Fermented Fruit and Vegetable Juice (FFJ)
This method, inspired by natural farming techniques, uses the power of fermentation to extract valuable nutrients from your fruit and vegetable scraps. It’s a potent liquid fertilizer you can easily make at home.
What you’ll need:
- Fruit and Vegetable Scraps: Think fruit peels, vegetable, and even slightly overripe or bruised fruits and vegetables. Avoid oily or diseased scraps.
- Brown Sugar or Molasses: This acts as food for the beneficial microorganisms that will do the fermenting. Use an equal weight to your scraps.
- A Container with a Lid: A clean plastic bucket or jar will work. Make sure it’s not airtight, as gases will be produced during fermentation. You can loosely place the lid or poke small holes in it.
- Weights: Clean stones or a small plate can help keep the scraps submerged.
The Simple Steps:
- Prepare Your Scraps: Chop your fruit and vegetable scraps into smaller pieces. This increases the surface area for fermentation.
- Weigh it Down: If you’re concerned about mold growth, place clean weights on top of the mixture to keep the scraps submerged in the sugary liquid that will start to form.
- Ferment: Find a cool, dark, and well-ventilated place to let your mixture ferment. The fermentation process usually takes about 7-14 days, depending on the temperature. You’ll notice bubbles forming and a sweet, slightly alcoholic smell.
- Strain: Once the fermentation is complete strain the liquid through a cloth or fine-mesh sieve into a clean container. This is your Fermented Fruit and Vegetable Juice.
How to Use Your Liquid Compost:
- Dilute: FFJ is potent! Always dilute it with water before applying to your plants. A common dilution ratio is 1:500. For example, mix 1 tablespoon of FFJ in 5 liters of water.
- Foliar Spray: You can spray the diluted FFJ directly onto the leaves of your plants, especially during their growth stages. This allows for quick absorption of nutrients.
Give this method a try, and you’ll be surprised at how easy it is to create a powerful liquid fertilizer right in your kitchen! Let me know if you have any other questions.
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