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  • From: Marlin L Burkholder <gleneco1 AT juno.com>
  • To: market-farming AT franklin.oit.unc.edu
  • Subject: Bio Extract (BE)
  • Date: Thu, 24 May 2001 01:08:32 -0400



I got this one from a Laotian agricultural exchange student who we are
hosting at our farm this spring.

According to him, an agricultural researcher Phd from Thailand developed
the formula for making and applying BE. He had brought along with him a
pamphlet with this information written in Lao from the university where
he began his studies and plans to continue when he returns to Laos in
July.

What I am about to share with you is a somewhat rough English translation
of this pamphlet which we hammered out together after supper the other
evening.

BIOEXTRACT BE

Technique:
-Can be easily made from any kind or parts of plant and or vegetable
material (aka garbage) mixed with water and molasses (or sugar) and
allowed to steep for approximately one week
-Concentrates benificial bacteria and plant nutrients in resulting
liquid brown water
-When added to the soil, BE helps to break down organic matter in the
soil and releases nutrients for uptake by plants.
Useful for:
-Stimulating plant growth
-Making better compost
-Controlling insect pests and weeds
-Decreasing odors in septuic systems and manure pits
Caution:
If not properly diluted with water, concentrated bacteria in
Bioextract
can harm growing plants if the extract is applied directly to leaves,
interfering with growth hormones in plants.

How to make Bioextract:
1) Collect vegetable material, chop into small pieces, and put into
closed container.
2) Mix with molasses or (white or brown) sugar 1 part sugar to 3 parts
vegetable matter by weight.
(If you have BE already made up use 1/2 BE and 1/2 sugar for the
sugar portion)
3) Place weight on vegetative material in mixture to prevent floating
and close lid.
4) Allow to steep for 5-7 days at normal ambient temperature.
5) Strain off the brown water extract and store in closed container.

How to use Bioextract:
1) Spray on vegetables and fruit trees 1 tbs in 5-10 litres water (1
:
500-1000) Spray often
2) Spray piles of leaves or grass clippings 1 tbs to 2-3 litre water.
Cover pile with plastic. Let set 1-2 weeks
3) Compost piles: 2 tbs to 10 litres water plus 2 tbs molasses.
Apply
til compost is moist but not saturated.
4) Weed control: Work soil. Apply 1 tbs BE to 2-5 litre water. 1/2-1
litre of mixture applied to 1 square meter. Wait 3-7 days before
planting. If more weeds germinate, work soil again and spray again
with a 1-500 dilution and wait 2-3 days.
5) Deodorize septic tanks: 1 tbs BE to 1-5 litres water (1 :
100-500)
6) To make more BE: 1 part BE + 1 part molasses + 10 parts water
(No
need to use more vegetable material) Put in closed container for
three days.

BE for human consumption:
1) 3 parts clean fruit (bananas, mangos etc.) to 1 part molasses or
sugar
2) Let stand for 1 week.
3) Use to personal taste for general health benefits and
(happiness?).

There you have it! I gave him the go ahead to make some and experiment
with it. He has made his first batch and we have applied some to some
garden areas and compost piles. I would be very interested if someone
else has ever heard of or worked with Bioextract or something similar.

Marlin Burkholder
Shenandoah Valley of Virginia






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