Mountain Microorganisms (MM)
Sources: Manual de producción de insumos orgánicos by MAOES (2022)
Mountain Microorganisms (MM / Microorganismos de Montaña) are the cornerstone biological input of Organic Farming. They are collected from semi-decomposed forest leaf litter and reproduced on-farm for use as a soil inoculant and fermentation activator in all other organic inputs. (source: MAOES ∙ Manual de producción de insumos orgánicos.pdf)
Functions
- Decompose organic matter and incorporate it into the soil
- Make nutrients more available to plants (improve fertility)
- Stimulate plant nutrition and seedling development
- Increase flower count per plant, improving fruit quality and quantity
- Increase microbial diversity in soils and plants
- Suppress harmful microbes and prevent disease
- Increase the efficacy of organic matter and composts
- Degrade rocks slowly to release minerals
- Produce polysaccharides that aggregate soil particles (improve porosity)
- Some phototrophic bacteria break down agrochemical residues
- Mycorrhizas fix atmospheric nitrogen and aid phosphorus absorption
Types Reproduced
- Actinomycetes (bacteria + fungi hybrid): appear in 4–15 days, generate up to 1,300 antibiotics, prepare the substrate for fungi
- Fungi: appear in 4–15 days
- Bacteria: appear in 10–15 days
- Yeasts: appear from 15 days onward
Collection
Collect semi-decomposed forest leaf litter showing a whitish colouring — this is the visual indicator of active microorganism colonies.
Anaerobic Reproduction (Solid Mix)
Ingredients for a 200-litre barrel:
- 3 bags: forest leaf litter inoculant
- 2 qq: rice bran, maize flour, or maicillo flour (growth medium)
- 1 gallon: molasses, cane juice, or panela (energy source)
- 1 gallon: chlorine-free water
- 1 plastic barrel of 200 litres with metal ring
Procedure:
- Mix all ingredients on a clean floor or plastic sheet
- Layer into the barrel and compact well
- Seal the barrel hermetically
- Wait 30 days — ready to apply to all crops, soils, and composts in process
Ready product: “café con leche” colour with a pleasant smell. Can be stored indefinitely in a well-sealed container.
Renewal: Take 20 lbs of finished MM + 1 gallon molasses + more bran → reproduce again in 3 weeks without returning to the forest.
Liquid Activation (for application)
Ingredients for 200-litre barrel:
- 12 lbs solid MM
- 200 litres water
- 1 gallon molasses
Mix and rest 5–6 days. Dosage: 1 gallon (or 5 bottles) per 16-litre pump for foliar application; 1 litre per pump for seedlings.
If the liquid mix is more than 10 days old, apply directly to soil or incorporate into organic compost rather than as a foliar spray.
Important Condition
For MM to function, the soil must contain at least 3% organic matter and must not have had any toxic substances (agrochemicals) applied. See Soil Health.