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MD/DC/VA EM and Agriculture Seminar, April 2, 2005
- To: lfl@intrex.net
- Subject: MD/DC/VA EM and Agriculture Seminar, April 2, 2005
- From: "Lawrence F. London, Jr." <lfl@intrex.net>
- Date: Mon, 05 Sep 2005 21:05:13 -0400
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<http://www.gardeningforthefuture.com/>
"********"
EM in Agriculture Seminar
WHEN: 8AM to 4PM, April 2, 2005
WHERE: Shepherdstown, WV (directions)
COST: $35.00
MORE INFORMATION: Contact Allan Balliett at 304.876.3382 or
MOREMOREMOREMO EMworkshop@gardeningforthefuture.com
Seminar website: www.gardeningforthefuture.com
INTRODUCTION
A full day workshop featuring Steve Diver and Vinny Pinto and Matthew
Wood on how to use inexpensive farm-made microbial ferments to boost
soil fertility and control disease in farm and garden crops and to
increase the available nutrition in livestock feeds and control common
livestock odors (with a postscript on the use of beneficial microbes for
human nutrition). This is a workshop for farmers, ranchers, gardeners,
ag professionals, resource specialists, conservationists, soil
scientists, nutrient management specialists, students, educators,
livestock managers and anyone interested in the health and nutritional
benefits of microbial diversity. This workshop focuses on the living
component of soil and how it contributes to agricultural productivity.
WHAT IS EM?
Effective microorganisms, or EM, is a special culture of beneficial
microorganisms which are used as an inoculant to promote healthy soils,
treat livestock odors, and compost food wastes. When used properly, EM
applications create beneficial soil effects such as improved soil
aggregation, nitrogen fixation, mineralization, humus formation, disease
suppression, and decomposition. EM is also used to enhance the nutrition
and digestibility of livestock feeds and to control odors and insects
problems in livestock enterprises. The best site on the web for
information on what EM is and how to use it is Vinny Pinto's "EM INFO"
site. (www.eminfo.info/)
WHY USE EM?
21st century organic farmers have become aware of the necessity for a
successful organic farm to have a diverse and health soil foodweb. In
the U.S., one is likely to hear that the only approach to bolstering the
soil foodweb is through applications of aerobically brewed compost tea.
Many farmers have found that producing an viable batch of aerobic
compost tea can be both expensive (lab tests, equipment outlay) and time
consuming. For decades now the Japanese have been using anaerobic
microbial brews to gain the same results claimed for aerobic teas. EM is
the most reliable and effective of the Asian microbial brews. Using EM
requires virtually no extra equipment and requires no lab tests.
Ironically, EM is an anaerobic inoculant which brews itself in a closed
container and yet provides such a significant boost to soil biology that
it not only brings "rare' beneficial microbes to farm soils, it also
creates a soil environment that allows indigenous bacteria, fungus and
beneficial nematodes to flourish.
Furthermore, in the world of microbial agriculture, EM is far from a new
idea. EM has been used in Japan for more than 20 years. As a point of
fact, ATTRA's Steve Diver says that there are more research papers and
reports on EM than on any other microbial inoculation system in organic
agriculture.
THE PROGRAM ON APRIL 2
Steve Diver, who has recently presented at both the ECOFARM and Upper
Midwest Organic Conferences on building soil and plant health through
beneficial microbial inoculation, will give an overview of the theory
and practice of using beneficial microbe cultures on the farm. His
presentation will review practical approaches for bioaugmentation of the
rhizosphere and phyllosphere, including the production and use of
compost teas, effective microorganisms, indigenous microorganisms,
fermented plant extracts, cow patty pit from Biodynamics, and
mass-produced mycorrhizal inoculates, as well as how the use of EM fits
into this larger picture.
Vinny Pinto, an expert on agricultural applications for EM, will speak
on the following topics:
* Basics of EM
* How to use EM for composting
* Using EM for ag soil
* How to make high quality AEM
* How to use EM for cattle, poultry and swine
* Value of EM products in human and livestock nutrition
A hands-on bokashi-making workshop will also likely be offered, and
Efficient Microbes EM microbial culture and various related products
will be offered for sale by a representative from SCD. Better, there is
a very good chance that Matthew Wood, a founding partner of SCD, will be
available to offer an introduction to EM and its various uses, and also
to lecture on specific applications in agriculture. Matthew studied EM
technology with Dr. Teruo Higa in Japan and earned his Master's degree
in Dr. Higa's EM program at University of Ryukus in Okinawa; he remains
the first and only American to have completed the Master's program in EM
with Dr. Higa. We will offer further updates on Matthew Wood's possible
presence as soon as details are at hand.
The goal of this conference is to give the new user a background on the
theory and science of microbial inoculation in general and a working
knowledge of how to economically use EM effectively in a farming
enterprise. Furthermore, once in the field, attendees of this workshop
can rely on support from Mr. Pinto through his "EM-AG" internet
discussion group.
REGISTRATION
Seating for the workshop is limited, so please register early. Register
by sending a check made out to "GFTF" to Gardening for the Future, POB
3047, Shepherstown, WV 25443 or at the door. For up-to-date information
about this seminar, watch www.gardeningforthefuture.com or contact Allan
Balliett at 304.876-3382 or EMworkshop@gardeningforthefuture.com
Bio for Vinny Pinto go back to top of page
Vinny Pinto is a consulting scientist who performs research on use of
beneficial syntropic (anti-entropic) fermentative microbes, including EM
and related microbial consortia, in a variety of fields ranging from
soils for crop agriculture to livestock to odor management and pathogen
reduction in industrial and waste treatment settings. He also operates a
small zero-odor egg-producing operation using EM microbial technology.
Vinny is a degreed scientist with a Master's degree in the
health-related sciences and in research methods in the health sciences.
He has a strong background in devising and guiding scientific research
studies. He has been working with and researching uses of EM for over
two years, particularly in the realms of livestock and human uses, and
health-related applications using EM fermented antioxidant beverages as
a nutritional supplement for humans and animals; he performs consulting
for clients in a number of foreign countries as well as in the USA. One
of his recent large agricultural livestock consulting projects involved
implementation of EM for odor control and animal health in a large
"factory" poultry farm containing about 50,000 chickens in a 6,000 sq.
ft. barn, where the poultry density was roughly 10 lbs per square foot.
He has presented lectures and seminars on the usage of such beneficial
syntropic microbes in many venues, including the international EM
Sustainable Community Festival held in Kansas City, MO in November 2004
which attracted attendees from around the world. Vinny operates two
popular informational websites on EM and its uses ( www.eminfo.info and
www.antioxbrew.com ) and he operates five e-mail list groups on various
applications of EM and similar beneficial antioxidative microbes. Vinny
is the author of an encyclopedic 200+ page book entitled "Fermentation
with Syntropic Antioxidative Microbes: An Advanced Guide to Brewing EM
Fermented Secondary Products", and is currently working on an
introductory book offering an overview on the use EM across many fields
and a second book which will offering basic guidelines for using EM and
related beneficial microbial cultures in agriculture. Vinny is also the
publisher of the fee-based "Advanced EM Newsletter", a newsletter
devoted to advanced uses for EM across various sectors.
Bio for Steve Diver go back to top of page
Steve Diver is an agriculture specialist with the National Center for
Appropriate Technology (NCAT). Steve provides technical support on
agronomic and horticultural topics through NCAT's flagship sustainable
agriculture program known as ATTRA -- National Sustainable Agriculture
Information Service. He earned BS and an MS degrees in horticulture from
Oklahoma State University, and worked as Extension Horticulturist in
Eastern Oklahoma for four years. He managed an organic blueberry farm in
the Missouri Ozarks prior to joining NCAT. He has surveyed EM technology
and provided technical support for agricultural applications of EM since
1995. Steve has delivered workshops and keynote lectures on humus
farming, soil biology, compost, compost teas, EM (Effective
Microorganisms), IMO (Indigenous Microorganisms), fermented plant
extracts, biodynamic preparations, and related on-farm microbial
preparations at organic farming conferences, scientific symposiums, and
Extension Service training. He lives on a 12 acre farm outside of
Fayetteville, AR, and raises a quarter acre garden of mixed vegetables,
flowers, and herbs.
================================================================================
Special thanks is given to Vinny Pinto and Steve Diver and to
Sustainable Community Development (www.scdworld.org "Sustainable
Commmunity Development, L.L.C. ("SCD") is dedicated to providing the
LOHAS (Lifestyles of Health and Sustainability) community with all
natural, microbial-based products for human health and environmental
sustainability!") for the sacrifices they have made to make this event
possible.
This seminar was organized by Allan Balliett and Gardening for the
Future's educational project, the Fresh and Local CSA of Shepherdstown
WV (serving the DC metro-area) www.freshandlocalcsa.com
This seminar is co-sponsored by Jeff Otto and East Coast Organics, where
"Our mission is to offer garden centers, nurseries and professional
growers premium quality, field-tested organic supplies that promote
responsible land management. By blending the modern theories of
sustainable agriculture with ancient agricultural traditions, East Coast
Organics has created an essential line of organic garden supplies that
will improve the lives of your plants and the life of our planet."
www.eastcoastorganics.com
This seminar is co-sponsored by the Pennsylvania Association for
Sustainable Agriculture, a non-profit organization which promotes
profitable farming which produces healthy food for all people while
respecting the natural environment." www.PASAfarming.org
This seminar is co-sponsored and supported by Horticultural Extension of
Loudoun, Co, Virginia
This seminar is co-sponsored and supported by the office of agricultural
economic development of Jefferson County, Virginia
Title: MD/DC/VA EM and Agriculture Seminar, April 2, 2005
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