How are minerals used in KNF if soil amendments are not a regular part of crop establishment and management? In a word, the answer is Seawater. This is not the only source of mineral elements in KNF, but it is the most important. There was a pasture in Hawaii that was doing poorly, with a lot of weeds, but very little edible grass and forage. A livestock expert and KNF practitioner had the rancher apply seawater to the pasture. Nothing else was done, but everything changed. G

Observing the Vital Forces is the foundation of Natural Farming Management, guiding when and how we act, rather than forcing outcomes. By attuning ourselves to sunlight and heat, moisture and water, air and wind, we can respond to Nature’s cues instead of relying on artificial inputs. In KNF, we attune ourselves to these elemental rhythms instead of relying on fixed schedules or synthetic inputs. Sunlight changes with the seasons and the time of day. Moisture varies with humi

You want to apply once a week (no more) at the right time of day. Apply the misted formulas an hour (or two) before sunset. This avoids using the inputs during photosynthesis (when the plants cannot utilize the formula's biochemistry), it avoids the heat of the day, and it gives the moisture time to evaporate, so that plants don’t go to bed wet, which can entice molds and blights to form. There are two ways you can set up your weekly chores to apply BST. When I started using

Korean Natural Farming (KNF) is a systems technology to grow food in ways that mimic Nature. In this series for beginners, we have already looked at Fermented Plant Juice (FPJ), and we learned about the Nutritive Cycle and how to use FPJs to follow the patterns of the life cycle of plants. Now we deepen our understanding of the system by creating a basic formula to apply at each different stage of growth. We are developing a system. In order to mimic Nature, we always want to

Noni flower and forming fruit These seven Core Elements summarize the practice of Korean Natural Farming (KNF) as a comprehensive system...

1. Soil Foundation using IMO Technology Establish a living soil by using cultivated Indigenous Microorganisms (IMO) that restore and sustain natural soil function and fertility. This allows plants to live in their Natural State, drawing nutrition on demand through symbiotic relationships with soil biology. As in Nature, balanced nutrition leads to fewer pests and disease, improved health, quality, nutrition, and increased yields.

embracing for example, the “pigness of the pig.” For this reason, when building the bedding system for pigs, they need an extra layer of logs that other animals do not need. We will look at the construction of an Inoculated Deep Litter System (IDLS) for pigs, then discuss how to build the system for other animals. Ideally, all bedding systems should be installed on a dirt floor. This provides minerals for both animals and microbes and a connection between Nature and the barn

Just like we use IMO to inoculate soil, we can install IMO into the bedding of barns and other animal enclosures to create living floors. The concept is to install a floor that mimics a healthy forest floor made of leaf litter and spongy soil, which composts all organic matter quickly and efficiently. It’s easy to make. We build a bedding system with sufficient organic matter and inoculate it with high concentrations of soil biology, IMO, taken from healthy local soil. The

IMO, Indigenous Micro-Organisms, is the foundational technology of Korean Natural Farming. It is the application of high concentrations of soil biology taken from healthy, local soil. It is installed as a complete ecosystem. MO is efficient because: 1. Soil biology is installed in high concentrations. 2. The soil ecology is installed as a complete, intact ecosystem. 3. A single application can be enough. It allows plants to live in their Natural State and acquire their own nu

IMO Culture KNF CULTIVATION OF IMO-4 & IMO-5   WHAT IS IMO-4? In Korean Natural Farming, the product known as IMO-4, or simply IMO...

IMO-3 is the step most people have the most trouble with. The keys to success are cultivating it in a proper location, with the proper mediu

You will build revive dead soil and build topsoil. Your plants will be able to self-fertilize and be resistant to pests and disease. Your an

We are collecting a full ecosystem of soil biology. In order to do this, we need to consider the medium, which ideally is medium grain, whit

Besides leaving one-third airspace so that the culture can breathe properly within the collection box, airflow into and out of the box is al

Master Cho used his corn method to turn solid lava rock into planting soil. I have used it to overcome weeds and turn overgrown pasture/lawn

I want to take some time to honor my hero, Master Cho Han-Kyu. He was born in Sowan, South Korea, in 1935. He started life as a peasant chic

The first step to doing the Groundwork for Korean Natural Farming is understanding exactly what it is, and why it is important. Plants in th

You don’t need to have every KNF input available to start KNF. I recommend only the most important ones, as well as starting the ones that t

You’ve decided you want to try KNF, Korean Natural Farming. You probably feel confused and overwhelmed. I get it. I am here to simplify and

FPJ, Fermented Plant Juice, is NOT A FERTILIZER! It is used as a Biochemical Signaling agent. It is used to signal plants what to do. It is