Lately ive been getting into ORganic Growing,CEC,No-Till, and Korean Natural Farming Methods/Teks. I just love the thought of not buying Bottled or ORganic Nutes from Stores. Being totally self sustainable is what I hope to achieve some day, or atleast close to it..
This thread is mainly going to have all the different methods/Teks that I try from Master Chos Books on Korean Natural Farming. Such as (OHN) Oriental Herbal Nutrients,(FFJ) Fresh Fruit Juice Ferments,(FPJ) Fresh Plant Juice Ferments,(IMO) Indigenous Micro Organisms,Mineral Water, Fermented Ocean Salt Water, and A couple others.
I want to be able to talk with others about these methods and for others to see how its made, and if they actually work or not. I will post up most of the information of the things that I try directly from the copy of Master Chos Book when I either get to them, or If somebody ask. As its hard to actually even find his books.
Natural Farming uses methods that observe the laws of nature and utilizes natural materials and products. It is based on the principle of interdependence among all living things. It aims to have a nurturing impact on the environment, in sharp contrast to the disadvantageous effects that often accompany modernized and commercialized agriculture. The observance of the natural cycle and environment-friendly agricultural practices applied in a modern setting refreshes the established perspectives on farming and provides an alternative to technology-intensive agriculture..
IMPORTANCE OF IMOs
Natural Farming produces a good yield when the land cultivated has an excellent soil condition for crops. Microorganisms play an important role in making soil good for growing plants. These microorganisms can also be collected and cultured.
Natural Farming promotes the use of Indigenous Microorganisms (IMOs). The microorganisms that have been living in the local area for a long time are best for farming because they are very powerful and effective. They have survived and can survive the extreme climatic conditions of the local environment much better than artificially produced microorganisms, which are cultured in some foreign or artificial environment. And since they are already available in the field, they are considered the best inputs for conditioning the land.
Organisms that are found under the heat of the sun are largely different than those found in shaded areas such as under the bamboo trees. Dr. Cho advocates that it is better to culture microorganisms from different areas in order to collect different kinds of microorganisms (Microbial Diversity).
Microorganisms have two major functions in farming:
1. Microorganisms decompose complex organic compounds such as dead bodies of plants and animals and wastes into nutrients, making them easily absorbable by plants.
2. They can create compounds such as antibiotic substances, enzymes and lactic acids that can suppress various diseases and promote healthy soil conditions.
IMOs are used primarily to create fertile and healthy soil condition that is ideal for farming and to prevent plant diseases. In Natural Farming, IMOs are used in treatments applied to the soil in order to improve its fertility and health
The best material that can be used in culturing IMOs is steamed rice. The rice should not be too soft or too sticky since aerobic micro organisms do not prefer to live on it. Hence, it is best to use left-over rice. In making IMOs using plastic as containers should be avoided. Containers made of Wood or Bamboo is recommended.
How to collect IMOs
1. A wooden box of Length 12 inches x Width 8 inches Height 4 inches is made with ½ an inch thickness wood.
2. Fill the wooden box with steamed rice. Its moisture content will attract the indigenous microorganisms living in the local soil. Allow adequate air supply by not stuffing the rice higher than 3 inches (do not hard the rice in the box). Without sufficient supply of air, the anaerobic IMOs will get collected. Aerobic IMOs are more commonly recommended.
3. Cover the wooden box with white plain paper (avoid news paper) and use a rubber band or thread to hold the paper to the box. Paper allows air to pass through.
4. Mark an area 12 inches x 8 inches in the soil and excavate 2 inches of soil. Place the rice-filled wooden box in this pit, where IMOs abound, such as in a forest / field or at the site where many decomposed leaf molds are found. Cover the box with leaves.
5. The container box or basket is placed on this set-up to protect the wooden box from stray animals.
6. Prevent rain from getting through by covering with leaves. (use plastic sheet only if necessary during excess rains) At 20°C, it will take about 5 to 6 days to grow the microbes in the box filled with IMOs. Collection will be faster if the temperature is higher than 30°C to 35°C it will take 2 to 3 days
7. After 3 days the rice will be covered with microorganisms. Move the IMO formed rice to a clay pot / glass jar. The IMOs thus collected is called as IMO-1.
8. Mix jaggery with the IMO-1 in 1:1 ratio. For Eg 1 Kg of jaggery should be mixed with 1 Kg of IMO-1. This mixture of brown sugar and IMO-1 is called as IMO-2.
**The closer the state of sugar is to nature, the better. The less process the sugar has undergone, the more effective it is. Therefore, white refined sugar is not recommended. Brown sugar is advisable, but crude and unrefined sugar (jaggery) is better
9. Cover the container using breathable paper and hold in position using a rubber band or thread.
So I've only tried making IMO-1 and IMO-2 so far. I will post up the instructions for making IMO-3-5 when I get there or if anyone ask for it..
