk. Your mind would flash to the old cartoons of Pepe Le Pu walking around with his tail wafting the odor trail... It you get too close, look out! The smell will bring tears to your eyes.

While I was growing up, I always heard horror stories of dogs coming home wreaking of skunk. The only way people knew how to get rid of the smell was with a bath of tomato juice...not only does that sound gross, but it also sounds expensive!

One warm summer evening...around 1am...my wife and I had gone to bed. A few minutes later we heard what sounded like a cat fight. Our cat had ticked off the wrong animals. We opened the door to let him in before he got hurt. There was a funny smell that came in the house...there were also two other animals that followed him right in the door: a possum and a skunk!!! Our eyes started tearing up right away.

The cat ran into the house, climbing up the couch and down the back of the arm chair and then under the couch, leaving a lovely scent as he went. We managed to get the skunk and the possum out of the house with the assistance of a nice broom. My cat was wet with skunk spray. Without thinking I grabbed him by a handful of skin and fur and threw him in the bathtub. I grabbed a gallon bottle of Activated EM•1® (AEM1) on the way... I held him down...cats don't really like water...and poured the AEM1 all over him. Like magic, the skunk smell was gone. A few scratches later and a warm towel...it was time to treat the rest of the house. A couple of spray bottles helped get the stuff on all the furniture. It took about an hour to spray and wash down everything, but we got rid of the skunk smell on everything we thought the cat had run into.

The next morning I had a sales call. I picked up my bag and headed out the house to my appointment, which was an hour away. When I got to the clients house, I realized we missed spraying my bag. It still smelled like skunk. Oh, what a smelly day!

Tips for an Eco-Friendly Summer

Summer can be a particularly challenging time for people who want to lead a green lifestyle. Longer, hotter days mean more hours indoors, which inevitably leads to higher energy consumption. With summer quickly approaching, it’s important to prepare your household for peak temperatures, ensuring you use energy as efficiently as possible. Here are a few tips that will help reduce your energy consumption even in the heat.

Tactics You Can Use Year Round

• Plugged-in electronics constantly pull electricity, so get in the habit of unplugging electronic devices when you aren’t using them. The biggest offenders include flatscreen TVs, cable boxes and DVRs. A power-strip is an easy way to quickly turn off and on your entertainment system or any number of electronics at once.
• Completely turn off your computer, rather than simply letting it hibernate.
• Use a solar mobile phone charger.
• Turn off the lights whenever you leave a room and consider installing dimmer switches in the future.
• Use florescent light bulbs whenever possible.
• Only heat or cool the areas of the house you are actually using. Close doors and shut vents in spaces like unused guest rooms.

Household Chores

• Water lawns and gardens early in the morning – 4am or earlier – allowing water to fully soak in before the afternoon heat. Every 7 to 10 days, add one-to-three parts EM•1® Microbial Inoculant to your lawn water mix. EM•1® will help ensure a healthy micro-environment, improving soil structure, drainage and water retention (increased drought tolerance).
• Install low flow show heads in your shower and opt for short showers rather than baths.
• Wash clothes on the cold setting whenever possible and hang towels out to air dry.

