OHN is a mixture of edible, aromatic herbs fermented with brown sugar and extracted with alcohol. It is used to discourage the growth of anaerobic, potentially pathogenic microbes and encourage beneficial aerobic microbes in the soil and on plants.
OHN consists of five herbs (garlic, ginger, licorice, cinnamon, and angelica) fermented with brown sugar and extracted/stabilized with liquor like tincturing. It is the most time-consuming Natural Farming input to produce since it must be stirred daily, and its ingredients can be costly unless bulk-ordered.
OHN is applied as a foliar spray to repel insects. It should be applied during late afternoon or early morning hours. Apply diluted OHN as a soil drench prior to planting to activate dormant soil microorganisms. It can also be used as a prebiotic in poultry and livestock production by mixing OHN with their drinking water (1:1000 dilution).
Recipe
Materials and Ingredients needed
– 6 containers for fermenting (2 containers will be for angelica)
– 6 containers 2x the size of the fermenting containers for final storage
– 1 mixing container to blend dry ingredients
– Scale
– Funnel with strainer
– Wooden stick for stirring
– Dry angelica bark x2
– Dry cinnamon bark
– Dry licorice root
– Fresh ginger
– Fresh garlic
– Brown sugar
– Low gravity beer (rehydrate)
– About 6 gallon of high gravity liquor (stabilizing/tincturing) vodka works great
Steps of process
1. Rehydrate dry ingredients: angelica x2, cinnamon and licorice. In separate containers add each dry ingredients at a 1:10 ratio to container size.
2. Add beer to container and fill half way.
3. Let rehydrate for 24 hours.
4. After 24 hours add brown sugar until container is 2/3rds full.
5. Ferment for 7 days.
6. Add high gravity liquor to container. Add a little at a time and mix to avoid spilling any liquor.
7. Once thoroughly blended top liquor off to the brim of the container.
8. Put a lid on the jar so no alcohol evaporates during the coming weeks
Mix fresh ingredients:
1. Garlic and ginger. Mash and chop both completely to get the most surface area.
2. Blend brown sugar equal parts by weight (1:1) with each ingredient.
3. Ferment for 7 days.
4. Add high gravity liquor to container. Add a little at a time and mix to avoid spilling any liquor.
5. Once thoroughly blended top liquor off to the brim of the container and screw lid on.
6. Ferment for 7 days
Now all 6 containers have fermented for a week and are full to the brim with high gravity liquor (vodka) to stabilize and extract (tincture). The next steps will take
10 weeks to complete.
1. EVERYDAY open each container and stir clockwise for 15 seconds or so.
2. After 2 weeks of stirring everyday, strain off 2/3rds of the liquid from each container and store in the separate containers that are 2x as big as the fermenting containers. DO NOT MIX! Keep each ingredient separate for storage.
3. Top off each container with fresh liquor (vodka) back to the brim.
4. Repeat these steps of daily stirring and bi weekly straining 5 times for a total of 10 weeks. By week 10 all 6 storage containers should be full.
When ready to use, make a 6 part Solution: 2 parts angelica and 1 part each other ingredients than add that solution to water at a 1:1000 ratio. Make the solution weaker (1:1,500) if it is to be applied to stressed plants or during drought conditions, or if the OHN has been concentrated from age. OHN gets stronger the older it is.