AMPLIFY THE CULTURE IMO-3

IMO-3 Amplification

AMPLIFY THE CULTURE IMO-3

Material and Tools

Dirt floor

Shade

(Thermometer)

Rice straw, woven mats, burlap, fallen leaves

(to protect from evaporation, sun, and rain)

THREE INGREDIENTS

1. IMO-2

2. Rice bran

3. Liquid Nutrient

1. IMO-2 is the “Foundation Stock.” It should have been collected from a site that matches the ecosystem of the crops you will be growing. It should be an aerobically dominant collection that looked mostly white when collected. It should have been put into dormancy and allowed to “ferment” for several days to reach a stage of stasis. If your IMO-2 matches these criteria, you are ready to begin.

2. You should use rice bran or an appropriate substitution that closely matches the pattern of rice bran yet is available locally for free or at a low cost. See the discussion in the previous article on the qualities of rice bran and how to make a substitution if rice bran is not available or expensive.

3. You will also need a Nutrient Liquid that has active ingredients for activating IMO and is used throughout the IMO process. The formula is listed here.

Liquid Nutrient for IMO Culturing

OHN       1:1000 Oriental Herbal Nutrient, a tonic with a specific recipe

FPJ         1:500 Fermented Plant Juice made from Mugwort, Dropwort

BRV        1:500  Brown Rice Vinegar (or banana), an ionic buffer

SW         1:1000 Seawater

Makgeolli (optional) Korean rice wine to heat the pile if cold

OHN is the tonic recipe used in Korean Natural Farming. It has a very specific recipe with five ingredients processed in a specific way, first with aerobic fermentation and then extracted in alcohol. It is valuable and used in virtually every formulation in KNF.

It is valuable because OHN’s fermentation pre-digests plant compounds, making nutrients bioavailable, while alcohol extraction preserves and concentrates key phytochemicals. This process enhances microbial activity, plant immunity, and overall health for animals and humans. Some biochemicals can only be extracted with alcohol.

The five ingredients are Angelica, Licorice, Cinnamon, Ginger, and Garlic. While many inputs in KNF allow substitutions, OHN ingredients should never be substituted. Instead, KNF farmers use only the ingredients they have access to.

In some areas of the world, farmers use only ginger and garlic, sometimes only ginger, sometimes only garlic. All ingredients can be grown in most climates, although some may need to be grown in containers and/or greenhouses. Use what you have access to and don’t worry about the rest.

FPJ acts as a stimulant for IMO. It has biochemistry and nutrients, including iron and minerals, for activating and growing soil microbes. The best practice is to use FPJ made from Mugwort and Dropwort.

Use tender plant tips harvested before sunlight.  Pigweed is a good choice, and purslane is strong. In any case, it is important to pick only the fresh, tender, new tips, and harvest them before sunlight touches the leaves and triggers photosynthesis, which is not the biochemistry needed for cultivating IMO.

BRV, Brown Rice Vinegar is an ionic buffer. It is made by letting Makgeolli, Korean rice wine, turn naturally into vinegar. The action comes from specific ionization, not from the pH or levels of acetic acid.

Master Cho has specifically stated apple cider vinegar is not an acceptable substitute. The only approved substitute is Banana Vinegar, which can be made by letting banana FPJ age naturally into vinegar.

SW is the acronym for Sea Water. It is used because it has a full complement of all minerals found on earth in proper ratios.

Our experiments have shown that IMO cultures respond more vigorously when OHN and Sea Water are used.

Makgeolli is Korean Rice Wine. (It is the precursor to BRV, Brown Rice Vinegar.) It is used when the weather is cold and when the pile is not getting hot. Otherwise, it is not needed. It is added in very small amounts undiluted.

CULTURING LOCATION

The location for cultivating IMO should have a dirt floor, 70% shade, 30% light, good ventilation, and protection from rain and runoff.

CULTURING IMO-3

MIXING

Water is divided into two solutions: one for diluting and activating the IMO-2 and the other for diluting the Liquid Nutrient.

