JMS bad Smell
Top answer
From the KNF library
Drake says good JMS smells sour, like rice wash water (Office Hours Ep. 90, 47:21). Rotten eggs, vomit, or a dead-body smell means something went wrong (Office Hours Ep. 90, 47:21).
A sweet or sourdough smell means the batch is good (Office Hours Ep. 28, 47:13). A rotten egg or vomit smell means it has gone anaerobic (Office Hours Ep. 28, 47:13).
A vomit smell points to waiting too long. The sweet-smelling worker microbes peaked, and zombie fertilizer microbes took over (Office Hours Ep. 41, 33:39).
Drake's timing is about 72 hours at 77°F, or 24 to 48 hours in Hawaii's heat. Use it when the foam peaks with a bubble ring (Office Hours Ep. 138, 56:29). Once the foam collapses, it smells like death (Office Hours Ep. 138, 56:29).
The library does not say whether a bad batch can be rescued or what to do with it.
Sources
- 47:21 Office Hours Ep. 90 (Aug 2023) — Certificate to Teach KNF, JMS Smell Test, FPJ vs FPE · “Good is sour, like rice wash water; rotten eggs, vomit, or dead-body smell means something went wrong.”
- 56:29 Office Hours Ep. 138 (Aug 2024) — JADAM Microbial Solution, IMO Grading, No-Smell Pig Pens · “Ferment at 77°F for about 72 hours, 24 to 48 in Hawaii's heat, until foam peaks with a bubble ring; once it collapses it smells like death.”
- 47:13 Office Hours Ep. 28 (Apr 2022) — Beef Aminos, Coral Calcium, and IMO Troubleshooting · “sweet or sourdough smell means it's good, rotten egg or vomit smell means it's gone anaerobic”
- 33:39 Office Hours Ep. 41 (Jul 2022) — Disgustingly Cheap JLF & JMS, IMO Tumbler, Charging Biochar · “You waited too long — the good sweet-smelling worker microbes already peaked and zombie fertilizer microbes have taken over.”
