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Thread: organic mash

  1. #11
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    Re: organic mash

    I use soil blocks all the time, mainly with worm castings. Never thought of making fish feed blocks. Going to have to give that a try.

    I've been looking into attracting insects for feeding the fish. Keeps them away from my plants. If you are using a blender then insects could be added to the mix. Its easier to set up a light trap that collects the insects in water. A swirl filter also seems like a good place to have a light source over. Does not effect the fish and is easier to keep an eye on.

  2. #12
    Moderator urbanfarmer's Avatar
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    Re: organic mash

    Very nice invention! Thank you for sharing!

    Quote Originally Posted by dufflight
    I use soil blocks all the time, mainly with worm castings. Never thought of making fish feed blocks. Going to have to give that a try.

    I've been looking into attracting insects for feeding the fish. Keeps them away from my plants. If you are using a blender then insects could be added to the mix. Its easier to set up a light trap that collects the insects in water. A swirl filter also seems like a good place to have a light source over. Does not effect the fish and is easier to keep an eye on.
    I have seen people use a bug zapper with the bottom removed hanging over the FT. Obviously, there may be some hidden dangers therein...

  3. #13
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    Re: organic mash

    I was giving my chooks some old weetabix. They didn't seem that interested in them so I gave some to the catfish and silvers. They took to them really fast. one weetabix didn't get a foot under the surface before it was smashed to bits and eaten.

  4. #14
    Moderator davidstcldfl's Avatar
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    Re: organic mash

    Quote Originally Posted by dufflight
    I was giving my chooks some old weetabix. They didn't seem that interested in them so I gave some to the catfish and silvers. They took to them really fast. one weetabix didn't get a foot under the surface before it was smashed to bits and eaten.
    ....Duff, since the previous posts were talking about bugs........ I googled, to see what a weetabix BUG looked like....

    ...it's breakfast cereal......
    "Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn't pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same." - President Ronald Reagan

  5. #15
    Moderator stucco's Avatar
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    Re: organic mash

    Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It's not.-- Dr. Seuss, The Lorax
    Simplicity of character is the natural result of profound thought~fortune cookie

  6. #16
    Moderator stucco's Avatar
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    Re: organic mash

    We have tried a couple of different varieties of homemade food. Grown BSFL and even fed earthworm. Have spent many hours researching pelletizers and trying to find a local mill who could be used-Never thought to use a soil blocker. So I give you a hearty Thumbs Up on this one. I would like to try it- in my own way, but I have a couple of questions.
    I am very familiar with composting though I have never tried the Bokashi sytle- more of a ferment- however, I am keen on making kimchi and have been working on some other lacto fermented products on which to use my abundance of veggies. I am curious what kind of EM you use of if you have some suggestions. I know of a couple of providers from which I could order a mother culture from which you can make individual batches of activated culture which is then diluted.
    As far as the other ingredients go,
    I gotta admit- I have no idea what tiki tiki is- can you clue me in?
    copra meal (coconut meat) is not an easily acquired product here – at least at a low cost- what do you suggest as a replacement? I am curious if there would be a way to incorporate some of the veg meal that is left over in the garden to replace this?
    Fish meal, Lime, minerals, charcoal, molasses.
    Fish Silage- Could this be a vegetable or grain? The protein will be less but it might be more easily accessed in hard times.
    Basically- mix it all up compress into blocks and allow to ferment as it dries. Do you place in any specific temperature or humidity- or leave open to the air?
    Again- thank you for your insight.
    Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It's not.-- Dr. Seuss, The Lorax
    Simplicity of character is the natural result of profound thought~fortune cookie

  7. #17
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    Re: organic mash

    Remember that eggs can be added to the mash to help keep it together. Omega 3 and protein are found in chooks eggs and they can help convert your wast plant material from the AP system.

  8. #18
    Moderator stucco's Avatar
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    Re: organic mash

    We do not currently have any chickens - though momma has that in the works.. she is insistent that we get them soon- our goal to be as self sufficient as possible. The boys got rabbits for christmas- they will be our breeding stock- 2m Flemish giants,2f new zealand- for a cross meat rabbit- the first kits should be here around august of this year. they have been eating all the garden leftovers- which has been great- I bought a bag of feed - but they took to the garden veggies like champs -so they get that and ample hay and seem to be loving life. and what great manure... When we finally do get our chickens - i know momma will have a use for every one of those eggs!!!
    As far as a binder- my sons and I have gluten allergies and momma is used to cooking with weird combinations of flours to obtain satisfactory bread products- her choice for a binder is flax meal- which many vegetarians use as a great omega source- she has on occasion used chia (as in the toy Chia pet) as well which has a great nutrient profile.
    Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It's not.-- Dr. Seuss, The Lorax
    Simplicity of character is the natural result of profound thought~fortune cookie

  9. #19
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    Re: organic mash

    Stucco-

    Step 1 - Download my book on EM applications at http://www.lulu.com/mik
    That will answer the EM1 issue. Basically these microbes are powerful agents in nutrition enhancement and quality preservation.


    The blocks can be fermented in an air tight bucket for 2 weeks and then sun dried. However we usually just rack them under the green house for 2 weeks (they still ferment in the core!) and sun dry. They float!



    Note white molds are beneficial so do not fear

    Step 2- Down load my attached EXCEL
    Make an EXCEL spread sheet to formulate your own feed
    I've attached it for you below, sorry, you have to convert to Imperial if you no like metric! Enter what you have and put zero under what you do not have. Enter the price also and you will see what the cost per pound/kilo is as well as crude protein [CP]. Then tweek it till your CP is what you want by adjusting the weight of your inputs.


    Azolla meal production, dripping rack 1 day, drying rack 2-4 days depending on sun. Never direct sun as you loose some of the essential oils and lessen some vitamins and nutrients.


    Herb dryer-black surface creates heat, herbs dry through passive solar heat in shade

    copra meal: 20%+ [CP]- high protein dried coconut meat that is left over after oil extraction
    Tiki Tiki- rice bran (sub with GMO free wheat bran)
    BSF Larvae: 40%++ [CP]
    NO CORN OR SOY as it is mostly GMO world wide
    FFA-Fish Amino Acid-Fish Silage See my book Appendix 4(?) for making your own

    My goal is mercury free, GMO free, Soy Free feed ingredients, so you guys in the USA should be flexible and target the CP as a primary goal. Don't worry if your ingredients vary, just try to get the quality you can afford.


    Remember, in a large stable system you can rely on the phytoplankton like algae, zooplankton, floating feed plants like duckweed and azolla and insect eggs as well as fresh water snails and shell creatures to balance out your feed. These are what we call free choice feeds and your fish will balance the irregularities in your GOM-free-all-natural-on-site-formulated-feeds. Tweek it as you go based on your DETAILED NOTES!
    "Modern agriculture specializes in the use of land for the conversion of petroleum to food.
    Sustainable agriculture is something your great grandchildren will be able to do regardless of the inputs. Time tests all methods." Keith Mikkelson

  10. #20
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    Re: organic mash

    Spread sheet xls not allowed, any other ways?
    "Modern agriculture specializes in the use of land for the conversion of petroleum to food.
    Sustainable agriculture is something your great grandchildren will be able to do regardless of the inputs. Time tests all methods." Keith Mikkelson

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