Control Your Indoor Environment

• Install darkening curtains or window treatments in rooms with significant sun exposure during peak summer hours. The room will remain cooler, requiring far less air-conditioning.
• Rather than simply closing blinds or shutters, angle them to directly reflect the sun.
• Attics are one of the easiest and least expensive parts of the house to insulate. The good news is, attic insulation can shave between 20 and 25% off your electricity bill, paying for the upgrade in just a matter of months.
• Seal cool air in and keep hot air out by closing gaps around doors and windows. Easy remedies include caulk around windows and weather stripping on doors.
• Air sealing with spray foam insulation will tighten up the house as well. Simply pull back insulation and spray cracks in joints and around joists. Then place the insulation back. Be sure not to crush the insulation if it is fiberglass. If you have blown cellulose insulation, there is no need to air seal.
• Check your insulation to see if there are lots of gaps or if it has settled a lot. Fiberglass insulation looses its insulating value as it compacts. Cellulose insulation value increases as it settles. If there are lots of gaps in the fiberglass insulation or it has settled to only a few inches, it may be a good idea to install cellulose insulation to increases.
• Make sure there is a cover over your attic entry way that fits properly. These look like big styrofoam coolers and fit over pull-down stairs. If you have a door entryway, there are insulation boards that can be fitted in the doorway to block hot or cold air.
• Insulate pipes with pipe insulation that are either in the attic or underneath the house if you have a crawl space or basement. This can be done easily by yourself.
• In the transition months, when temperatures aren’t unbearable, opt to use fans rather than a/c whenever possible.
• Check the filters on your a/c unit and replace them when necessary. Have a pro look at you’re a/c system every year to ensure Freon levels are sufficient. When filters are clogged or Freon is low, the system has work harder, for longer in order to produce the same cooling affect.

Getting Houseplants Right: A Guide to Effective Indoor Plant Care

If you enjoy nature, chances are you also enjoy bringing elements of nature into your home. Houseplants can infuse your living space with natural beauty that - if done correctly - can complement the décor and lift your mood.

When it comes to caring for plants, there are several primary needs you should address: potting, soil quality, lighting, temperature, moisture, and maintenance. You can address these in needs with six simple steps.

Step 1:

Choose the right pot. If you are transferring the plant from another pot, be sure to wash thoroughly and spray the pot’s surface with a microbial inoculant as it may harbor harmful bacteria or disease. Be sure to keep your pot size proportionate to the plant it will house. Too large a pot can lead to root disease and too small a pot will prevent the plant from thriving.

Step 2:

Provide the right soil. Simply filling the pot with outdoor soil is not going to cut it as standard soil does not drain properly. Indoor plants require special potting soil that provides additional nutrients as well as proper aeration and drainage. After placing the potting soil in the pot, lightly pack the soil down around the plants root system and then prime the soil with a light misting ofEM1 effective microorganisms.

Step 3:

Find the right spot. Most houseplants require sunlight to create food via photosynthesis. Depending on the type of plant you are caring for, you will need to make sure the plant is exposed to an adequate amount of sunlight. If possible, place the plant within direct sunlight or move the plant to a windowsill for several hours every day.

Step 4:

Make your home the right environment. Most plants require temperatures between 65 and 75 degrees during daylight hours. If you want to keep plants healthy, your house needs to stay within this temperature zone. Plants also thrive in around 80% humidity. If you live in a drier environment, consider purchasing a humidifier to make the home most hospitable to your plants. (Bonus: The humid air is also beneficial for human lungs, sinuses and skin.)

Step 5:

Get watering right. Most houseplant deaths are water related. The plant either receives too much or too little water. There is no set rule of thumb for watering. You want to water plants when they need it. Rather than having a rigid watering schedule, feel the soil every so often. The plant is ready to be watered when the soil feels dry to the touch. For more effective watering, mix in approximately one quarter tablespoon of a microbial incolulant like EM1.

Step 6:

Use the right fertilizer and insecticide. Every so often, you will need to enhance the houseplant’s soil or combat insects. Unfortunately, many plant fertilizers and insecticides are highly toxic, making them unwelcome products to bring into your home. Only use fertilizers that are organic and natural. Every month spray the plants leaves with a fine mist of EM1 effective microorganisms, which will infuse their mini eco-system with a healthy dose of enzymes, trace minerals and various B-complex vitamins. To safely treat plants for the occasional insect, mix one ounce of 3% hydrogen peroxide in 1 quart of water, and mist plants as needed.

10 Tips for a Healthier Greenhouse

A healthy greenhouse environment can produce more robust plant yields, extend the growing season, prepare delicate seedlings and even allow you to grow plants traditionally incompatible with your climate zone and humidity levels.

