LAB Troubleshooting and Batch Tweaks
How to Refine Your Lactic Acid Bacteria Process in Korean Natural Farming
So, you’ve made your first batch of Lactic Acid Bacteria (LAB). Maybe it went great, or maybe you ran into a few issues. Don’t worry — that’s all part of the learning process. Now we’re focused on troubleshooting common problems and adjusting the LAB method to work with your unique climate, materials, and homestead goals.
Common Issues and How to Fix Them
It didn’t separate properly.
Cause: Temperature may have been too low, or your milk was ultra-pasteurized.
Fix: Use raw or low-temp pasteurized milk and keep the fermenting jar in a warm (but not hot) spot.
It smells rotten, not sour.
Cause: Contamination or anaerobic conditions.
Fix: Make sure the container is loosely covered to allow gas exchange. Try again with clean tools.
Mold on top.
Cause: Often happens with exposure to air.
Fix: A little white mold can be scraped off; colored mold (green/black) means you should start over.
Too fast or too slow.
Cause: Fermentation is temperature sensitive.
Fix: Track your room temps. Ideal range is 68–86°F (20–30°C). Cooler = slower; warmer = faster.
Batch Adjustments for Your Climate
Hot and humid: Use smaller batches and refrigerate sooner.
Cool and dry: Let your rice water sit a little longer before adding to milk.
Wild temperature swings: Try fermenting in a cooler or insulated box.
Scaling LAB for Homestead Use
When you’re ready to use LAB more regularly — for livestock, compost, or field sprays — it’s helpful to make a larger batch and shelf-stabilize it:
Stabilizing with Molasses or Brown Sugar: After straining your LAB serum, mix 1:1 with molasses to create a shelf-stable version. Store in a cool, dark place.
Storage Tips: Unstabilized LAB lasts 3–6 months in the fridge. Stabilized with molasses or brown sugar, it can last a year or more.
Observational Tips: Knowing When LAB is Working
In Animals: Shinier coats, reduced smell in pens, better digestion.
In Soil/Compost: Quicker breakdown, earthy smell, less ammonia odor.
In Sprays: Reduced mildew, better leaf shine, stronger plant vigor.
Take notes and compare before/after observations. This is the start of your KNF data log.
Quick Notes on Dilution
Livestock Water: 1 part LAB : 1,000 parts water (about 1 tsp per gallon)
Foliar Spray: 1:500 or 1:1,000 (try a test patch first)
Soil Drench or Compost: 1:500 or 1:1,000 works well
Next Up: Level 3 – Integrating LAB with Other KNF Inputs
In Level 3, we’ll dive into combining LAB with FPJ, OHN, and IMO for greater synergy — especially when caring for chickens, soil, and compost piles.
