Probiotics for Insects, Soil and Self

For many people, the idea of dousing their veggie gardens with chemical pesticides or fertilizers is akin to dousing their nightly salad, children playing nearby and their companion animals with toxic sludge. Other individuals practicing organic gardening/farming may be looking for a compassionate way to deal with insects interested in their crops. So what do you do when the white flies take up camp in your kale patch?

Keeping bugs out of your garden begins from the ground up. Soil is a living substance and, like all living substances, needs to be respected and nourished. Strong soil equals strong plants, and strong plants are better able to protect themselves against insects. Just as we are what we eat, so are plants. When we cultivate the soil year after year, it can become depleted and the malnourished plants grown in this soil not only fail to wow at the county fair, they attract bugs.

There are a myriad of natural ways to revive depleted soil and deter insects, but the garden supplement I’m discussing today is so simple and miraculous it is too small to be seen by the naked eye: Effective Microorganisms.

Effective Microorganisms (EM), is a trademarked term for a specific blend of naturally-occurring beneficial microorganisms discovered by Professor Teruo Higa around 1980 at the University of the Ryukyus in Okinawa, Japan.

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Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Vicky P.

2:49PM PDT on Apr 1, 2012

thanks

send a green star

Suzanne L.

1:40PM PDT on Mar 14, 2012

Thank you. I had not heard of these products before.

paula e.

7:19AM PST on Feb 2, 2012

Thank ypu. We take the soil for granted.

Melinda offline K.

3:27AM PDT on Aug 24, 2011

I recommend the Biodynamic preparations too to encourage soil bacteria

Eternal G.

8:49PM PDT on Jul 29, 2011

Yes it is all about soil... and a bit of common sense!

Chris R.

4:45PM PDT on Jul 27, 2011

Thanks Alisa!~

Alisa R.

2:29PM PDT on Jul 19, 2011

@ Leny B: Thank you for an informative post. I am growing organic tomatoes, cucumbers and peepers in containers on my small deck. As I live in zone five, the plants are just beginning to produce. Is EM-1 safe for container gardening? If so, can it be purchased in small quantities?

Yes EM-1 is safe for container gardening and in my opinion would be a great addition, as you are unlikely to have a good amount of worm activity in your containers. I've seen EM sold in containers anywhere from 12 oz to 1 gallon so you should be able to find what you're looking for.

Roxana J.

6:43PM PDT on Jul 15, 2011

thanks for the info..

heather g.

12:41AM PDT on Jul 15, 2011

I have seen wonderful results of lush vegetables, even in small gardens. It is the way of the future.......... if Monsanto doesn't kill us beforehand.

Loo S.

5:21AM PDT on Jul 13, 2011

thanks for sharing.