If you are a greenhouse gardener looking for simple ways to make your greenhouse more successful, here are the top 10 easiest ways to kick up your productivity.

If you are just starting your greenhouse, these tips will put you ahead of the curve and make your life a little easier down the road!

1. Beware of over-watering. One of the biggest mistakes new greenhouse gardeners make is over-watering. A drip irrigation system is ideal, but if you prefer to hand water, only do so when soil is legitimately dry and only using room temperature water. This means, you may not need to water every day.

2. Check your sunlight. Sunlight is fundamental to a successful greenhouse. Each year, be sure to examine possible sources for troublesome shadows, including buildings, trees (especially evergreen ones) or overhanging foliage. Trim away or remove any shadow-educing culprits. Also, be sure to take into consideration how the sun’s path may vary from season to season. In North America the sun will often lay lower on the horizon during winter months, casting longer shadows. If you are just starting out, start your greenhouse in an open space with the long side facing south.

3. Apply a garden disinfectant. Unfortunately, the moist, warm greenhouse environment can also be hospitable to unwanted algae, mold and fungi. A quality, natural garden disinfectant will kill these invaders without damaging the plants. How often you apply the disinfectant will depend on the humidity of your greenhouse.

4. Use only high grade soil. Using a high quality commercial potting soil is always a good starting point for your greenhouse garden. Soil mixtures vary, but often include a combination of sand, peat moss, perlite, vermiculite and fir bark. Mix in organic greenhouse fertilizer every so often to ensure you are maintaining an optimum soil environment. Many experts also recommend throwing in crushed egg shells (for calcium) and coffee grounds (for nitrogen) to enhance the soil. Be sure to wash eggshells prior to scattering them in the garden as lingering egg yolk can attract undesirable bugs.

5. Add Beneficial Microorganisms. Heat and moisture are the two key elements of a successful greenhouse environment. Unfortunately, warmer temperatures often dry out the soil. In some instances, dry soil call also lead to over-watering, as the soil is stripped away, water floods and overwhelms delicate plants. Adding a microbial inoculant product like EM1 to your greenhouse irrigation lines will help counter soil dehydration by establishing a healthy micro-ecology. The microbes naturally enhance the soil with antioxidants, vitamins, trace minerals, enzymes and organic acids. The end result is improved soil structure, texture and hydration.

6. Space your plants evenly. It’s tempting to try to crowd plants onto one or two benches, but if you space them out, you allow the air to circulate evenly. This means healthier plants and a more consistent room temperature.

7. Keep an eye on the temperature. Greenhouses can over-heat easily, so it is important to monitor temperature closely. Place thermometers in several locations to ensure temperature consistency. If you find that temperatures are too high, you will need to increase your ventilation. In many cases you can simply open some doors during the warmer hours of the day in order to correct high temperatures. Another quick fix includes hosing down the floor and allowing the water evaporation to cool the room. If these quick fixes don’t work, you may need to invest in a ventilation system. These systems will vary depending on your climate zone and particular needs, so it is best to go to a local gardening center and speak with a local pro.

8. Ensure the greenhouse has proper drainage. Standing and stagnant water can mean the death of sensitive plants. A quick and inexpensive trick for improving drainage includes placing broken clay pots, marbles, cracked walnuts or gravel in the bottom often planters and garden beds.

9. Add some herbs to the mix. Herbs act as a natural insecticide. Grow different herbs amongst your other plants. You can also mix some onions and garlic in a jar of water and let it stand in the greenhouse for about a week.

10. Deep clean your greenhouse two to three times a year. Remove all your plants and gear from the greenhouse, sweep out debris, clean the windows, mop the floor thoroughly with a natural garden disinfectant and treat both the floor and soil with a healthy shot of beneficial microorganisms to reestablish a good microbial environment in the greenhouse.

