EM MUDBALLS
Mud balls that are fermented and dried/hardened and made with different materials, usually dirt, bokashi, Activated EM and/or water (other materials may also be included). The mud balls are inoculated with microorganisms, using EM-1, and act as a housing and hub from which the microbes can propagate into the area they are thrown into (polluted waters, landfills, etc.).
The use of mud balls fermented with EM (developed in Japan and applied throughout the world) serves multiple purposes:
- Reduces the amount of application compared to the liquid application of Activated EM or EM-5, instead of regularly (monthly or quarterly), to once or twice a year initially.
- To bioremediate polluted areas, especially waterways (bays, lakes, rivers, ponds, etc.), as well as, contaminated soils or grounds (landfills, brownfields, etc.)
- Reduces sludge, breaks down chemicals and toxins, as well as, make heavy metals non-bio-available.
- Adds and improves the microbial population and diversity.
- Initiates the restoration of the food-chain bringing back both plant life (aquatic plant life) and organisms throughout the food-chain: microbes populate to feed other microbes, feeding worms, tiny crustacea, insects, feeding fishes, birds, etc.; and all of their droppings, excretions and secretions serving as food and/or nutrients to feed aquatic plants and corals.
- Can be a fun activity (throwing mud balls out into the water) and learning opportunity for the family and the community.
- When throwing to certain land areas, some seeds could also be added when making the mudballs, in order to disseminate plant life, particularly native plant life, to that land area.
- See also, differences between the two main ways (EM Bokashi & Activated EM) of cleaning up polluted waters with EM.
How To Make EM Mudballs (simple recipe, EMRO's recipe, recipe with seeds)
Cost estimates for an example body of water (mudballs only and mudballs with Activated EM applications).
Why Mud Balls. Fun and dirty to make, especially for kids, and fun to throw.
The EM Mudballs method is one way in which to bioremediate a polluted area, specifically, a contaminated body of water. Minimizes the need for multiple applications (compared to the liquid application of Activated EM).
Grassroots Movements (Volunteer and Community Groups).
For further information and how and where EM Mudballs have been applied throughout the world, see the following: