Collecting Native Microbes
I am attempting to collect benefical bacteria and fungus before I leave el casa del 
Things you will need for IMO 1:
- A Wood box
my buddy Joe who built this box!
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bahzl4xBbB5/?utm_source=ig_share_sheet&igshid=nouurbdkpqlu
- Be mindful of pressure treated wood or any wood that has been contaminated with chemicals or if you over think it like me, which I don't recommend necessarily, research further into types of wood and the anti-microbial properties of certian woods like cedar.
- Be sure to have adequate ventilation when building said box.
- It is important to have the box constructed as to allow for portability and better maneuverability in sensitive environments.
- A rodent cage or chicken wire is important for the box to have as a cover for protection from animals as they will love the rice in the box. Of course a stapler strong enough to secure to box.
- White Rice
LAB
I've been told 'short' grain white rice is best but white rice and most importantly organic white rice is best if only to ensure the rice you are buying is not cheap plastic rice!
Plastic rice is a taboo subject. Snopes says it is not proven, Wiki has a whole thing on it and other sites says it's just rumors. But interestingly enough I found an article about a government seizing a lot of it馃樃
https://www.cnn.com/2016/12/23/africa/nigeria-fake-plastic-rice/index.html I know I know it's CNN 馃槀馃槀馃槀
https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/plastic-rice-from-china/ Snopes
Cooking the rice
Simply just wash the rice really good and barely cover with water in rice cooker to achieve an al dente effect. Im finding at my altitude of around 2000ft I have to stop the rice cooker before it finished. You really want the rice al dente.
Once finished I let cool off to room temperature.
Preparing the box
I fill my box up 1/2 to 2/3 full with the cooked rice. I try and not over thinking it anymore but still staying mindful of technique.
I will then cover with a paper towel. Note, coffee filters are not ideal typically in most of natural farming and paper towels or really clean potus clothing is prefered.
Taking the metal cage I will then 'sandwich' the cage on top of the paper towels and staple shut.
Prepping the area
I'm Taking short cuts here. There are key protocols I am skipping due to not having key ferments like fermented plant juice. It's ok though I just treated the ground area, in which I found to have ample white long and visible white fungus and in an area that will recieve 70% shade and 30% sun in order to mimic the forest floor.
I gathered ample wood chips so as to insulate the wood box and help the microbes inoculate the box with maintain moisture levels.
I treated the entire backyard area with a very light molasses water mix via our battery backpack sprayer to help feed the microbes out here.
I placed the box in that area. I made some videos that I will post tomorrow when there is ample sunlight to better show how I placed it.