NATURAL ORGANIC SOLUTION

The Top Six Tips for Simple, Healthy Living

Living a healthy life is much easier than most people assume and the rewards greatly outweigh the effort. By taking the necessary steps towards healthy living, you can improve the quality of your life and reduce your risk of heart disease, cancer, stroke and other serious diseases.

The top six easy tips for living a healthy lifestyle include:

1. Stay active
Exercise on a daily basis, even if you only have time for 15 or 20 minutes. Your body needs to move and our time consuming jobs often leave us sedentary for most of the day. You don’t need to complete the Iron Man to be healthy! The key to sticking with exercise is making it enjoyable. Find an activity that fits your personality. Join a league, wake up early and go on a brisk walk, or plan an evening workout with friends, family or even your pet. Whatever form of exercise, make sure you raise your heart rate intermittently, which will keep your heart healthy. Regular exercise will also strengthen your muscles and bones and will help protect your body against disease.

2. Focus on a healthy diet
With all of the bad choices available to us in modern society, keeping a healthy diet is probably the most challenging piece of good health. The key is including a variety of fruits and veggies, and focusing on “whole” or unprocessed foods. Limit foods and drinks that are high in calories, sugar, salt and fat. Limit alcohol consumption, which often results in extra calorie intake, as well as harm to the liver. A balanced diet is the key to receiving the vitamins and minerals that your body needs. A healthy diet will strengthen your immune system and will help you control your blood pressure and cholesterol.

3. Embrace probiotics
Probiotics introduce beneficial bacteria and enzymes to your digestive track, improving digestive as well as strengthening the immune system. A probiotic cleanse is a great way to detoxify the body, while also boosting the body’s ability to absorb nutrients and antioxidants.

4. Keep Hydrated
About 60% of our body weight is made up of water. Water plays a vital role in nearly every bodily function. It constantly rejuvenates our cells and it is especially important to drink water in morning to help the cells replace the oxygen they lost the night before. Water is also essential for proper digestion and nutrient absorption. It helps remove toxins from the body and regulates our body’s temperature. A general rule is to drink half your body weight in ounces of water every day to provide your body with its minimum water replacement requirements. Tap water can carry many impurities so it is best to incorporate some type of purification or water conditioning system. One of the most effective and natural water filtration systems is ion water purification using far infrared ceramics.

5. Protect yourself
Protect yourself, your skin and your body from harm. Wear sunscreen and a hat to protect you from the powerful sun. Insect repellent is a great way to protect you from bugs and avoid contracting an insect spread virus. Wash your hands regularly to stop the spread of germs. Avoid smoking and being around second hand smoke, which can both cause major harm to your body and lungs. Know what to do in an emergency and have an emergency kit nearby.

6. Manage stress
In modern society, being stress-free ironically takes a bit of work, but managing stress can greatly improve your quality of life, and reduce many stubborn health issues. Balance work, home and play by deciding on priorities and making enough time for each aspect of your life. Surround yourself with a strong support system that can help you stay sane when things go awry. Ask for assistance when you need it and stay positive. Try to focus on solutions instead of dwelling on problems. Take time to relax and make sure to get enough sleep, about seven to nine hours, each night. If you still find yourself struggling with stress, consider incorporating yoga, mediation and massage into your life.

Maintaining Your Lawn during a Drought

More than 13 states are currently experiencing severe drought in the southern part of the US. Here in Texas, we are experiencing the third worse drought ever on record. With state-wide burn bans, lakes at record lows, and the Department of Agriculture declaring our state a federal disaster area, it easy to understand why people are a bit nervous about their water usage. It feels wrong to waste water on your lawn when farmers are in dire straits, cattlemen are forced to sell off livestock, and our lakes are bone dry.

Thankfully, there are a number of simple strategies you can employ to keep your lawn healthy (and even green!) this summer, without using copious amount of water or contributing to the drought.

When you water, water deep.

Watering your lawn a little bit everyday might seem like the right thing to do but it’s really just wasteful and ineffective. The water evaporates away too quickly, without really quenching your lawn's thirst. A better strategy is to give your lawn lots of water at once. This tactic allows the water to seep deeper into the ground. Water that lies deep within the soil is less likely to evaporate and also encourages grass to grow deeper roots, making your lawn heartier and more effective at absorbing the water it needs. If you soak your lawn, you can also space out your waterings to be more infrequent. This is a tactic that you should employ with your lawn even when there is no drought. It’s just an all-round good practice.

Avoid fertilizers, but Improve Soil Quality

Avoid lawn fertilizers during droughts as they encourage leaf and shoot growth which will drastically increase the amount of water your lawn will require to remain healthy. It is best to stop fertilizer treatments in mid to late spring and allow your lawn to transition into natural dormancy (i.e. slower growth in summer) in order to maintain its green hue with less water. Rather than fertilizer, add a microbial inoculant like EM·1^® to the soil whenever you water. This will support the growth of beneficial organisms in the soil, improve the soil structure, drainage, and root water retention. A healthy micro-environment will also guard the lawn against disease during the extreme heat which can lower your lawn's natural defenses.

Make Sure Your Mower is Drought Ready

Sharpen your lawn mower blade, as a dull blade will shred the grass and shredded grass requires up to 60% more water to remain healthy. Likewise, raise the cutting height of your lawn mower. By allowing the grass to grow slightly higher, you are encouraging deeper root growth. As mentioned earlier, this will make your lawn resilient and more efficient at absorbing and retaining water and moisture. Finally, cut your lawn less frequently. Space out your trims to once a month or more.

Gather Water Naturally

Here in Texas rain barrels have always been popular, but with the recent green movement, they can also be attractive additions to your yard. Simply stand an empty barrel (or two or three) in your yard and let the rain clouds do the rest. Be sure to choose a spot that allows for maximum collection. For example, under a rooftop drainage system is ideal. Take advantage of rain from the roof and set barrels underneath gutter spouts to collect the rain water. This water can be used to water plants instead of using tap water.

Controlling Compost Odors

Many people understand the general process and benefits of composting, yet many choose not to pursue composting due to the associated odors. To the surprise of compost naysayers, healthy compost actually has no foul odor whatsoever. The rotting or ammonia smell people often associate with compost actually comes from incorrect composting techniques. To ensure your spouse, landlord, or HOA doesn’t give you the boot for being too stinky, you should follow the simple composting practices outlined below.

Why Does My Compost Smell?

Unhealthy compost odor can easily be resolved. The most important thing is identifying the underlying source of the smell. Once this is determined, there is generally a simple fix.

Possible Sources of the Smell…

Imbalanced Nitrogen/Carbon Ratio
Most odor issues are due to an unhealthy ratio of nitrogen to carbon – both essential elements to the composting process. Carbon, also referred to as brown material, is the dead and dry parts of your compost including paper, peat moss, sawdust, or dead leaves. Nitrogen is often referred to as the green material in your compost and includes things like food scraps and grass clippings. The ideal ratio is 25-30 parts carbon to 1 part nitrogen. Major shifts in this ratio will lead to unpleasant smells. When there is an over-abundance of nitrogen or green parts in the mix, the compost will have an ammonia or sewage-like smell. The remedy is adding brown materials like leaves, newspaper and straw to re-establish the ratio. Unfortunately, this can take time, patience and perhaps more space than is available as the compost pile grows in size with more green material. In many cases a simpler solution is adding healthy microbes and enzymes to help in the decomposition process. EM•1® compost accelerant, for example, not only prevents anaerobic, odor-causing decay by producing stable organic matter particles (humus), but it also speeds up the whole compost process.