The following example is for inoculating and culturing a typical bag of rice bran (most likely 50 pounds, 23kg) sold as animal feed.

Solution 1:

IMO-2 dilution rate is 1:500-1:1000. Using 5 liters (about 5qt) of water, add 5g (1 teaspoon). This gives a dilution ratio of 1:1000. For a stronger inoculation, use 10g for a dilution ratio of 1:500. Let this solution sit for a while to activate the microbes.

If you are unsure which dilution rate to use, start with less. Start with 1:1000 dilution. Too strong of a dilution may lead to a pile that gets too hot.

Solution 2:

Add the Liquid Nutrient to about 20 liters (5gal) of water using the dilution rates above.

Wetting the Pile

Once the Solution 1 (IMO-2) is activated, sprinkle it over the rice bran pile and mix it thoroughly.

Then add Solution 2 (Liquid Nutrient) a little at a time to reach a moisture content of 65-70%. This means that when you squeeze the material in your hand, it should form a ball that holds its shape but does not release any water. A moisture meter is more accurate.

If it is cold or if the pile does not heat up, add a very small amount of undiluted makgeolli to raise the temperature. While small in volume, it has a large effect that will vary by region. It is especially helpful in cold climates where microbes struggle.

If you are substituting Wheat Mill Run, note that this material runs hot. Our experience has been keeping the pile from overheating. Keeping the pile shorter helps.

THE IMO-3 PILE

Once mixed evenly with Solution 1, then Solution 2 to a moisture level of 65-70%, make an even, flat-topped pile about 35-40cm (14-16in) high. Cover the pile with leaves, straw, straw mats, burlap to prevent evaporation and protect from the sun. Weights or soil can be used over the straw since it is too light to stay in place. Mats and burlap are put on top of straw.

The pile should be in 65-70% shade and 30-35% sunlight. There should be good ventilation. These conditions are the most favorable for the useful microbes and are key to your success.

The maximum height is 50cm (18in) in order to keep the pile aerobic. If the pile is higher, pipes will need to be added in order to add airflow within the pile. It is better to keep the piles shorter.

The temperature of the pile will rise as the IMO undergoes fermentation. When the temperature reaches 40-50C (104-122F), turn the pile evenly to keep the temperature from going higher. The pile can get hot very quickly, so mix it daily, especially in the beginning.

If the temperature rises above 70C (158F), proteins begin to break down by thermophilic bacteria, and nutrients are released into the air. If the pile gets over 80C (176F), it will lose all value.

In 7-10 days, the pile will be covered with white. It is finished once the temperature goes down. It will be light and lumpy. Preserve the clumps as much as possible.

The pile should finish at 40% moisture and will be lumpy, less lumpy as it gets drier. It can be stored, but make sure it receives no light. A laundry basket made of natural material is a good choice on a small scale.

IMO-3 PRODUCT

When IMO-3 is completely cultivated, they form lumps or large crumbles. White colonies of IMO are visible on the top of the straw. IMO gives off a pleasant smell, similar to bread dough. The moisture will drop to about 40% moisture.

This culture is called “Pure Stock” or IMO-3.

KEEPING IMO-3

Keep at 1-15C (34-59F). Make sure the air is well circulated. Keep IMO-3 in a ventilated container. First, spread rice straws or fallen leaves at the bottom of the container, then put in IMO-3.

During storage, the IMO becomes dry (moisture level 20-30%), meaning IMO have entered a state of dormancy. Pile up containers into 3 layers and shield them from direct sun and rain. It is not necessary to turn because of the convection currents that are created through the gap between containers.

While IMO-3 can be stored for 1-2 years, it is best to use it as soon as possible. The best stage to store IMO is as the foundational stock, IMO-2.

Before using IMO on your soil or animal bedding, it needs to undergo one more step, the cultivation of IMO-4. This is an additional cultivation with the addition of an equal amount of soil. This step acclimates the culture of soil biology with the soil it will live in.  This step is covered in the next article.