The pictures im posting are for people that dont live near A forest or places with nature such as in the city or something.. The small container holding the 2 containers of rice is put into A slightly bigger plastic container that has nice worm castings in it. That container is placed into A much bigger plastic container.
This thread is mainly going to have all the different methods/Teks that I try from Master Chos Books on Korean Natural Farming. Such as (OHN) Oriental Herbal Nutrients,(FFJ) Fresh Fruit Juice Ferments,(FPJ) Fresh Plant Juice Ferments,(IMO) Indigenous Micro Organisms,Mineral Water, Fermented Ocean Salt Water, and A couple others.
I want to be able to talk with others about these methods and for others to see how its made, and if they actually work or not. I will post up most of the information of the things that I try directly from the copy of Master Chos Book when I either get to them, or If somebody ask. As its hard to actually even find his books.
Natural Farming uses methods that observe the laws of nature and utilizes natural materials and products. It is based on the principle of interdependence among all living things. It aims to have a nurturing impact on the environment, in sharp contrast to the disadvantageous effects that often accompany modernized and commercialized agriculture. The observance of the natural cycle and environment-friendly agricultural practices applied in a modern setting refreshes the established perspectives on farming and provides an alternative to technology-intensive agriculture..
IMPORTANCE OF IMOs
Natural Farming produces a good yield when the land cultivated has an excellent soil condition for crops. Microorganisms play an important role in making soil good for growing plants. These microorganisms can also be collected and cultured.
Natural Farming promotes the use of Indigenous Microorganisms (IMOs). The microorganisms that have been living in the local area for a long time are best for farming because they are very powerful and effective. They have survived and can survive the extreme climatic conditions of the local environment much better than artificially produced microorganisms, which are cultured in some foreign or artificial environment. And since they are already available in the field, they are considered the best inputs for conditioning the land.
Organisms that are found under the heat of the sun are largely different than those found in shaded areas such as under the bamboo trees. Dr. Cho advocates that it is better to culture microorganisms from different areas in order to collect different kinds of microorganisms (Microbial Diversity).
Microorganisms have two major functions in farming:
1. Microorganisms decompose complex organic compounds such as dead bodies of plants and animals and wastes into nutrients, making them easily absorbable by plants.
2. They can create compounds such as antibiotic substances, enzymes and lactic acids that can suppress various diseases and promote healthy soil conditions.
IMOs are used primarily to create fertile and healthy soil condition that is ideal for farming and to prevent plant diseases. In Natural Farming, IMOs are used in treatments applied to the soil in order to improve its fertility and health
The best material that can be used in culturing IMOs is steamed rice. The rice should not be too soft or too sticky since aerobic micro organisms do not prefer to live on it. Hence, it is best to use left-over rice. In making IMOs using plastic as containers should be avoided. Containers made of Wood or Bamboo is recommended.
How to collect IMOs
1. A wooden box of Length 12 inches x Width 8 inches Height 4 inches is made with ½ an inch thickness wood.
2. Fill the wooden box with steamed rice. Its moisture content will attract the indigenous microorganisms living in the local soil. Allow adequate air supply by not stuffing the rice higher than 3 inches (do not hard the rice in the box). Without sufficient supply of air, the anaerobic IMOs will get collected. Aerobic IMOs are more commonly recommended.
3. Cover the wooden box with white plain paper (avoid news paper) and use a rubber band or thread to hold the paper to the box. Paper allows air to pass through.
4. Mark an area 12 inches x 8 inches in the soil and excavate 2 inches of soil. Place the rice-filled wooden box in this pit, where IMOs abound, such as in a forest / field or at the site where many decomposed leaf molds are found. Cover the box with leaves.
5. The container box or basket is placed on this set-up to protect the wooden box from stray animals.
6. Prevent rain from getting through by covering with leaves. (use plastic sheet only if necessary during excess rains) At 20°C, it will take about 5 to 6 days to grow the microbes in the box filled with IMOs. Collection will be faster if the temperature is higher than 30°C to 35°C it will take 2 to 3 days
7. After 3 days the rice will be covered with microorganisms. Move the IMO formed rice to a clay pot / glass jar. The IMOs thus collected is called as IMO-1.
8. Mix jaggery with the IMO-1 in 1:1 ratio. For Eg 1 Kg of jaggery should be mixed with 1 Kg of IMO-1. This mixture of brown sugar and IMO-1 is called as IMO-2.
**The closer the state of sugar is to nature, the better. The less process the sugar has undergone, the more effective it is. Therefore, white refined sugar is not recommended. Brown sugar is advisable, but crude and unrefined sugar (jaggery) is better
9. Cover the container using breathable paper and hold in position using a rubber band or thread.
So I've only tried making IMO-1 and IMO-2 so far. I will post up the instructions for making IMO-3-5 when I get there or if anyone ask for it..
The pictures im posting are for people that dont live near A forest or places with nature such as in the city or something.. The small container holding the 2 containers of rice is put into A slightly bigger plastic container that has nice worm castings in it. That container is placed into A much bigger plastic container.