Over-Compaction
The microbes that break down your compost require a healthy level of oxygen. Without this oxygen, your compost may become over-compacted leading to excess hydrogen sulfide and a smell of rotten eggs.
The remedy for over-compacted, un-oxygenated compost is aerating the heap. This requires the simple but messy task of churning the compost on a regular basis. It’s also a good idea to add ‘fluffy’ material, like dry leaves or grass in order to achieve the right density.

Too Much Moisture
While healthy compost requires a great deal of moisture, too much can definitely turn into a smelly problem. If your compost is in a closed container, make holes in the container so some of the moisture can be released and your compost can function properly.

Proper Compost Materials

One important thing to remember is that not everything belongs in the compost bin. These things can invite unwanted creatures and smells.
We recommend that you don’t add:

• Meat
• Bones
• Fish
• Dairy products
• Grease or oil

But please DO add:

• Comfrey
• Garden waste
• Lawn clippings
• Kitchen waste (including tea bags, coffee grounds, cooked pasta, fruit and vegetable trimmings.)
• Manure
• Seaweed
• Woody prunings
• Weeds
• Bracken
• Straw
• Newspaper and cardboard
• A high quality Microbial Inoculant

While all of these tips are useful and work, some people still find the compost process to be time consuming and, despite best efforts, still smelly. Not to worry! There is another alternative…

The Most Effective Compost Alternative: The Bokashi Method

If you’re searching for a simpler solution, the Bokashi Compost Method is the best alternative to traditional composting currently available. The Bokashi Method is not only easier than composting, but because it relies on the fermentation process rather than decomposition, it is also quicker, requires less churning, and is virtually odorless, making it ideal for urban dwellers.

The Bokashi Method requires 3 simple steps:

1. Allow 1-2 weeks to fill compost bin
2. Leave compost in bin to ferment for 2 weeks adding EM•1® Bokashi every few days
3. Bury the material underground for 2 weeks or simply add it to your traditional compost pile

This method eliminates all odors and takes place in less than a month!

Controlling the smell of your compost is easier than you think. And with the right knowledge, composting is one of the easiest and most beneficial things you can do.

Hydroponics

Hydroponics is a Latin phrase meaning “working water.” Today, this is the process of growing plants without the use of soil. Hydroponics uses mineral nutrient solutions in water. Hydroponics has been proven as a successful way to grow healthy, stable, and high-yielding plants. When fruits and vegetables are grown hydroponically, the plants are nutrient-rich and tasty.

The two techniques for growing by hydroponics are medium culture and solution culture. Medium cultures use a solid medium such as sand or gravel to facilitate growth. Solution culture does not use these elements, and simply uses the nutrient solution.

How do Hydroponic Plants grow?

Plants grown hydroponically grow so well because they are getting all the nutrients they need in an ideally balanced environment without soil, which forces plants’ roots to search for their necessities. This means the plant can spend less effort trying to ingest food and more effort on vegetative growth and reproduction.

Hydroponic plants may grow completely in liquid or use small amounts of gravel, dirt or sand. Your hydroponics system can be in a mass fashion with many fertilizers, different mediums and automation or as simple as a single plant growing in a hand-watered bucket.

Creating a Positive Environment for your Plant

When growing hydroponically, it is crucial to remember that the nutrients and minerals soil-plants receive naturally, your plant relies on you to receive. A healthy hydroponics environment must have water, aeration, nutrients and physical plant support.

One thing you can do to ensure a healthy environment when using foliar feeding for hydroponic plants is to use a small amount of EM-1 Microbial Inoculant . While this does not substitute for nutrient solutions, it does maintain recommended dilution ratios for your plant. It is also a good idea to condition the water you are feeding your plants with EM-X Ceramics. Specialized hydroponic fertilizers can be used to ensure your plant grows as healthy as possible.

Part of hosting a positive environment for your hydroponic plants also means maintaining an ideal pH level. Similar to soil plants, very high or very low pH levels in hydroponic systems disable plants from absorbing the nutrients they need. Fortunately, like many other aspects of hydroponic systems, pH levels are much easier to monitor, test, and control than soil plants.

