Using Shilajit as humic/fulvic source
Sooo, I currently have been using shilajit a black resin from the Himalayas said to be rich in humic/fulvic acids as well as a myriad of micronutrients, does anyone else have experience using this and does it have a place in KNF?
The answer
I have been using a bit of it from a russian source. It seems to be working favorably to activate the indigenous micro organisms by providing complex carbon foods and nutrients.
There is a bunch of information on the internet about it, albeit somewhat mysterious in nature. Often it is referred to as "black goo"
From the KNF library
From the KNF library
Drafted by Claude from Office Hours and the books
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Sep 2026
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5 sources
Humic and fulvic acids have a set place in KNF. Cho's IMO3 substrate recipe lists them at 1:1000 in the moistening mix (Cho's Solutions, p. 18).
Drake says fungus loves them and calls them favorite food (Office Hours Ep. 14, 1:14:06). He describes them as complex carbohydrates (Office Hours Ep. 99, 41:00).
- On a large scale, you can buy them in big totes (Office Hours Ep. 14, 1:13:04).
- On a small scale, put compost in a bucket with holes drilled in the bottom and run water through it (Office Hours Ep. 14, 1:13:04).
- Worm castings or leachate tea also work, at 1:200 to 1:1000 (Office Hours Ep. 99, 40:45).
The library does not cover shilajit itself, its dose, or how it compares to compost or worm sources.
Sources
- 40:45 Office Hours Ep. 99 (Oct 2023) — Frost Protection with KNF Medicine, Worm Castings, Boron · “add fresh leachate or castings tea at 1:200 to 1:1000 to feed fungi and beneficial microbes”
- 1:14:06 Office Hours Ep. 14 (Jan 2022) — JADAM Sulfur, Humic Acid From Compost, C90 Seawater Ratio · “fungus loves humic and fulvic acid. It's its favorite food”
- 1:13:04 Office Hours Ep. 14 (Jan 2022) — JADAM Sulfur, Humic Acid From Compost, C90 Seawater Ratio · “you can purchase like big totes of those if you're on a large scale”
- 41:00 Office Hours Ep. 99 (Oct 2023) — Frost Protection with KNF Medicine, Worm Castings, Boron · “those are humics and fulvics, which are very complex carbohydrates”
- p. 18 Cho's Solutions · “1:1000 Humic/Fulvic Acids”
Also discussed on Office Hours
Eucalyptus & IMO Microbes, JADAM Fish Fertilizer, Calfos Ratios
- 29:03 …high salinity, one is getting humic and fulvic acids out there that ties up the salinity. And…
- 29:09 …that's great. So it's a good temporary thing. Humic fulvic acids. The other thing is if you…
- 29:16 …increase your organic matter, they naturally produce humic and fulvic acids, which then again,…