It was the summer of 2014 when I first heard of Eco-Enzymes. Having been a science student and a botanist I was aware of only the naturally existing enzymes. When further told that the eco enzymes are produced from kitchen waste and so on, I was intrigued about the process and efficacy of resultant product. Now, I was very keen to make an eco-enzyme myself. Then came the dampener; it would take at least 90 days to get my first bottle of enzyme ready for use !!  I dropped the idea of taking a plunge into eco-enzyme making. In the meanwhile, my friend gave me a small bottle of ready eco-enzyme for use. I was to replace the commercial glass cleaner (chemical based) with this eco-enzyme, and Wow !  it was as efficient. Notwithstanding the 3 months period associated with preparation of eco-enzyme, I braced myself to get into the process. For the maiden attempt, I decided to use the lemon peels along with those of apple and some vegetables, all part of wet waste from kitchen. Suddenly I realised that it was all so simple. In a two litre empty bottle of Pepsi, I poured one litre of water, added 100 gms of normal jaggery (gud) and 300 gms of peels and put the cap tightly. As briefed by my friend I did not forget to etch the date at the neck of bottle using a marker pen.

            Next day, the bottle was all taut as if ready to explode. I slowly unscrewed the cap for the gas to release and then again closed the cap. While the bottle remained in one corner of my kitchen I repeated this process of releasing gas daily for next 20 days. The gas pressure to be released had slowly reduced and the mixture had become dirty brown. I put the bottle at a somewhat dark place and decided to look at it only after two months. Strangely, I started missing the routine of taking out fizz from the bottle in my kitchen. It was then I prepared another bottle using only the pineapple peels along with water and jaggery. Another month passed quickly and the third bottle with orange peels was in my kitchen, the pineapple one having joined the first bottle in dark corner.  90 days had passed and it was time to put the third bottle in dark corner. I was excited to see the first bottle. Very gently I lifted the first bottle and placed it on a table. Wait of 90 days was worth it; the top half of the bottle was clear fluid, light golden in colour. As I opened the cap, fragrance of sweet lemon was flattering. I tilted the bottle slowly without disturbing the substrate settled below. Using a conical funnel I transferred the clear golden fluid to another bottle. I had with me half a litre of eco-enzyme ready for use ; more importantly, it was made by me (over 90 days). But the next harvest of eco-enzyme wasn’t too far away, I had got into a cycle of preparing a bottle every month. Now it all seemed so simple and delightful too.

Then came the realisation … using this eco-enzyme on regular basis was more important than the satisfying achievement of having made it. I decided to use it as a glass cleaner, additive to detergent in my washing machine, making diluted solution to soak the raw vegetables to get rid of chemicals and pesticides on them and floor mopping.   Half litre a month was inadequate for all these, so I increased the frequency of preparation of bottles to ensure harvest of at least 03 litres per month. Of these, two litres for my own household consumption and one litre to motivate someone else to take up eco-enzyme making. Using eco-enzyme is good not only for ourselves but for the environment too as it reduces proliferation of chemicals in ecological cycle.

I have been using these eco-enzymes over past four years in my household with very satisfying results. With experience I have come to various formulations in terms of percentage-dilutions for different activities. While the quantities and the activities vary from household to household, the dilution formulations would work similarly for all. The activities listed in the table below are not exhaustive and one can think of many more uses. 

Happy Eco-Enzyme making and using for a better chemical free environment.

                                                                                                            By -  Amarjyot Kaur