What are the Benefits of Growing Hydroponically?

Because of the absence of dirt, nutrients are more accessible and create greater yields. The absence of dirt also means less space is required.

Plants in hydroponic systems are maintained in a controlled environment. Should the plant show mineral or nutrient deficiencies, the concentrations of these ingredients applied in water can be easily altered. Additionally, soil plants are frequently subjected to soil-born pesticides, diseases, weeds, and pesticide use. These risks are almost completely eliminated with hydroponics.

There are a number of methods and mediums used to create hydroponic plants. It has become very easy and affordable to experiment with hydroponics at any level. So try it out and start seeing higher yields soon!

Fermentation: The Nutritional Benefits

Humans have been fermenting their food and drink since the beginning of time. Jars containing wine dating back 7,000 years in present Iran, leavened bread in ancient Egypt, fermented milk in Ancient Babylon; the list goes on and on. We can’t know if these people understood the health benefits of consuming fermented food and drink, but it’s pretty obvious they liked it.

Fermentation Today
Contemporary humans have taken a liking to it as well. Beer, wine, ketchup, Tabasco, chocolate, cheeses and many other favorites are all based in traditional fermentation processes. Unfortunately, commercial interests are causing the foods most accessible to us to be fermented in manners that lower the nutritional benefits of fermentation. Pickles, onions and sauerkraut are being fermented in acidic vinegar as opposed to natural salt; bread is leavened with commercial yeast as opposed to wild yeast; and wine, beer, yogurt, milk and cheeses are heavily pasteurized in high heats. Contrary to lacto-fermented processes, all these methods kill of the good bacteria and enzymes that fermentation naturally provides.

What’s So Great About Fermentation?
The fermentation process involves the breakdown of carbohydrates and proteins by microgranisms such as bacteria and yeast. This creates great advantages in health and food preparation.

Food Preservation
The primary goal of fermentation in ancient times which holds functionality today is food preservation. Fermented food lasts weeks and sometimes months longer than fresh food. Consider how much longer a pickle stays fresh than a cucumber.

Digestion and Immunity
By fermenting food and allowing it to break down on its own, it naturally processes our food even before we eat it. Traditionally fermented foods are also rich in enzymes which allow food to be digested easier. Fermenting food also allows your body to take in and process the nutrients and vitamins in your food.

Taste
Naturally fermenting food creates full, fresh and rich tastes in food and drinks.

Easy and Inexpensive
Fermenting your own foods and using them in healthy and tasty recipes is easy. With a few products, like E-1 Microbial Inoculant, fermenting your own food was never so easy or cheap!

Can Probiotics Cure Autoimmune Diseases?

The benefits of probiotics are plentiful and many people incorporate them into their diet as an add-on. However, few people realize that these micro-organisms may be the key to decreasing the severity of symptoms related to autoimmune diseases. If you have been diagnosed with celiac, type 1 diabetes or lyme disease, there is good reason to believe that including these beneficial bacteria (link) into your treatment plan will provide significant health benefits.

The Journal of Leukocyte Biologypublished a study in May 2010 that concentrated on the link between celiac disease, an autoimmune disorder in which gluten attacks villi in the small intestine, and probiotics. This study replicated the environment of a celiac patient’s intestine which included certain types of harmful gram negative bacteria. A bifidobacteria probiotic was introduced and immediately had a strong anti-inflammatory effect. The findings of this study supports previous speculation that probiotics can offer significant benefits against celiac disease by decreasing serum CRP levels and the bacteria-induced production of proinflammatory cytokines, while simultaneously up-regulating the expression of anti-inflammatory cytokines. By decreasing the inflammatory effect of celiac probiotics may be able to restrict the primary symptoms of the disease, which are severe stomach problems, fatigue and vitamin deficiencies.

Similar research has been found in regards to Type 1 diabetes and the use of probiotics. Diabetics’ cells are starved of nutrition and consequently starved for energy production. Probiotic bacteria found in supplements such as PRO-EM 1 help your body absorb nutrients and reduce constant stress on the immune system. Probiotics may also help prevent and treat yeast infections which high blood sugars resulting from diabetes often trigger.

Treatment for lyme disease typically involves long term use of antibiotics which often kill the good bacteria in the gut. A study by researchers at Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University recommends that physicians prescribe probiotics as part of the core treatment of lyme disease. Not only do probiotics re-establish the intestinal tract’s beneficial microflora, they also up-regulate the immune system so that it can successfully fight lyme disease pathogen. The lyme disease pathogen, Borrelia burgdorferi, is a potent pathogen that burrows deep into body tissues until it re-emerges weeks or months later. An up-regulated immune system from a probiotic cleanse may be of significant benefit during the latency period.

There may not be enough concrete research to deem probiotics a cure for celiac, type 1 diabetes or lyme disease yet. However, the scientific findings above illustrate the importance of incorporating these beneficial bacteria into your core treatment plan. Even if you have not been diagnosed with celiac, type 1 diabetes or lyme disease, probiotics are still extremely beneficial to your health and may decrease the likelihood that autoimmune disease symptoms will develop in your future.

Why Use Natural Soap? The Benefits of Using Castile Soap

Recently natural soaps have been making a comeback, as more Americans are diagnosed with skin sensitivities and conditions. While many major brands have begun manufacturing "natural" or "botanical" versions of their soaps, there’s little understanding of what sets these soaps apart from the regular commercial varieties. In many cases, there’s little actual difference between these soaps. Therefore, consumers looking for fragrance free, dye-free, SLS-free or chemical-free soaps should opt for pure soaps (also known as castile soaps) instead of commercial varieties of soaps.

What is Castile Soap?

Unlike commercial soaps that rely on SLS (sodium lauryl sulfate) to create a soapy lather, castile soap's bubbles come from saponins in the oils that are released from the reaction of lye and oil.

Benefits of Pure Soap

1. Doesn’t Cause Irritation
Many skin irritations like itchiness, flaking, and redness are a result of dry skin. In the commercial soap making process glycerin is removed from the oil used to make the soap so that it can be sold for more expensive applications (facial creams, cosmetics, etc.). This glycerin is what provides moisture to your skin. When pure soap is made all of the glycerin is retained so all of that moisture stays in the soap- allowing your skin to be hydrated with every use. With the moisture content so much higher, pure soap can even be used on babies and children.

2. Won’t Clog Pores
Pure soap actually opens pores, unclogging them and allowing for a deeper clean. Subsequently, people with severe acne have reported that using pure soap has allowed for their pores to be gently unclogged- reducing acne breakouts and the occurrence of blackheads.

3. Accelerates Healing
Pure soap can actually accelerate skin’s natural healing properties- allowing for scars and stretch marks to become less visible over time.

4. Good for Skin Conditions/Sensitivities
People with eczema, psoriasis, dermatitis, and SLS-sensitivity have a hard time finding skincare products that won’t irritate their skin or worsen their condition. Pure soap is the best solution for these conditions or sensitivities because it is very gentle on the skin and can greatly improve overall skin health.

5. Carries Fewer Serious Health Risks
Commercial anti-bacterial soaps contain a chemical called triclosan, which is actually registered as a pesticide by the EPA. Triclosan can lead to endocrine system issues, birth defects, decreased fertility, a weakened immune system, and even cancer. Pure soap does not contain triclosan.

6. Better Value
Pure soaps are only slightly more expensive, and the high-quality ingredients used are pure and all-natural, whereas commercial soaps use low-quality ingredients composed mainly of cheap chemicals and additives.

With all of the natural soaps out there, which one should you use? Our favorite pure bath soap is called Shabondama, which means "bubble" in Japanese