Bokashi Mudballs

bokashi mudball (also, EM mudballs, beneficial mudballs, genki balls, EM dango): a solid fermented matter (a bokashi ferment) the size of a baseball, made with dirt (or any soil-like material such as clay soil), Activated EM, blackstrap molasses, and bokashi bran. Other ingredients may also be used (such as EM ceramics). While the mudballs are let to ferment in open air (where airflow is recommended to prevent, minimize mold buildup on the mudballs), the outside will quickly dry forming a hard shell leaving the inside to ferment anaerobically. Bokashi mudballs are used to bioremediate polluted water or soils.

Bokashi mudballs are fermented and dried/hardened and made with different materials, usually dirt, Activated EM, blackstrap molasses, bokashi bran, and/or water (other materials may also be included, such as EM ceramics). The mudballs 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, brownfields, etc.).

The use of bokashi mudballs (developed in Japan and applied throughout the world) serves multiple purposes:

• Reduces the amount of application compared to the liquid-only 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 cycle 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 bokashi mudballs 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 bokashi seed balls.
• See also, differences between the two main ways (Activated EM and bokashi bran) of cleaning up polluted waters.

How To Make Bokashi Mudballs (simple recipe)

1. Mix the bokashi bran into the dirt. 
2. Mix the blackstrap molasses into the Activated EM before adding it to the dirt+bokashi bran mixture. 
3. Add more Activated EM (or water) if not enough liquid to form mudballs. 
4. Mudball size should be about the size of a baseball (diameter: ~3 inches, ~7.6 cm). 
5. Let the mudballs air-dry and ferment for at least 2 weeks before using. 
   To dry, place the mudballs either on cardboard (e.g., cut a large cardboard box to make a shallow tray) or in milk crates since they have opening on the sides and bottom allowing for airflow. 
   To prevent or minimize mold from forming, place the mudballs in a location where there is airflow. 
6. A white mold-like coating may form on the mudballs which may or may not happen, either way it is okay. 

Target at least 1 mudball per square yard (or per square meter) at the bottom of the polluted water (ponds, lakes, bays, inlets, shores, rivers, etc.). 

[1] dirt, or soil, clay-like soil, dried sludge, or including partial sandy[4] materials, or a combination. The material should be as dry as possible. 
[2] bokashi bran – wheat bran or rice bran, or some other material or combination of materials (such as fermentable wood shavings or saw dust[3]), fermented by the bokashi method.
[3] wood shavings or saw dust – not all wood material can be fermented. Fermentable woods include walnut, teak, pine, and mahogany. Do not use maple or poplar wood since they are difficult to ferment. 
[4] sand – sand can be fermented, that is, inoculated with EM•1 and blackstrap molasses in order to house the microorganisms. The fermented sand can then act as a microbial inoculant with bioavailable nutrients. However, to make mudballs, other materials, particularly clay-like materials, should be added to sand in order for it to stick together and form a mudball. 

You can play around with different type of materials (wheat bran, rice bran, wood shavings, coffee chaff, brewery waste, etc.) and combine them in order to make your mudball. 

The mudballs should be fairly solid after drying and fermenting and not fall apart so easily. 

The heavier the material the better the mudball will sink in water. Otherwise, if the mudball floats for too long, it can be carried away by current or strong enough wind. 

EMRO's EM Mudballs Recipe
Source—Mudball search results for emrojapan.com (you can also search their database located on emrojapan.com).  
Mud ball search results for apnan.blogspot.com (APNAN: Asia Pacific Natural Agriculture Network). 

EM Mudballs are made of dried mud into which EM Bokashi and Activated EM•1 (Activated EM) have been kneaded. They are used to clean up bodies of water such as rivers, lakes, and oceans where there are concentrated deposits of sludge and slime.

Basic Materials:

• Dirt. It is usually best to use clay-like dirt that can easily be formed into balls. 
• Activated EM•1 (AEM). 
• Molasses (At 10% the volume of the Activated EM•1. For example, 7 tablespoons of molasses for 1 liter (quart) of AEM.) 
• EM Bokashi [bokashi bran]. 
• EM•X Ceramics Powder. (In Japan, EM Super Cera Ferment C or Terra C is used.)

How to use EM Mudballs

• Use EM Mudballs in river bottoms and mud flats where slime has accumulated. Use one EM Mudball for each square metter of surface area.
• Use EM Mudballs once each season until results are seen.
• Cleaning up oceans, rivers, lakes and ponds requires the application of EM into the water through a variety of methods. It is recommended that Activated EM-1 also be regularly applied into the water to supplement the use of EM Mudballs.

Ratio of materials

• When using dirt only: 10 parts dirt + Activated EM•1 (AEM) + EM•X Ceramics Powder (optional).
• When using dirt and EM Bokashi: 8 parts dirt to 2-4 parts EM Bokashi + Activated EM•1 (AEM) + EM•X Ceramics Powder (optional).
• 8 parts dirt to 1-3 parts EM Bokashi + Special EM Bokashi for EM Mudballs + Activated EM•1 (AEM) + EM•X Ceramics Powder (optional).
• When using dirt and mud from mud flats: 5 parts dirt to 5 parts mud flat mud + Activated EM•1 (AEM) + EM•X Ceramics Powder (optional).
• When using dirt and mud from mud flats and EM Bokashi: 9 parts dirt to 9 parts mud from mud flats + 1 part EM Bokashi + Activated EM•1 (AEM) + EM•X Ceramics Powder (optional).

Note:

• Since the water content of the dirt and mud used will vary, the amount of Activated EM•1 (AEM) will vary as well. As a general rule, though, if for instance you produce 3.5 – 4 gallons of material, you will need approximately 1 liter (quart) of Activated EM•1 (AEM). Always be sure to have enough Acitvated EM•1 (AEM) on hand in case it is needed. If you use it up, you can add extra water instead (don't be afraid to use a lot of Activated EM•1).
• The amount of optional EM•X Ceramics Powder will be between 0.5–1.0% of the total amount. For example, for 2.5 gallons of material, this will equal 3.5 – 7 tablespoons of EM•X Ceramics Powder.

Example cost estimate for a body of water (bokashi mudballs only and bokashi mudballs with Activated EM applications).

Why Mud Balls. Fun and dirty to make, especially for kids, and fun to throw.
The bokashi 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). 

For further information, including grassroots movements (volunteer and community groups), how and where bokashi mudballs have been applied throughout the world, search for one or more of the following search terms, both with mudball as one word or two separate words, "mud ball,"; also, use the singular which should also result in the plural (mudballs): 
"bokashi mudball", "EM mudball", "beneficial mudball", "genki ball", "EM dango".